The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-11-05
RUMoRs OF WARS.
patience.

European Governments are forever at war.
They may cry peace, but there ls no peace.
There is, however, sometimes a lull, but it
does not amount to peace. Preparations for
war are at such times still going forward
Eogland no sooner gets through with one
war than she engages il another. Russia is
forever on the war path. Germany, within
five years, has fought in every direction
France. Austria and Denmark-and now
the danger is with Russia. The
war between Russia and Germany
has been predicted for years, and Bismarck
has been preparing for the collision. Ger
many is surrounded by foes. Neither
France, Italy..nor Austria are her friends.
and still If a war occurs between Germany
and Russia, Austria will be in alliance with
the former. Under these circumstances it is
interesting to know the full strength of the
powers. 1t is said that the German
rowe is now very much greater than
in 1870. She has greatly extended
railway facilities and can more readily con
centrate troops at any given point. Without
taking into account the recently adopted
additions of so batteries of artillery and OF
fourth field battalion to each of the existing
infantry regiments, which will increase by
another 150, 900 men in time of war, the
German effective strength" says the New
York World, "for 1s79-sO is composed OF
Il, 90 officers, 40l $50 men, 1877 surgeons
| TAG paymssters, 62l mounted doctors, 6l9
srmorers, 90 saddlers and 20 1893
orses. On war footing the
strength of the Imperial army
stands at 81, 195 officers and 1,273, 346 men,
with 2S1, 542 horses and 9. 200 guns. Accord
ing to the Viennese military writer's, Ger
many to-day possesses $50, 900 men of the
line, reserve and First landwehr, from 20 to
80 years of age. thoroughly drilled, and
/, 800. 600 men in the Second Isndwehr and
landsturm, sged from 80 to SO, all of whom
can be modified within "a hours Deduct
ing 100000 men to garrison the fortresses,
| $50 900 for the coasts and the Danish frontier
and 100000 for depots. we have 100000
trained men available for real warfare, every
man of whom within fortnight can be put
within reach of the frontiers.
As for the Russian land forces, we'll
informed Austrian military writers estimate
them on paper at 1900. 900 men. OF whom
about 400 900 at the outside are within reach
of the German frontier. The Kolnische
ZeituDg doubts whether Russia could place
in the field more than 6O0.0O effective men.
and the story of the late Turkish war goes TO
support this view, though another German
estimate is that Russia can dispose of q
field force of $4,000 infantry, $4,000 cavalry
and 722 guns, which the special and acces
sorry services would swell to . total OF $50 00C
men. 1t is well understood, however, thai
there is q remarkable margin between
the effective strength of . Russian
army and the number of men
returned as paid and fed. Lieutenant Greene
in his recently published book. says that
Russia has field army of $50 600 men
which can readily be expanded to 900 900 in
time OF war, local troops numbering 100. 00(
men in peace and s25. 00Oin war, . reserve
of S75, 900 men, with tie Cossacks and other
lrregulars His summary makes the ordinary
strength of the army IN time OF peace 694,
600 men, besides GA 500 'non-combatants'
and its maximum strength in time of wal
2 ,O29. 500 men and 22i 600 mon combatants.'
The preponderancs in favor of Germany,
therefore, is considerable, though Of course
Russia has her levy en- masse and the fanati.
cal patriotism Of her peasants in reserve. II
msy be doubted. however. whether under