Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1894-11-10
UNCLE SANS ARMY.
FROM A MILITARY STANDPOINT
IT NUMBERS $500. 900.
Strongest Of ell Nations.. Germany
Comes Next with About Five and
Q hs,f Millions. .Othsr European

1Our l nCle sam Is u Dig rlun lrOul !
q military point of view. He may
not have many soldiers under arms
now, and only bare 100000 militia-
men in training. but all the same he
Is reckoned one Of the powers of the
earth. Military experts gauge the
war strength of n nation by the num-
Der OF men available for its army.
Independent of the final limit, which
must, of course, be the actual num-
Der of men in the country, this num-
Der is arrived at by examining the
laws of the country itself. That is
to say, some countries require mill
tary service only between certain
ages, others require 1t only for two or |
three years Of u mans life, and after |
that his bearing arms is optional |
with himself; others, like our own, |
expect every man to serve. Based /
upon this method of calculation, the |
United States leads all other nations,
because every man here is required |
and can be compelled to bear arms in
case Of necessity up to the age when
he is incar acitated by feebleness.
Thus the army of the United States
-unarmed, unframed, ununiformed,
IL Is true. but nevertheless the legal
and loyal defenders OF the country
numbers q, 10000 men.
This vast number is long way a.
head OF the next strongest nation.
Germany. OF course, IL the United
States were less fortunately situated,
geographically speaking-if she had
neighbors that could invade her at u
days or weeks notice-her mill
tary strength rs expressed in these
figures would be more apparent than
real. But, considering the facts as
they are. il Is fair to reckon these
six and half millions of men as the
army of the United states, for before
they would be needed in vast num-
bers-say three-quarters of II million
men-there whould be ample time to
drill and equip them. 1t Is clear
that no nation but England or her
allies could attack us on the north,
nor any but Mexico or her allies on
the south. The possibility OF n
coast invasion Is not worth consid-
ering.
No man could say the number of
men who would respond to the Prcsi.
dents call in the case of an invasion
4 million would probably be below
the number that would offer them.
selves in less than forty-eight hours.
The $1,000 men whom Lincoln asked
for thirty.three years ago, were fur
nished within twenty-four hours, and
In addition 80, 900 more were offered.
That was from only portion Of the
United States numbering In popula-
ton about 100000. 1t was for u
cause upon which ut that day men
were divided. even in the North.
Should there be q great national
emergency now and the President
were to call for million men, could
not. 65, coo, 600 Of people united on
one thing, that OF defending their
country, furnish them within two
days? OF course it could not furnish
them armed, equipped or trained, but
the men themselves would be ready.
The second call for troops during the
war was for 100000 men. That
number was furnished by the Gov.
errors Of the States within ten days.
Arguing by analogy, IL Is clear that
ut least 1900, 900 men could be OBJ
tanned for national defense inside OF
two weeks, were the occasion sutiici'
emily pressing.
Germany has long been pointed
out as the modern example OF mill
tarism. No other nation IS so care
fully studious to make all laws Il
get the greatest number OF mon int
the field and in military training al
~ a., Nnt,t.itl,
standing this they have fallen almos
million behind the United States
Germany's possible limit, based upoi
the most liberal construction no
only OF her laws but the possibilities
OF her population, Is set down ut
little more than 5,50O,O0O OF men
This includes not only the regula
army now under arms, but those VIII
are in the landwher and the reserve
who may be called upon for three an
five years respectively. Germany
position in Europe as the head OF an
dominant force in the Triple Al
lance has compelled this tremen
dOus sacrifice 10 the possibility. Q
war, and every man who gives hi
allegiance to the Kaiser and Is NOR
than twenty.one years OF age, ha
served, or is now serving, In the arm
or in the landwher or reserves.
France is the great military cor
trast to Germany, just as she
bound at some future time, perhar
not far distant, to face her on tn
worlds greatest battlefield. lie
soldiers are estimated at $3.50, OO'
They include the active and the RI
tired men, as well as the vast bod
who have passed through bot
periods OF service. They are traine
to perfection, ready in q momen
overfowing with patriotism and in
bued with one passion-reyenge @
the Germans.
Frances new ally, Russia, lor
supposed to be the most powerful I
continental countries, can put 5000
900 soldiers in the field. This est
mate IL Of course based upon Il
laws that govern and the populate
OF what is known as Russia In T.
rope. Not even the Car or his mo
trusted counselor can give anythil
like an accurate estimate OF u
hordes OF barbarans on the Siber
and Trans-Ural country who won
follow his standard in case OF wa