The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1897-05-13
OUR GREAT ARMY.
More Trained Soldiers Than Any
Other Notion.
They Are Not Enlisted, hut Are Avail
able mt short Notice - Some
Very Interesting War
Figures.


Very Interesting War
Figures.
Every year seems to make it more
probable that the close of the nine
teenth century will mark an epoch in
the history of the world. The thoughts
of the nations have for some time now
been turned to the subject of war, and,
incredible though it may seem, in the
event of general call to arms, nearly
100000, 900 men could be placed in the
field.
According to the London Daily Mails
estimate, the United States can call
upon greater number of trained SOL
diers than any other country in the
! world. Although the standing army
numbers only $4,000 men each state has
to support it's own militia, and, should
it become necessary as a last resource,
upward of 100000 men could assist in
, maintaining the independence of the
! states.
To defend the coast there would be
navy of some 70 ships, with 10000 men.
Of the European armies the biggest is
, that of France. The number of men i'll
the active army and reserves is $780,
: 600. The territorial army is 100000
strong and its reserve 100000, maxi
ing a total of some 4,350,O00. It is not
! likely, however, that under any con-
ceivable circumstances more than 2, $780,
/ 900 men could be called out. The navy,
with 451 ships, also has reserve of 114,-
600 men, of whom about $500 are serv-
ing at the present time with the feet.
| Next in point of numbers on a war
{ footing comes Germany. The peace
! strength of the standing army is about
$4,000. There has been no late return
of the war strength, but in the last ex-
tremity Germany would have an army
of not far short of 100000 trained men,
while $4,000 men could man the 220 odd
vessels constituting the navy. The third
great power is Russia. The total peace
footing of this country is 100000, and
the war footing 100000. The navy con-
sists of 16O ships, manned by $4,000 men.
Italy can boast of an army number
ing 3,030,O0O, of which nearly 250,000
are under arms, 60O, 900 are on unlimited
leave and $4,000 are mobile militia and
1,65O,OOO are territorial militia. The
navy comprises 21,5OO men and 22o
ships.
From military point of view Great
Britain ill compares with her European
neighbors. The total of all branches of
the service only amounts to 715,6s3, and
of these only 665,154 are classed as eff
fective. The regular forces at home and
in the colonies only number LAT, ,105, the
army reserve is $4,000, the militia 140,-
104, the yeomanry 1878 and the volun-
teers 263,52s. The British navy, there
fore should at all times be a remarkably
strong one.
Austria-Hungary has a war footing
of 1,75O,00O, but should the necessity
arise over 100000 men would have to
take arms in defense Of their country
men to man 40 ships.
The permanent army of Spain num-
bers 10000 men, which could be in.
creased in time of war to LOSS, 1000; 23,.
600 men could man the 1Os vessels COM
prising the navy.
The army of Switzerland is divided as
!, follows: The elite, 131, 500; the land.
J wehr 1880, and the landsturm 273, 200
Sweden has 3S,s46 men and 1000 re-
J serves, with a navy Of SO ships with co..
600 men, and Norway an army of SO, ,OOO
| although the number of troops actually
, under arms never exceeds, even in war
! 1900 men without the consent of the
. storthing. The navy of 81 ships is only
manned by 525 men, although some
$4,000 men could be called upon t.
, serve.
China could bring some $50 900 me1
, on the field, and Japan 1000.
OF the smaller powers there is Rou
! mania, with a permanent army of 81,
600 men and a territorial army number
, ing $1,000; Portugal, with a wal
/ strength Of 100000; Persia, with 24,50o
! Servia, with 10000; Netherlands, with
) $4,000 and a navy of 1873 ships and 2.s0t
men; Belgium with strength of 1855,
800 men and a gar1e civique Of nearly
$4,000, and Denmark with wa
strength of 10000 men and an extra ne
, serve of 16,500, only called out in ex
treme emergencies.
? The smaller nations of the world al
[ have their means of defense, and tn,
Congo Independent State, Costa Rica
/ Ecuador, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Para
quay, Bolivia, Afghanistan, the Ar
gentine Republic, Liberia, Nicara
qua, the Orange Free State and tn,
South Africa Republic, among them
could number something like million
; and a half men.
!. 1t is terrible reflection that the vii
of one man or mistake of diplomac,
may bring these armies Of the worl'
into collision. After the first shot i
fired no one can say when and wher
the sacrifice will end, and the contem
plation that 100000 men are arme'
against each other, even in the interes
OF peace" lis not soothing when rumor
of war are so rife. It means that al