The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-05-20
IN CASE OF WHR.
The United states Would Have an Inn
mcnSe Army.

mcnse Army.
Every year seems to make il 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 u general call to arms, nearly
| 100000 men could be placed in the
| field.
According to the London DailY Nails
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 OWE militia. and, should
it become necessary as q last resource
upward of 100000 men could assist in
maintaining the independence of the
states.
! TO defend the coast there would be a
navy of some 70 ships. with 10000 men.
| OF the European armies the biggest Is
that of France. The number of men III
the active army and reserves is 1880
600. The territorial army is 100000
| strong and its reserve 100000, max
ing a total of some 4,35O,00O. 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 a reserve of 114,-
600 men, of whom about %, 500 are serv-
ing at the present time with the fleet.
Next in point of numbers on war
footing comes Germany. The peace
strength of the standing army is abOu;
$4,000. There has been no late return
of the war strength, but in the last cX-
tremitv Germany would have an army
CT not far short of 100000 trained men.
while $4,000 men could man the 220 odd
vessels constituting the navy. The thirG
great power is Russia. The total peace
footing of this country is 100000. anG
the war footing 900, 600. The navy con-
sists of 100 ships, manned by $4,000 men.
Italy can boast of an army number
ing 5000, 900. of which nearly 250,00C
are under arms. 10000 are on unlimited
leave and $4,000 are mobile militia ana
100000 are territorial militia. The
navy comprises 21,500 men and 22G
ships.
From a military point of view Great
Britain i'll compares with her European
neighbors. The total of all branches OF
the service only amounts to 715,6S3, and
of these only Co., 1874 are classed as ef
fective. The regular forces at home and
in the colonies only number LAT, Jos, the
army reserve is $1,000, the militia 140,-
104, the yeomanry 11,678 and the volun-
teers PCS. 52S The British navy, there
fore should at all times be remarkably
strong one.
Austria Hungary has a war footing
of 1,750,000 but should the necessity
arise over 100000 men would have II
take arms in defense of their country.
The navy has only q total of some $500
men to man ITO ships.
The permanent army of Spain mum.
bers 10000 men, which could be in.
creased in time of war to 1,0S5,000; %,
600 men could man TIE los vessels com
prisiug the navy.
The army of Switzerland is divided as
follows: The elite, 131, 500; the land.
wehr $500, and the landsturm 273.2O0
Sweden has 3S,S4G men and 1000 re
serves, with navy of SO ships with co.
600 men, and Norway an army of $4,000.
although the number of troops actually
under arms never exceeds, even in war.
1900 men without the consent of tn,
storthing. The navy of 81 ships is only
manned by 525 men. although some
$4,000 men could be called upon tC
serve.
China could bring some 100000 men
on the field, and Japan 271 900.
OF the smaller powers there is RoA
mania, with a permanent army of 81.
600 men and Il territorial army number
ing $1,000; Portugal, with wal
strength of 100000; Persia, with 24.50O;
Servia, with 100000; Netherlands. with
$4,000 and a navy of 1873 ships and 2,S0C
men; Belgium with strength of 1856.
800 men and a garde civique of nearly
$4,000, and Denmark with a wal
strength of 10000 men and an extra re
serve of $500, only called out in eX,
IRENE 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, Afgbanistan, the Ar,
gentine Republic, Liberia, Nicara.
qua, the Orange Free State and the
South Africa Republic, among them
could number something like million
and half men.
1t is 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 conten..
, plation that 100000 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 fray
Y. Y. Herald.
Champion lightweight.
, Remarkable in many ways, the 'tula
: gnat" of the far west is most curious
for its almost total lack of weight. The