Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1907-04-04
Big Ancient Armies


men that the world has ever known.
This is mistake, as may be readily
seen when a comparison of the strength
of ancient and modern armies is made.
The standing army of the Russian
Empire in time of peace consists of
100000 men, while its war strength
is 76, 564 officers and 1927 900 men.
While the war strength Of Germany
is estimated at 70,0l5 officers and S.
1874 ,096 men, it maintains standing
army of only 594 .089 officers and men.
France, with war g rength of f.
695, 100 officers and men, maintains
a peace army of 6l3,ll7 officers and
men.
The armies of other nations in time
of peace are as follows: Japan, 34S,-
300; Austro- Hungary, 309,660 /;
Great Britain, 27O,128; Italy, $780,
asa Turkey, 2l7,96O.
In the United States the enlisted
strength Of the regular army is lim-
tied by law to 100000, but this at
the present time amounts to only co.
$50, to which is to be added provis.
ional force of about GIG officers and
men in the Philippines and Porto Rico.
Besides these, however, we have an
organized n.ilitia of III, l44.
So much for the armed strength of
modern nations. Now let US compare
with these some OF the armies Of an
tiquitY.
The city of Thebes had hundred
gates, and could send out at each gate
10000 fighting men and 200 chariots
in all, 100000 men and 1000
chariots.
The army of Terah, King of ETH.
opia, consisted OF 100000 men and
300 chariots of war.
Sesostris, King of Egypt, led against
his enemies 100000 men, $4,000 cav
airy and 81 scythe-armed chariOts.
l491 B. G.
Hamilcar went from Carthage and
landed near Palermo. He tada feet
of 1000 ships and 5000 small vessels,
and a land force of 100000 men. At
the battle in which he was defeated
10000 were slain.
A Roman feet led by Regulus
against Carthage consisted OF $50 ves-
sells with 10000 men. The Car.
thaglnian fleet numbered 35O vessels,
with $50, 900 men
At the battle of Gamma there were
of the Romans, including allies, 3d.
600 foot and 5000 horses; of the Car
thaginians, 10000 foot and 10000
horse. Of these 10000 we're slain
in all and 10000 taken prisoners
more than half slain.
Hannibal, during his campaign In
Italy and Spain, plundered 400 towns
and destroyed 300, 900 men.
Minus, the Assyrian King, about
22O0 B. c., led against the Bactrians
his army consisting Of 100000 foot
soldiers, 100000 horse and 10000
chariots armed with scythes.
Italy, a little before Hannibals
time, was able to send into the field
nearly 1000, 900 men.
A short time after the taking of
Babylon the forces of Cyrus consisted
of 100000 foot, 10000 horse, and
1000 chariots armed with scYthes.
An army of Cambyses,50 900 strong,
was buried in the desert sands Of
Africa by south wind.
When Xerxes arrived at Thermopy-
lac, his land and sea forces amounted
to 2,641, $40, exclusive Of servants,
eunuchs, women, suffers, ETC., in all
numbering $685. 900. So say Her
odotus, Plutarch and Isocrstes.
The army of Arta1er1es, before the
battle of Cunaxa, amounted to about
l 100000.
Ten thousand horses and 100000
foot fell on the fatal field Of Issus.
The forces Of Darius at Arbela
numbered more than 100000. The
Persians lost 10000 men in this bat
tie; Alexander about 500 men. So
saws Diodorus. Other authorities say
theiPersians in this battle lost 300,
600; the Greeks l, 200.
The army OF Tamerlsne is said to
have amounted to l 800, 900, and that
of his antagonist, Bajaret. l 100000.
Hard lines In Kansas.
The old days Of grasshoppers and
d,outb are almost forgotten in the pros