The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-11-19
WAR ECHOES

Paris Cable to the New York sun: the
Figaro prints the first information given
OUT here regarding the part which the
French navy is taking in the military op-
erations In Belgium. It points out that
the fleet Is not only taking an active part
in the blockading of all the Austrian and
German souadrons and In the protection
of commercial traffic on the high seas,
but is also lending valuable assistance to
the allied forces which are holding back
the German army In Belgium. The
French battleships have contributed a
force of 6000 fusiliers and 1000 gunners, to-
gether with a great number of naval
guns.
The brigade of fusiliers and a company
equipped with mitrailleuses. under the
command Of Admiral Ronarch. played an
important part in the heroic stand of the
allied forces at Dismude. great num-
Der of naval aviators and engineers have
also been placed at the disposal of the
commander OF the land forces.
Petrograd Dispatch to the London
Standard: Nearly the whole of the fam
lily of the late Count Leo Tolstoy is talk
ing some active part in the war. Some
are at the front, and included among the
first victims are two sons. Count Ilya and
Count Leo are at the front as commits
sioners in the Russian Red Cross Count
Leo was wounded during train collision
near the firing line Another son, Count
Michael, is a reserve officer with an ac-
tive army, and has received the ST. Stani-
slaw medal for bravery.
A daughter of the famous writer, Count
ess Alexandria, is a Sister of Mercy at
the base hospital ct Bielostock. The
widow. Count Sophia. with another
daughter Countess Tatiana, has estab-
lished a hospital for wounded soldiers at
Yasnaya Polyana.
Three grandsons of the count are also
with the active forces. One is a private
in the volunteers, another an officer in
the army. The latter has been made a
prisoner by the Austrians. A third is
lieutenant in the Baltic feet. These
grandsons are sons of Count Ilya.
London Cable to the New York Times:
According to the Cologne Gazette, the
combined strength of German and Aus
rian reserves is 100000 men.
There are 100000 volunteers in Ger
many and 100000 in Austria. and recruits
OF the 1914 CONSUMPTION of both countries
100000 each. This makes a total of A.
$780, 900, but according to the Rhemish
paper. this estimate is altogether in
complete.
In Germany, as in Austria, that por-
ton of the Landsturm which has not
yet seen any service is almost as good
as untouched, and according to the best
authorities, this untouched Landsturm
amounts for Germany to 100000 men.
They are between the ages of 20 and 45.
Already the vast majority of these men
have been registered by the military au-
thorities as suitable. Only a very small
percentage may be regarded as hardly fit
or the front, but they are capable of
other military duties.
In Austria this untouched Landsturm
is placed at 5000 900, making II 100000 for
both countries. If we deduct 1900, 900 from
this total for volunteers who have already
been counted we get a total of 14,25o, 900
as still available for active military SER
vice, and if the age limit is raised from
45 to 80 years and the limit at the other
end be reduced from 20 to IS years, we
obtain an additional 3.75o.00o, which, add
ed to ID, 100000, makes the grand total 49,
O0O,O