Daily camera., 1897-06-17
OUR GREAT ARMY.
More Trained Soldiers han Any
Other Nation.
They Are Not Enlixfed, Dut Are Avail
able at Short Notice - Some
Very Interesting War
Figures.

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 men could be placed in the
fed.
According to the London Daily Mails
estimate, the United States can call
upon a 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 its own militia, and, should
it become necessary as 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 il
the active army and reserves is $780,
600. The territorial army is 100000
strong and its reserve 100000, max
ing a total of some 4,35O,000. 1t is not
likely, however, that under any con-
ceivable circumstances more than2, ,50O,-
900 men could be called out. The navy,
with 451 ships, also has reserve of l14,-
600 men, of whom about 25,500 are serv-
ing al the present time with the fleet.
IN, Of a
footing comes Germany. The peace
strength of the standing army is abon;
100000. There has been no late return
of the war strength, but in the last ex-
tremity Germany would have an army
CT not far short of 100000 trained men,
vessels constituting the navy. The third
great power is Russia. The total peace
footing of this country is 100000. ano
the war footing 100000. The navy con-
sists of 160 ships, manned by $4,000 men.
Italy can boast of an army number
ing 3,O3O,OOO, of which nearly 25O,000
are under arms, 6OO, 900 are on unlimited
leave and 100000 are mobile militia and
,65O,OOO are territorial militia. The
navy comprises 21.500 men and 220
ships.
From military point of view Great
Britain i'll compares with her European
neighbors. The total of all branches OF
the service only amounts to 1868, and
of these only 665,154 are classed as eff
fective. The regular forces at home and
in the colonies only number 14T Jos, the
army reserve is $1,000. the militia 140,-
1O4, the yeomanry II ,675 and the volun-
teers 263, ,52S The British navy, there
fore should at all times be remarkably
strong one.
Austria-Hungary has war footing
of 1,750,O0O, but should the necessity
arise over 100000 men would have to
take arms in defense of their country.
The Davy has only a total of some $500
men to man no SHIPS.
The permanent army of Spain num-
bers 10000 men, which could be in
creased in time of war to 1,0S5, 900; 49,
900 men could man the 108 vessels com
prising the navy.
The army of Switzerland is divided rs
follows: The elite, 131 500; the land
wehr $500, and the landsturm 273, 200.
Sweden has 3S.S4G men and 1000 re
serves, with navy of SO ships with 2o,
900 men, and Norway an army of 10000,
although the number of troops actually
under arms never exceeds, even in war,
l,S00 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 to
serve.
China could bring some $500 men
on the field, and Japan 271 1000.
OF the smaller powers there is Rou-
mania, with a permanent army Of ST.
600 men and a territorial army number
ing $1,000; Portugal, with q war
strength of 900; Persia. with 24,5O0;
Servia, with 100000; Netherlands. with
G9,000 and q navy of 1873 ships and 2,S0G
men; Belgium with strength of 1857
500 men and garde civique of nearly
$4,000, and Denmark with war
strength of 10000 men and an extra re.
serve Of 16,50O, only called out in ex-
treme emergencies.
The smaller nations of the world all
have their means of defense, and the
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 the
Sonth Africa Republic, among them,
could number something like a million
and half men.
1t is a terrible reflection that the will
of one man or a mistake of diplomacy
may bring these armies of the world
into collision. After the first shot is
fired no one can say when and where
the sacrifice will end, and the contem-
plation that 40,000,000 men are armed
against each other, even in the interest
of peace, is not soothing when rumors
of war are so rife. 1t means that ali
over the globe one man in every forty of
the population is ready for the frav-