The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-20
ITALY HAS 100000
FIRST LINE TROOPS
Kingdoms Total War Strength
Now Amounts to s.
100000 Men.

The Italian army grew out OF the old
Piedmontese army with which in the
main the unincation OF Italy WIS brought
about. The high military qualities OF
the Piedmontese preserved the indepen-
dence Of their small kingdom between
two such powerful neighbors as France
and Austria. When Piedmont was tenn
porarily absorbed into the French re-
public and empire the Italian troops who
fought under Napoleon proved them
selves the best Of the French allies. Az
ter 1915 Pie lmont was at the head OF
the national movement which aeitated
Italy and ended In her unification. Italy
then rose against Austria, and the Pied
montese army after many hard fought
battles. invariably relieved by the gal
lantry of officers and men even In de-
feats. succeeded In uniting the whole
peninsula under the rule OF Victor En-
manuel ii.
While the Piedmontcse system was
admirably adapted to a compac little
province IL was wholly inadequate 10 a
k.nGdom with as varied people and In
terests AS Italy. The strategic condi-
tons forced the concentration OF the
troops along the northern border and
the territorial system OF organization as
understood in the remainder OF conti-
mental Europe was impossible. Men
iIoIi All over itdly ulu tntlr service III
barracks in the north and were Their
returned to their homes. and Il nus be-
came impossible to mobilize 10y corps
except a; the maximum of friction and
expense. BESIDES. these conditions re-
suited in Italy being for some months
almost completely disarmed.
Many EFFORTS at reform were made, but
they were all rejected on account OF
financial. geographical or social condi-
tons until the present system was intro
duccd 10y Gen. Spingardi about four
years ago. While this is far from per
feet Il does away with some of the eyllh
OF the past, permitting the maintenance
At all times OF an Approximate peace
strength and OF more rapid n less TX
pensive mobilization.
Thc military organization Of Italy IL
determined by the consumption law OF
the kingdom or Sardinia, which made
universal liability to service the basis oi
recruiting. As utilization meant for tn.
army the absorption OF contingents from
all parts Of Italy the territorial system
was not adopted and the different types
OF soldiers are blended by causing then
TO serve together.
The army consists of SO three bat.
itlion regiments of infantry of tho linz
and IL OF 'Dersaglieri" (rinemen). each
~ '"' "h"i' " company
20 regiments of cavalry. of which !,
are lancers. cach OF q squadrons, -
regiments OF artillery, each OF : bat
teries. l eglment of horse artillery o.
q batteries. | of mountain artillery o
IL batteries and 3 Independent mountain
batteries. The garrison artillery con
sists or 3 coast and 8 fortress regiments
with a total of ~ companies. There ar,
besides 8 regiments tll battalions) o
engineers and nearly 10000 GARDINER
(gendarmerie).
ordinary and extraordinary militar,
expenditure amounts to about s55, 900, 90,
per annum. a slight sum compared will
the military expenditure OF other coun
tries. especially considering the e~xcellen
organization. equipment and discipljn,
of the Italian army.
Under the new recruiting scheme O
1907 the term OF liability for service II
the army is divided into nine years fl
the active army n reserve 1.-TWO year
with the o%olors), four In the mobil
militia and six in the territorial militia
The peace strength OF the army If nom
. inally 500. 900. but actually It Is lower
|, since the medical standard OF acceptanc
|, Is high and not all the available con
tingent Of recruits Is drafted into tn
army, The war strength is 500 900 frs
4 line troops. i,l5o.000 second line troop
: and over 10000 900 available IN exces
, OF the above. 90 that ltaly's total wa
resources OF all kinds amount to 3
100000.
The Italian army Is organized int
. IL army corps. each Of two divisions
d OF which are quartered on the plair
y of Lombardy and Eenetia and on tn
frontiers. and 2 more In northern centrs
Italy. In addition there are 90 Alpir
battalions and 10 mountain batteris
stationed on the Alpine frontiers.