The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-02-18

contemplate. and if carried out womb
cause perturbation somewhat crit,ca1
uht'l an equilibrium had been established
Europe, 1t Is truly said, is one vas;
armed camp. The profession of ar,ns ont
ahKs All the others. if we include both
me land and naval forces of all conntrias
Alone among the great powers the United
SItdtes dlspenses with blast ted ornaments.
ner army is barely sufficient for natroi
DUTY around Indian reservations mi ~
i iilah the coast forts. But her navy is grow
my rapidly and must needs become mneh
stronger IL IL Is to rank as an effieient nrn-
tectlon ior all emergencies. The reason
WY we neeu so few soldiers Is plain. II
nv t h we olsdain flghting or preparation
II = out .hat we have no powerful neigh
1 Tr ID luxtaposltion. Had we Germany or
france IN Mexico, with every able bodied
man llable Tor service. we should perforce
De compelled to adopt like methods, Lack
ny we nave the Atlantic between Ms and
the countries which have universal citizen
army service. and very broad silver
streak it is. Britain has only the English
Cuanhel between her and her neighbOrs.
YET II enables her to be tolera bly, safe with
small army and large navy. France.
Germany, Austria. Italy and Russia drag
every man to arms. for training at least, and
mopl lzatlon would drain these countries
OF their manhood employed in industry
and range ii on the battlefield.
Ii the private soldier had plebscite he
would probably vote to retire himself
home in the great majority of instances,
especially as 10 France, Germany, Austria.
LAZY and Russia, the pay per day is less
allurlng than fve-cent nickel to an
American child. But the officers are prob
ably eageF for war in a Professional spirit
because it is the load TO experience. So
called glory, and promotion. The world
admlres without stint courage in man.
lA m for nr
medal On the field of battle, who butchers
the enemy with skill and upflnching
bravery, knows that the eyes of his coun-
Try men and women beam upon him ap-
provlngly, and that he is accounted noble
aud heroic. Thus it always has been in
the history OF the earth. Deep down in
human nature this feeling explains the
admiration which follows the successful
pTiZe-hghter, who, with his fists is quite as
undaunted and courageous as any soldier
"whistlinR" his sword through the air and
striking off the heads Of his foes.
Were the disarmament of Europe to
take place tomorrow what would be the
result? In Germany the enrolled peace
establishment of the army at the end of
last year was placed at $4,000 men, and,
excluding the LandSturn, The army mobil-
lZed for war nun berS 2. 22S z53 men, bu if
ali anks are included Germany has avail
able for war 8 $50. 600 men. If things do
not change the army on a war footing will
consist OF 100000 men of all ranks in
1916. The effective strength of the French
standing army in 1891, Including $4,000
! yeOmanTy, WAS $50, 900, and on a war foot
! ing she can call TO arms considera bly, over
| 1900, 600 officers ana men. Italy is like
wise on the basis of universal conserip-
ti0n and has an army on a war footing of
2, S53, GOO officers and men-a tremendous
proportion for small and poor country
The standing army on peace footing is
about 200, 600 strong; but this is inclusive of
| reserve. Austria likewise has its standing
army reserve, LandwehT and Laudsturm
! under universal service. The strength of
the standing army is about 267 600. and
the empire can place in the field in
war time LAO 600 exclusive Of reserve and
garrisOns. Russia has regular army
! proper on peace footing of 659 600 officers
and men, but another estimate makes It
over 100000. The war strength is 2, 49e, 600
men. England has a small standing army
! of not more than 211.600 officers and
men, of whom 1900 are IN India,
| Nova Scotia. South Africa, Gibral-
tar, Malta, Cypress, Alden and other crown
| colonies. The relative cost of this army is
much higher than the service in other
| European countries, the annual estimates
! being over $50. 600, 000 This is accouHt ted
| for by the higher rate of pay in England
compared with one son a day in France
and six cents day in Germany, exclusive
of food and clothing. England has also
! large auxiliary forces 10 militia and Yelun-
teers.
These are the principal countries with
! big armies and great interests at stake, de-
pendent upon fighting power to maintain
| them. But the smaller countries also are
! strained 10 maintain military prestige.
! Norway and Sweden, Denmark, Belgium,
! Holland, Switzerland. Spain, Portugal,
! Turkey and all the Balkan nationaliiies
4 49,
| that they also may have the blessing of
peace and the guarantee OF being a bic to
act IN self-defense il Inenaced. II we 20
to Asia we find China. which has a pOpu-
lation OF 100000, 900, possessed of sufficient
army for the time being, but with many
millions of good raw material availab BILE to
meet the Slavs when Russia and China
have their inevitable struggle some where
in Siberia. Japan, also. Is taking shape
as q military power, and is very am bilious
to be great. South America is perpetually
in hot water, although there is land
enough for hundred times the European
stock there settled; and the Central Amer
lean republicans are also peppery and
ebulient.
Another feature of fighting strength that
must be included in any estimate les in
the navy. All the powers with sea-
borne commerce and a sesboard are max
ing strenuous exertiOns TO wax M tightly ana
bold on the ocean. England, Individually,
has much the strongest feet, but might be
worsted by two of the other great powers
combining-sueh as France aud Russia
and certainly If she had three to beard her
ON the ocean. Italy. Russia and Germany are
now formidable Id aritime powers as well
as England and France. The United
States has forged ahead remarkably in OBJ
tanning a navy. The republics of South
America have not spared money to get
respected on the sea, aud China and Japan
are bv no means feeble.
What gigantic lockout the dsband-
ment Of all these millions of men and the
laying up OF perhaps 1900 vessels of war
would constituted The economic disturb
ance for the time being would be severe,
and no one can predict how far the up
heaval of things terrestrial would extend
were IL solemnly decresd that there shall
be no mere fighting. The contamination
is nevertheless devoutly to be wished
whatever be the tenn porary un bala q Gin OF
| The worlds ways. This is clear from the
fact that the millions of men in Europe
who form the armies and give crews
TO the navies are, in the produc-
tive sense, so many droBes feeding
| upon the labor of the real workers in
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