The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-04-18
rHE eERMAN ARMY eupeEr.

THE GERMAN ARMY BUDGET.
Beginning on April LIST the peace
strength Of the German army will be
gradually increased so that by 1915
its total enlisted strength will be 3d.
S2l, an increase OF 1O.S75. involving
the following new units; one battalion
of infantry, eighteen batteries of field
artillery. eight battalions of heavy
artillery, and five battalions of auto.
mobile. telegraph, railroad and bal
loon troops.
The cavalry remains unchanged,
$40 squadrons. an indication that in
the opinion of German tacticians the
proportion of cavalry now in the
army is sufficient for war purposes.
In spite Of the fact that the German
military authorities still believe in
the great Importance Of cavalry on
the battlefield, as well as for recon-
noissance, screening and raids, its
value in comparison with the field
and heavy artillery has undoubtedly
diminished.
Considering the natural increase n
population the above increase in the
strength of the army, remembering
that Germany has the system of con-
scription for her army, is really very
moderate. Fourteen army corps re-
tain their present strength of three
divisions each, while a number of 9TH
ers have an excess of an infantry bri-
gade each. 1t has long been a grave
question as to what should be done
with them. In case of mobilization,
they must be either left in the army
corps, thus abnormally increasing
the strength of the latter, or organ
lied into new divisions and army
corps, plan which has the great OBJ
lection that the new commanders and
their STATS would get in touch with
their troops for the first time in the
theater of operations. Cavalry, field
artillery and technical troops would
have to be taken from other army
corps.
The experiences of the Russo-Japa-
nese war have shown how dangerous
it is to resort to improvised organ
izations. Russia has recently increas-
ed her army by six army corps for
the very purpose of absorbing these
extra brigades as the best solution o.
the difficulty.
There are also to be organized 112
machine gun companies, but the Of
ficers and men for this purpose are
to be taken from the infantry bat
talions already allowed There will
be as a rule one machine gun COM
pany to every brigade, and this is TO
be increased later so as to give one
to every regiment of infantry. an or
ganization already attained by France
and Russia.
The increase in field artillery is
designed to give every division twelve
batteries, and is intended to meet the
recent increase in the French field ar
tillery. A part of the increase in the
heavy artillery is to be used in gar
risoning the coast Notifications on the
North sea, the rest is for siege artil-
lery or position artillery in the field
army
The technical troops are increased
to meet the demands of new war ma
terial. Two new battalions of balloon
troops are to be formed. One new
battalion of automobile troops, new
telegraph battalion and an increase IL
the wireless telegraphy detachments
as we'll as several minor changes OF
organizations, are contemplated
It is an interesting fact that al
though France requires 1.3 per cent
of her population to serve in the
army, Germany uses only .S5 pei
cent In comparison with these oui
Army, numbering less than .OS pei
cent of the population, is in no great
danger of approximating to Europe
standing armies.
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