Austin's Hawaiian weekly. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1899-190?, 1899-07-01
Americas Fighting Strength.

In the table of the armed strength of various
countries it is customary to put Russia first among
the nations of the world with all active army of
L125ooo soldiers first reserve of 100000 and
second reserve of 1,375,ooo, bringing up the to-
tai number of available soldiers on war footing
to about 5,1oo,ooo, as against 100000 in Ger
many, 100000 in France, 100000 in Italy,
100000 in Austria Hungary, and 100000 in
Turkey. But a recognized authority among mill
tary men, the France MiHtaire of Paris in re-
cent issue disputes the correctness of the popular
belief that Russia can put in the field the largest
army of the world in time of war and says: The
United States are not great military power from
the point of view of their effective foot forces in
peace, but in time of war their permanent con-
tngent would form the nucleus of the vastest
army of the world"
Prior to the beginning of the Santiago CAM
paign and the stirring events of a year ago at
Manila, 1t was not usual to include the United
States in any computations of available armed
strength, the nations of Europe being compared
only with each other in this regard. But, as the
quotation from the French military journal
shows, in all computations of available military
strength the United States must now be reckoned
factor, and a very little computation shows
that the view of the French military paper is very
nearly correct. In the first place, in all authentic
estimates of the available fighting strength OF
included in the general total whereas the
American total is made up only of the regulars
in the permanent service of the United States and
without any reference whatever to the National
Guard, which corresponds to the first and
outnllnbers the regulars in the proportion of ten
to one The number of able-boded male resi-
dents in different countries is put at 2o,oooooo
in Russia, 100000 in Germany, 100000 in
Austria, 100000 in France 100000 in Great
Britain, 100000 in Italy and 100000 in Spain.
BY the Federal census of 1900 the number of
residents of United States in the category of males
between Is and A years, both included, was 49,,
100000. 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 the population of the United
States on June 1, 1897 as 72,So7 900, and by next
years census there is very little doubt but thar
the total population will be shown to be 75ooo,-
600, all increase OF 100000 over nine years
ago, and the total number of Americans of mill
tary age will not fall short of 100000.
In the United States the number of physically
disqualified persons incapable of serving in the
army is materially less than in Russia, and the
administration business of that country, too is
conducted almost exclusively by civilians, where
as Russia is under practical military rule thus
taking from the number of those available for
military service all who are in the employ of the
Government. Moreover, while forty-four years
is put generally as the maximum age for SOL
diers, the ma jority of commanders and many of
the officers, as well as the rank and file are above
forty-four. Everything considered, it is probable
that Uncle Sam could, on a pinch, put more
other country in the world.