The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1897-07-02
OUR GREAT ARMY.
More Trained Soldiers Than ANY
Other Nation.
They Are Not Enlisted. Hut Are Avail
able at short Notice Some
Very Interesting War
Figures.


Figures.
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 ii may seem, in the
event of d general call 10 arms, nearly
iO,OOO,OOU 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 -, 200 men each state ha-
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
Lazy OF some 20 ships. with 10000 men.
OF the European armies the biggest Il
that of France. The number OF men III
the active army and reserves Is 2.35O,-
600. The territorial army is 100000
ing total OF some 4,35O,OUO. 1t is not
likely, however, that under any CON
ceiydble circumstances more than2 500
600 men could be ,alled out. The navy.
with 45I ships, also has u reserve of ia
COJ men, OF whom about $500 are serv-
ing at the present time with the fleet.
Next in point of numbers on d war
footing comes Germany. The peacs
strength of the standing army is abou;
$4,000 There has been no late return.
of the war strength, but in the last cx-
tremity Geermany would have an army
Cf not far short OF 10000 trained men
Will $4,000 men could man the 22O odd
vessels constituting the navy. The thiTJ
great power is Russia. The total pc.ic,.
footing of this country is gOo,uOO. auC
the war footing >, ,6Ou, 900. The navy con
sists of 100 ships, manned 10y 32, 900 men.
Italy can boast of an army number
ing 3,O30,UUO. of which nearly 25O,OOu
are under arms. 6OO. 900 are on unlimited
leave and $4,000 are mobile militia ana
1.u5O,OOO are territorial militia. The
navy comprises II 500 men and 22G
ships.
From d military point of view Great
britain i'll compares with her European
Eeighbors. The total of all branches o.
the service only amounts To TI5.6S3. and
OF these only 665,l5 are classed a. ef
fective. The regular forces at home and
IL the colonies only number l4T. Hos. the
al my reserve i $1,000, the militia TO-
lOi, the yeomanry II ,67S and the Nulun-
ieers 2o5.52s. The British navy. there
fore should at all times be a remarkably
strong one.
Austria-HungaTy has a war footing
OF l,I50,OOO, but should the necessity
arise over 100000 men would have t.
take arms in defense of their country.
The navy has only total of some :. SOC
men To man lIO ships.
The permanent army of Spain num-
bers 10000 men. which could be in
creased in time of war to l,Os5. 900: 23,-
900 men could man the los vessels COM
Prising the navy.
he army of Switzerland is divided as
follows: The elite, I3l 500: the land
"ehr ol.JD0, and the landsturm 273 POO
Sweden has 3s.s46 men and 200 re
serves, with d navy of 81 ships with 20
900 men, and Norway an army of 20 600
although the number of troops actually
under arms never exceeds, even in wal
l,oUO men without the consent of the
-torthIng. The navy of 81 ships Is only
manned by 525 men, although some
325,OOO men could be called upon L.
serve.
China could bring some $50. 600 men
on the field, and Japan 27l 900.
OF the smaller powers there Is Rou-
mania, with permanent army of ST.
GOO men and territorial army number
ing $1,000; Portugal, with Il war
strength OF 15O,OnO; Persia. with 24.5O0:
SerNia, with 100000; Netherlands. with
10 OCO and navy of 1873 ships and 2.SOC
men; Belgium with a strength of l55.-
500 men and garde civique of nearI,
$1,000, and Denmark with a war
strength of 10000 men and an extra re-
serve of l6,5OO. only called out in eN-
IRENE 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. Nicars-
qua, the Orange Free State and. the
South Africa Republic, among them.
could number something like a million
and a half men.
1t Is terrible reflection that the will
OF on" man or mistake of diplomacy
may bring these armies of the. world
INTO collision After the first shot i
hred no one can say when and where
the sacrifice will end, and the conten.-
plation that 4O.OOO.OOO men are armed
against each other. even in the interest
OF peace" is not soothing when rumor.
OF war are so rife IL means that alt
over the globe one man in every forty of
the population Is ready for the frav.-
y. Y. Herald.