The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-11
UNCLE SANS FIGHTING sTREysT TIL.
1t Is Probably Greater Than That of Any
Other Country on Earth.

In the table OF tho armed strength OF vari-
Gus countries it Is customary to put Rus
STA first among the nations OF the world.
with an active army Of 1925, 900 soldiers,
n first reserve OF 100000 and second
reserve Of 1.375,OOO bringing up the to-
tai number of available soldiers on a war
footing to about 5.lOD.OOC. as against 5,OOO.-
600 in Germany. 100000 in France. 2,5OO.-
600 in Italy, 800. 900 in Austria Hungary, and
100000 in Turkey. But u recognized au-
thority among military men. the France Mil
tdire OF Paris. in recent issue disputes the
correctness o! the popular belief that Russia
can put in the field tho largest army OF the
world in time Of war and says: The tnitod
states are n1t Ereat n aac,iyp 2% I'VE IRON '49
poucc. hut in time Of war their permanent con-
tngcnt would form the nucleus Of the vasteSt
Prior to the beginning Of the Santiago cam
pniGn and the stirring events Of year ago at
States in any computations OF availabl" armed
strength, the nations OF Europe being com
Tarcd only win each other af r. thIS regard
journal shows. in all computations OF available
military strength the United States must
very little. computation shows that the
view OF the French military PAPER is
very =, nearly correct. In the. hrst pace.
able lighting strength Of European countries,
s"IdGr1 OF "y"ry Gr'Me ar" tnf!na'h ~ me
made mp only ~ the regulars IN the permanent
service Of the tnit"d states and without any
reference whatever 20 the National Guard.
which corresponds TO tho nrst reserve and
outuumhcrS the regulars in the proportion
OF ten to one Tn" number of able boiled
male residents in different countries Is mt at
2O.Otb,OW in Russia, l2OOOOOO in Germany.
lO,uOO.OOO in Austria. H.Ouu,uOO in France.
S.5OO,uOO In Great Britain. I.1OO.OOG in Italy
and 4.ODO.OOO in Spain.
BY the F"lern! census Of 1890 the number Of
males between IL and 1 years. both included.
was l323O.uOO. Since then the population Of
the United States has increased 20 per cent
according TO the most reliable estimate. The
Actuary OF the Treasury estimated tho popu'a-
ton Of the United states on June !. 1871 as
I2.SO1. 900. and by next years census there is
very littlu doubt hut that III" total population
will he shown To he I5.OOO.pOU. an increase ~
l9.OOO.OOO over nine years ago. and the total
number OF Americans Of military age will not
fall short Of l7.uOO,OOO.
In tho United states the mum Der OF phvsi-
callv disqualified persons incapable Of serving
and the administrative business ~ this cOun-
try, too. IL conducted almost exclusively by
civilians. whereas l.uSsia - unier practical
military rub, thus tax ing from the mum Dor If
thOS" available Tor military service al who are
in the Cinu,Oy Of the Government. Moreover.
while fOrty-irur wears j. put generally as the
maximum age for soldiers. the majority OF
commanders and many of the officers. rs well
rs the rank and file. are above forty -four.
Everything considered IL is probable that I'm
Gle sam could. on pinch. put more troops in
the field for "nnish tlght" than any other
country in the world.