The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-04-25
GLADIATORS o. THE FUTURE.
Tho French and German Armies.
IPall Mail Gnzette.


writer In lie journal des Sciences Nth
taires has lately given some interesting statis-
tics OF the comparative strength OF the French
and German armies Upon matter Of this
kind figures. 1t Ia true, have onlya secondary
Importance. II is not the numbers only OF an
army that has to be considered. The amount
and character OF the training undergone. the
perfection OF all the mnltifarlons accessories
which 60 TO make up efficiency, the rapidity
with which the troops can be brought into the
field, and above all the quality OF the officers,
have to be taken into account and upon most
Of these points actual experiment Is the only
certain guide. Still, the ultimate foundation
OF military strength must lilo In the num-
mand and from this point Of view the figures
given by LIE journal dea Sciences Miiitdirea are
very striking. They tell an extraordinary tale
OF patient endurance, directed to q specific OBJ
fls7O France had been exclusively devoting
herself to the great task Of gather
ing together the material resources which
the war destroyed, and to enabling herself by
thrift and industry to meet the tremendous
burden which the payment OF the Indemnity
has laid upon her. That she has done this,
and done 1t with wonderful persistence and
cheerfulness, Is tue; but 1t Is very far from
being the only thing she has done. Side by
side with the recovery Of her prosperity she
has kept In view the recovery of her military
position. Out OF population OF 37,000,000,
about 7o4, 900 men are In the active army, 5l0,-
600 In the reserve, 1000 In the territorial
army, and 625000 In the territorial reserve
making total of about 100000 men, all Of
whom have received some amount OF military
training. Besides these there are about
100000 men who. though nominally belong
ing to the army and liable to serve In certain
contingencies, have received no training.
Against these figures the Germans have to
show In the active army 100000, In the re-
serve 500 900, In the landwehr $4,000, and In
the landstrum 100000 making Ia oil 2,511,-
900 men who have received some amount
OF military training, besides 3,345,O00
men who have received no training.
To fill up all the cadres OF the active
army the writer estimates would take
1,lS0.a0 men in France and 100000 In Ger
many. For this purpose France has at COM
900. To fill up the cadres Of the territorial
army In France and the landwehr In Ger
many would take $4,000 and 5000 men re-
spectively. For this purpose France, again,
commands more than are needed-600,0 00-
and Germany somewhat fewer-405,o00; this
deficiency, however, only arising after the
numbers OF the active army have been made
up from the landWehr. In cavalry the Ger
mans have the advantage, the figures for the
two countries eng $1,000 and 72O00 In ar
tillery the numerical advantage is with the
French, the figures being for France 24a2
guns and for Germany 2124 guns. The inn
OF this army must impose upon France Is an
addition to- not in lieu Of, drain Of money.
The army estimntes now amount to about
ELS, 800, 600 yearly. 1t Is difficult to see a ma
ton submitting SO cheerfully to SO enormous
demand without wondering what these sac
rifiees are designed to accomplish, and how
long they are to be persevered In.