Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-02-16
EIGHTEEN MILLION.
The Armaments of European Nations
in Anticipation of War.
Forces Which Germany, Russia
France. Austria and Italy May
Summon to Battle.

1t is evident that the days OF war are
drawing near in Europe. What terrible
struggle it promises to be! A match may
blow up magazine, Jar explodes dyna-
mite, and a drunken quarrel on the from
tier threatens to ignite the train of de-
struction. There is every prospect, if
diplomacy and financial conditions do
not intervene, that the struggle will be-
come very Aamageddo1.
Russia according to the latest figures,
has an active army OF 1910 officers,
1,9S9,49 in rank and file, 31S,862 horses
and 1894 guns. The reserves Of the EN-
pire consist of 3,O4I, 208 in rank and file,
SIS. S52 horses and 1886 guns. This is a
total of {, 232, 600 men. The cavalry fig
ures do not show the effective strength of
Russia in that arm. She may easily add
half a million OF mounted electives to
the number given above. Take her for
ces ali through, Russia can mobilize by
spring over 100000 of men, of whom
one-third may be valuable as cavalry or
| infantry. In the machine perfection of
staff, administration and logistlcs, cut
side of cavalry raidiBg Russia will not
be equal 10 Germany.
France, her only possible ally, outside
of Greece and Montenegro, can place IN
| the field an active army of 39,527 officers,
1885, 900 liz rank and file; and reserve
of 80 $40 officers and /, 4l2O00 rank and
! file, making total war force of 3,40S,OO0
men, Differed by ?6,497, and having 374,-
| 600 horses and $500 guns.
| Against this possible array of over
| 100000 Russian and French soldiers, OF
which at least 100000 are reported to
be cavalry, backed by 1906 guns or field
artillery, Germany presents an active army
of 35,997 officers, 1,212,977 in rank and
| file, $50, 346 horses and 1888 guns. Her
| present reserves number 16,203 officers,
! 1854 in rank and file, With 40,340
| horses and SIS guns, making a total of
! 5000 officers, 2,023, 1868 rank and file,
| 396,G68 horses and 424 guns. With the
! 100000 additional Ievies called for by the
bill row pending II the Reichstag, the
/ German imperial army will number, Off
GERS and men, about 100000, with not
! less than 100000 horses and over 5000
guns.
Her allies will bring the following
! forces into operation:
| Austro-Hungary'5 army, active and re-
serve; number 52,290 officers and 1913,
600 of rank and file, with 171,080 horses
and 1900 guns. Italy can send to the
field or mobilize an army of "a, 708 officers
and 2376,38O of rank and file, with 81 400
horses and $50 guns.
This is total for Russia and France of
| 100000 officers and 8. 641 405 rank and file,
with 692, 852, horses and 10 606 guns.
For Germany, Italy and Anstro-Hun-
gary force is shown of 6,214, 243, with
out officers. There will be in the three
| armies $50, JIG horses and 6 ,484 guns.
| The five powers that it is supposed may
! be difectly involved will thus be able TO
| command united forces amounting on the
side OF Russia and France to 100000
officers and men, while the three allies
opposing them will have armies Of 8,0OO,-
0OO. There will be 1900 guns and at
least POO, co horses in the field.