Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1914-08-19
TWELVE MILLION
SOLDIERS MAY
Be IN CONFLICT
General European Struggle
Would Make Wars of Ma
poleonic Era Small.
SERVIA NOT TO BE DESPISEC
Little Country Has Large Army Of
Veteran FiGhters-Germany' Won
derfui War Machine in ReadI-
ness TO Begin War at
Moments Notice


ness TO Begin War at
Moments Notice.
Americans unacquainted with the
elaborate military organizations OF for
eign powers can have but liule idea OF
the tremendous number of combatapts
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
tAat, once hostilities between the two
principals begin. a 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 ALI
Rnce.
Always supposing that Russia makes
good her reported threat to aid Servia
In case the Austrians persist in going
to extremes. it is believed that Ger,
many and Italy would come TO their
elly's assistance. Ia such a circum-
stance, IT 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
serious battle alone. This might
mean the arraying of Russia France
and Britain-and possibly Rumania--
hn gi - =
and Italy on the side of Austria. with
the possibility that the other Balkan
nations and Turkey may be dragged
into the quarrel
Austria's Fighting Forces.
Austria's army Is credited with a
peace strength OF $4,000 men and
1850 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
nil the gaps in the field army Little
SerFia can mobilize all Of her male
population trained to bear arms TO the
number OF 324 900 in fortnight's time.
although she maintains only 10000
man in time OF peace. As Austria
must guard her Russian frontier and
leave some troops I'm the great Slav
areas OF her own territory TO restrain
outbursts Of revolution. It can be seen
that any army she might attempt to
throw across the Danube into Servia
would not be OF overwhelming
strength. Then, too, the Servian
army is largely composed OF veterans.
with Il splendid morale. and q record
Of first-rate achievement in the Balkan
wars
Carmany's field army Ia time Of war
numbers 100000 men. and nor or
tire system Of mobilization and efrata-
81 is based upcn an invasion OF france
and a simultaneous resistance 20
Russian attack upon her back door.
Behind this field army stands am act
I've reserve Of 500 900 men OF the Land
wehr. and behind them suu 100000
men no have had military traiuiuE
and are available TO make good battle
losses Germauy's strong point. as OF.
posed 70 Russia. OF course. lies loo her
superior mobilization The vast dis.
tances which Russian reservists must
travel and the scanty railroads IN tie
czars empire all tend somewhat TO
neutrolize the preponderance OF Rus.
sian troops
On peace footing. the Russian
army numbers $4,000 men OF all
corps. distributed over her European
and Asiatic possessions. Many OF
these men wouid not be- available for
use iu q European war But militarv
experts concede tina Russia could hurI
great army OF 100000 men across
tho German and Austrian frontiers.
these men comprising the regular Eu.
ropean army corps and the frstliue re-
servists. behind them, In turn. are
several million trained and partly
trained men. for use in making up the
ravages OF battle and disease.
France, too. would be an effective
ally Of The Servians on land. The
French army is a different weapon
from what It was in 1870. The active
army within continental France f.
thought 10 number about 600 600 men.
and although Frances limited manila.