The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1921-10-06
OVER SIX MILLIONS
NOW UNDER ARMS
OTHER MILLIONS READY AS RE-
SERVES FOR INSTANT SERVICE.
Figures for Conference.
United States Stands Alone Among
Victors in Recent World War
As Having Demobilized.


Washington, Oct. 2.-Active arnl-
les of the IA most important nations
of the world today include approx
mately 100000 men, according to
figures obtained here and regarded as
reasonably correct. With the inclus-
ion Of land ornaments in the agenda
of the forthcoming conference on limi-
tation of ornaments, these are the
figures with which it is expected the
assembled delegates will have to
deal.
While China stands first among the
nations in this summary Of soldiers
actually under arms about Septem-
Der i, last being credited with 1,370,-
600 active troops, France is far ahead
among nations not distressed by
civil strife, in the number Of men with
the colors. The French strength is
placed at 1,034,000 men, the British
Empire standing next with 740,500
and Germany last. with 100000. The
United States stands 18th with
$4,000 men in the regular army,
exceeding Germany, while Italy has
10000 and Japan 100000 active
troops.
Figures for other powers include:
Russia, $4,000; Poland, 100000;
Greece, 5000; Spain, $4,000;
Switzerland, 10000; Turkey, 1872
900; Czecho-slovakia, 100000.
To Consider Reserves.
In considering problems connected
with attempted reduction Of armeu
forces ashore, it is to be assumed,
however, that the Washington con-
ferees will of necessity take into
consideration many other factors than
the forces actually under arms in
computing the army strength of any
nation for purposes of discussion.
Reserve systems, the extent to which
reserves have been organized for
quick mobilization and the degree of
training they have received, all would
be reviewed by technical experts. In
many countries some form of univer-
sal military service obligation rests
upon the entire male poplation. Ja-
pan, Italy, France, Greece, Czecho-
Slovakia, Poland, Switzerland and
Spain all have in force such laws,
while among British colonies, South
Africa, New leland and Australia
have similar enactments.
By these factors the relative figures
take on an even wider discrepancy
than when national army strength is
viewed from the standpoint of active
armies alone. France, for instance, is
estimated to have beyond her million
men in arms, 4,270,000 reservists, the
majority Of them highly trained as
result Of war experience and the
whole body included in a highly
organized reserve system that will!
keep the nations trained fighting
personnel at that point. Italy's $780,
900 fighting troops are backed by A.
$4,000 reserves in an equal state OF
preparedness and Japan's 100000 Dy
another army of 1,S45,O00 trained
and equipped to take the field on
short notice.
Guard Only Auxiliary.
The United States has at present
nothing in the way of organized re-
serves behind the regular army except
the national guard, the movement for
organization of a voluntary reserve
having just been .tarte1.
Still another angle of the army
reduction problem which may come
up at the conference is the proportion
of active and organized reserve per-
sonnel to the man power of the ma
tion and available number Of males
of fighting age in the population. In
France, Italy and some other coun-
tries, virtually every male fit for
army service already either is in the
active army or has definite place In
the ORGANIZED and trained reserve.
One thing clearly esta blished oy
these army figures military experts
say, was that the United States alone
among the victor nations in the war
seems to have completely demoDillz-
ed. The regular army today is little
stronger in numbers than it was be-
fore the mobilization in 1917. The
national guard, due to reorganlza-
tion after the war, is actually weaker.
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