Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1914-08-05
TWELVE MILLION
SOLDIERS MAY
Be IN CONFLICT
General European Struggle
Would Make Wars of Ma
poleonic Era Small.
SERvIA NOT TO BE DEsPIsED
Little Country Has Large Army Of
Veteran Fighters-Germany's Won
derfuI War Machine In RsadI-
ness to Begin War at =
Moments Notice.

Americans unacquainted with the
elaborate military organizations OF for
eign powers can have but little idea of
the tremendous number of combatants
who would be involved in any general
European war which might arise from
Austria's imbroglio with Servia. Aus
tria, large as she Is In territory and
population, does not outnumber Servia
in available trained men so heavily as
might be expected But the serious
ness of the situation lies In the fact
that, once hostilities between the two
principals begin, general war might
be inevitable. And IL is safe to say
that not even the Napoleonic wars
rent the fabric of European civilization
as would a war between the powers Of
the triple entente and the triple alli-
ance.
Always supposing that Russia makes
good her reported threat to aid Servia
in case the Austrans persist in going
to extremes, it is believed that Ger
many and Italy would come to their
ally's assistance In such a circum-
stance. 1t is assumed that Great Brit
ain and France. the two remaining
powers in the triple entente, would not
permit their ally, Russia, to fight such
a serious battle alone. This might
mean the arraying of Russia, France
and Britain-and possibly Rumania-
on the side OF Servia, and Germany
and Italy on the side of Austria. with
the possibility that the other Balkan
nations and Turkey may be dragged
into the quarrel
Austris's Fighting Forces.
Austria's army is credited with a
peace strength OF $4,000 men and
1880 guns. which the first-line re-
serves would increase in few days to
$4,000 men. Behind these could be
mustered hundreds of thousands of
men of varying ages who have had
some military training. and who would
fill the gaps in the field army. Little
Servia can mobilize all of her male
population trained TO bear arms to the
number of 324,O00 in fortnight's time,
although she maintains only 10000
men in time OF peace. AS Austria
must guard her Russien frontier and
leave some troops in the great Slav
areas OF her own territory to restrain
outbursts of revolution, 1t can be seen
that any army she might attempt TO
hA 4rtz
would not be of overwhelming
strength. Then. too, the Servian
army is largely composed of veterans.
with a splendid morale, and record
OF frst-rate achievement in the Balkan
wars.
Germany's field army in time of war
numbers 1,220.00o men, and her en-
tire system of mobilization and strate-
gy is based upon an invasion of France
and a simultaneous resistance TO a
Russian attack upon her back door.
Behind this field army stands an act
i've reserve of 10000 men of the Land
wehr, and behind them still 100000
men who have had military training
and are available TO make good battle
losses. Germans strong point as OPP
pos ,d to Russia. of course. lies in her
superior mobilization. The vast dis
tances which Russian reservists must
travel. ana i.c scanty railroads in the
cars empire all tend somewhat to
neutralize the preponderance Of Rus
sian troops.
On a peace footing, the Russian
army numbers $4,000 men OF all
corps, distributed over her European
and Asiatic possessions. Many Of
these men would not be available for
use in a European war. But military
experts concede hat Russia could hurl
a great army Of 100000 men across
the German and Austrian frontiers.
these men comprising the regular Eu-
ropean army corps and the frst-line re-
servists. Behind them. in turn, are
several million trained and partly
trained men. for use In making up the
rayages OF bate and disease
France, too. would BE- an effective
ally OF the Sergans Ga land. The
French army a different weapon
from what it y in 1870. The active
army within ,autiDental France is
thought 70 number about 600. 900 men,
and, although frances limited popula-