The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-02-08
FRANCE ARMED FOR THE FIGHT.
A Portentous Fsct-A Trained Force of
Nearly 2,5OO,OOO.
From the London Telegraph


A Portentous Fact-A Trained Force of
Nearly 100000.
IF'rom the London Telegraph
An exhaustive compilation of statistics
relating to "T'he Armed Strength of
France" has recently emanated from
the Intelligence Branch of the Quarter
master Generals Department at the
Horse Guards, and it is impossible to
scan the results of Major Easts labori-
GUS Investigations on the subject without
being struck at the prodigious strides
made by the French military authorities
in the work of reorganization since the
passage of the new law. "sur lie recrute-
ment, by the National Assembly i've
years ago. Never since the disastrous
campaign of Napoleon l., which closed
at Waterloo, has the normal rate OF ex-
penditure upon the army OF France APP
preached the amount it has now reached.
The numerical strength of the troops at
present established on a peace footing,
exceeds by 33, 900 men what was Gee ned
sufficient on the same basis Immediately
before the outbreak of the war with
Germany. The French War Office has
with the working of every military sys-
tenn in Europe. 1t is n portentous fact
that, according to the estimate OF Major
East, notw Outstanding her immense loss
of territory, money and population,
France Mt this moment possesses a total
available land force, consisting exciu-
sively of trained men, numbering
2,473, 500. This vast aggregate includes
the "active" and territorial" armies,
with the reserves belonging to them re-
spectively.
Consequently mighty force, drawn
from this armed host, under the new
regime, could be put in the field in
comparatively brief space OF time. Or
course, it is only the modified plan of
recruiting introduced subse quent to the
Franco German war that could render
possible the mobilization of force so
enormous. By the act passed i'll 1872,
every Frenchman between 20 and 40
years became liable to personal military
service, without the chance of receiving
any kind of bounty by way of compen-
sation for enlistment. So stringent are
the regulations enforced in respect to
this matter, that no substitution is al
lowed, and even dispensations from ser
vice, obtainable under certain condi-
tons, do not necessarily secure ex-
emption. A table, showing the number
of young men domiciled in each canton
having completed their Goth year, is
drawn up by the Mayor of the district
This table is regularly placarded in each
commune at given period, and, on
day fixed for the purpose, It'll examined.
The drawing of lots follows at the chief
town of the canton, in the presence of
the Sub Project, assisted by the Mayor
of the canton, and, when once these are
drawn, no causes of exemption are adj
missible, except in case of bodily in
trinity, deficient height, urgent domestic
claims, and some other specified contin-
gencies.
Every German capable of bearing
arms is compelled to serve in the stand
ing army of his country for seven years
from the end of his Goth year, and five
years more in the Landwehr. So every
Frenchman not declared unfit for mill
tary service is now bound to serve in the
regular army for five years, in the re-
serve of the regular army for an addi-
tional four years, and in the reserve of
the territorial army for six years more.
Serving military apprenticeship so pro-
tracted and varied, French soldiers can
hardly fail in few years to attain the
highest proficiency in their profession.
From 1873 to 1876 the average yearly
number of young men who drew lots,
out of population of 36, 200, 900, was
292, 900. OF that number, 145, 800 were
exempted on various grounds; SO that
las, 500 were left available every year for
actual service with the colors. The
grand total of the active army, including
those in disponibilite, is 1896 sub
officers and men. The reserve of the
active army, comprising four classes be-
tween the sixth and ninth year of GER
vice, numbers $40, 9S2; the territorial
army, which embraces men between the
tenth and fourteenth year of service,
amounts to 594, 100; and the reserve of
the latter army, which represents those
betwee.. the fifteenth and twentieth year
of service reaches total of 638, 7S2. If
this united force be compared with the
German Army of the Line, the Reserve,
the Landwehr, and the Landsturm, it
will be found to be very much stronger
The French army is dis
tributed throughout the eighteen Gre
gions" into which the country is di-
vided, and corps is stationed in each
of them, besides one located in Algeria.
The estimated cost for 1878 which this
extensive process of military reorganiza-
ton involves is Ell, 675, 600; and, to
realize properly the rate at which ex-
penditure on the War Department has
been augmented it should be remem-
bered that it now exceeds the amount
devoted to the army in 1S4S, when Louis
Philippe fell, by more than G5, 900, 900,
and that it reaches within 81, 900, 900
of what was absorbed in the first year of
the Crimean war. The budget for 1878
also represents total of 35, 108 officers
and crews in the French navy, to be
provided for ut collective cost of 95,-
091 1903. There are 100 ships in commits
sion, comprehending iron-clad and un-
armored steamers, paddle-wheel and
sailing vessels, relief and navigating
school ships. Only those who have not
studied the immense resources of France
will be surprised by the large develop
ment of physical force which has now