The times., 1899-06-18
AMERICAS FIGHTING STRENGTH
Probably Greater Than That of Any
Other Nation.


In the table of the armed strength of
the various countries it is customary to
put Russia first among the nations of the
world. with an active army of LBS. 900
soldiers, a first reserve of $500 600 and a
second reserve of 1.375. 600 bringing up the
total number of available soldiers on a war
footing to about 100000 as against D.
O00,000 in Germany, 100000 in France,
100000 in Italy, 100000 in Austria Hun
gary, and 1. loo GOO in Turkey. But a recog-
niZed authority among military men. the
France Militaire, of Paris. in a recent is
sue 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-
tingent would form the nucleus OF the vast
est army Of the world."
Prior TO the beginning of the Santiago
campaign and the stirring events of a wear
ago al 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 as factor, and very little COM
putaiion shows that the view OF the
French military paper is very nearly cor
rect. In the first place, in all authentic
estimates of the available fighting strength
OF European countries, soldiers of every
grade are included in the general total
whereas the American total is made up
only Of the regulars in the permanent ser
vice Of the United States and without any
reference whatever to the National Guard,
which corresponds to the first reserve and
outnumbers the regulars in the proportion
OF ten to one. The number Of able bodied
male residents in different countries is put
at 100000 000 in Russia. l2,000.0G0 in Ger
many, 10000. 600 in Austria, 900o,O0O in
France. S.500.000 in Great Britain, 1900. GOO
in Italy, and i.01O.0 600 in Spain.
By the Federal census of 1880 the num-
Der Of residents in this country in the cat
egury Of males, between eighteen and
forty-fcur years. both included. was 49,
236. 600 Since then the population Of the
United States has increased 20 per
cent, according to the mogt reliable esti
mate The Actuary of the Treasury esti
mated the population Of the United States
on June l. 1897. as p S07, 000 and by next
years census there is very little doubt
but that the total population will be shown
TO be 5000. coo. an increase Of l2,O00,00O
over nine years ago, and the total number
Of Americans of military age will not fall
short of IL. .O0o, 900.
In the United States the number of phys
ically disqualified persons incapable of
serving in the army is materially less than
in Russia, and the administrative business
of this country too. is conducted more ex-
clusively by civilians. whereas, Russia is
under practically 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 soldiers the majority of command
ers, and many OF the officers. as well as the
rank and file, are above forty-four. Ev-
erything considered 1t is probable that I'm
Gle Sam could. on pinch. put more troops
in the field for finish fight" than any
other country in the world.