The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1878-02-07
FRANCE ARMED FOR THE FIGHT.
A Portentous Fact-A Trained Force of
Nearly 100000.
From the London Telegraph

Nearly 100000.
From the London Telegraph
An exhaustive compilation OF statistics
relating to "The 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 East's 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 le recrute-
nent =" by the National Assembly live
wears 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 ap-
preached the amount it has now reached.
The numerical strength Of the troops at
present established on peace footing,
exceeds by 80, 000men what was Gee ned
sufficient on the same basis Immediately
before the outbreak of the war with
Germany. The French War Office has
spared no pains to become acquainted
with the working of every military sys-
tenn in Europe. It is q portentous fact
that, according to the estimate of Major
East, Notwithstanding her immense loss
of territory, money and population,
France at this moment possesses total
available land force, consisting excu-
sively of trained men, numbering
2,473,8 1885, This vast aggregate includes
the active" and territorial armies,
with the reserves belonging to them re-
spectively.
Consequently a mighty force, drawn
from this armed host, under the new
regime, could be put in the field in a
comparatively brief space OF time. OF
course, it is only the modified plan OF
recruiting introduced subsequent to the
Franco German war that could render
possible the mobilization of q force SO
enormous. BY the act passed in 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 condl-
lions, 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 a
day fixed for the purpose, it is examined.
The drawing of lots follows at the chief
town of the canton, in the presence of
the Sub-Prefect, 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 aD 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 a few years to attain the
highest proficiency in their profession.
From 1873 to 1875 the average yearly
number of young men who drew lots,
out of population of $4,000, 600, was
800, 900. OF that number, las, 500 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 SER
vice, numbers 520,982; the territorial
army, which embraces men between the
tenth and fourteenth year of service,
amounts to 594, 730; and the reserve of
the latter army, which represents those
between the fifteenth and twentieth year
of service reaches a total of 638, 782. If
5his united force be compared with the
German Army of the Line, the Reserve,
ihe Landwehr, and the Landsturm, it
will be found to be very much stronger
numerically. The French army is dis
ributed throughout the eighteen Gre
yions into which the country is di-
ided, and corps is stationed in each
# them, besides one located in Algeria.
The estimated cost for 1878 which this
Extensive process of military reorganiza-
ion involves is Ell, 675, 900; and, to
ealize properly the rate at which ex-
nenditure on the War Department has
cen augmented it should be remem-
cred that it now exceeds the amount
evoted to the army in 1848, when Louis
philippe fell, by more than 95,000,0 900,
nd that it reaches within 81, 100000
f what was absorbed in the first year of
ne Crimean war. The budget for 1878
lso represents a total of 35, 108 officers
nd crews in the French navy, to be
rovided for at collective cost of 95,-
81, 803. There are 100 ships in commits
on, comprehending iron-clad and I'M