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661 ARMIES France] fortress duties (except 3 battalions as coast artillery), and also mans France. the heavy position and howitzer batteries of the field army. The pioneers are organized in single battalions of 4 companies, with 611 Every Frenchman becomes liable to military service at non-commissioned officers and men, and are armed as infantry. They are trained in field and siege works and bridging. The com- the age of 20. This liability dates from the conscription munications troops consist of 3 railway regiments of 2 battalions law passed at Jourdan’s instance on 5th September 1798. each, and 1 independent battalion, 3 telegraph battalions, and a But the principle of universal service was soon impaired balloon company (to be expanded to a battalion of 2 companies). The train battalions correspond to the transport branch of the British by the admission of substitutes, authorized by the decree Army Service Corps, and have each 3 companies, with 299 non- of 7th March 1800, and at length abolished by the commissioned officers and men, and 190 horses. To 8 of them are recruiting law of 27th July 1872. This was replaced on attached sections of 59 men and 57 heavy draught horses for 15th July 1889 by a new law, which extended the total batteries of position. The army is divided into 23 army corps. Twenty-twro of these period of military service from 20 to 25 years, but reduced are assigned to certain territorial districts for recruiting, and the the term of service with the colours from 5 years to 3. This Prussian Guard Corps is recruited from the whole kingdom. Of term was to be followed by 7 years in the reserve of the these 22 (21) corps, 16 are furnished by Prussia, &c., 3 (2) by active army, 6 years in the territorial army, and 9 years Bavaria, 2 by Saxony, and 1 by Wiirtemberg. There are exceptions in many cases, but the usual composition of an army corps, when in the reserve of the territorial army. Exemptions for the artillery had reached its full strength, was to be: 2 divisions each family or educational reasons were withdrawn, and those of 2 (in 9 divisions, 3) brigades of infantry, each of 2 regiments, 1 who had hitherto been allowed the benefit of them brigade of cavalry of 2 regiments, and 1 brigade of field artillery were required to serve for one year with the colours. of 2 regiments, besides which the corps would have 1 squadron of mounted rifles, 1 battalion of rifles, 1 foot artillery regiment, 1 Those who are physically unfit to bear arms may be pioneer battalion, and 1 train battalion. The 1st and 14th corps employed in the auxiliary services in time of war. have each 3 divisions. In the various War Ministries mentioned To adjust the strength of the standing army to the above, the administration of the armies is conducted. Prussia and annual budget, the minister of war is given power to Bavaria have in addition a “Great General Staff,” in which the preparation of the army for war and its employment in the field release three-years’ men when they have completed one are studied. There is, further, in each State a “ Military Cabinet,’ year’s service. The average annual contingent is about in which all questions of the promotion and appointment of officers 200,000 able-bodied men, of whom about one-third are are dealt with. The heads of these three departments are indepen- released at the end of the first year. There are also about dent of each other, and are directly subordinate to the sovereign. Great independence is allowed to generals commanding army corps, 20,000 volunteers who serve for one year, and may prowho are directly responsible to the sovereign for the training and long their service to five years. The law of 1889 was preparation for war of their troops. modified on 19th July 1892, the term of service in the The standing army would take the field as it stands in reserve of the standing army being prolonged to 10 years, peace, except that the bulk of the cavalry would be formed and that in the reserve of the territorial army reduced to into independent cavalry divisions, each of 6 regiments and 6 years. In the infantry and cavalry more than half 2 batteries of horse artillery, and that certain units of its the subaltern officers are from the ranks, the rest being artillery and engineers serve as cadres for 2nd line forma- from the military schools. In the artillery and engineers tions. An infantry battalion on the war footing has 26 about three-fourths come from the schools. Promotion officers and officials, 1031 other ranks, 46 horses, 15 is partly by seniority, partly by selection. The latter carriages; a cavalry regiment of 4 squadrons (one of the method is applied to one-third of the promotions to the squadrons being left behind as a depot), 31 officers, &c., rank of captain, to one-half of those to the next grade 665 men, 741 horses, and 17 carriages; ahorse battery, (battalion, or squadron, commander), and to all above 5 officers, 166 men, 236 horses, 6 guns, 9 ammunition that rank. waggons, and 5 other carriages; and a field battery, 5 The organization of the army is based upon the law of officers, 171 men, 150 horses, and carriages as in a horse 24th July 1873, which fixed the territorial system, supbattery. A normal army corps would have 25 to 29 plemented by the cadre law of 13th March 1875, which battalions, 4 or 5 squadrons, 21 batteries, 3 pioneer defined the number of units. But there have been several companies, etc., or a total fighting strength of 25,000 to changes since. At present the units of the standing army 29,000 infantry, 600 to 750 cavalry, 126 guns, and 750 are as follows :— pioneers, with a ration strength of 37,000 to 41,000 men Infantry.—173 regiments, viz., 163 of the line, 4 of Zouaves, 4 and 12,000 horses. A cavalry division with 24 squadrons of Algerian rifles, and 2 foreign. The regiments are nominally of and 2 batteries would have a ration strength of about 4 battalions, hut some fourth battalions are wanting. The Zouave 4800 men and 5100 horses. It is not known to what extent and foreign regiments have 5 battalions, and 3 of the Algerian have 6. Each battalion consists of 4 companies, which, in line reserve and landwehr troops would be formed, but it is rifles regiments, have a peace strength of 127 men, in the Zouave and generally assumed that a division of all arms of each foreign regiments of 151, and in the Algerian rifles of 164. There category, 12,000 to 20,000 strong, would be formed in each are 30 battalions of chasseurs d pied, each consisting of 6 comarmy corps, which would give a 2nd line army equal in panies. Twelve are mountain battalions, and have 150 men per the others have 133 men. There are 5 battalions of strength to the mobilized standing army, about half of company; African light infantry, each having 6 companies of 250 men. which might easily be employed in 1st line. Koughly There are 4 disciplinary companies of variable strength. speaking, without calling on the landsturm, Germany could Cavalry.—Eighty-nine regiments, viz., 13 of cuirassiers, 31 of put 2,000,000 men in the field, and keep another 1,000,000 dragoons, and 45 of light cavalry (chasseurs, hussars, chasseurs d’Afrique and spahis). The regiments generally have 5 squadrons for home garrisons and depots. of 150 men ; the 4 spahi regiments have 22 squadrons in all, of 178 The total budgetary strength of the German army for men. There are also 8 remount companies. 1899 was23,730 officers, 79,873 non-commissioned Artillery.—Eighteen battalions of foot (or fortress) artillery, officers, 491,826 men, 2155 surgeons, 2805 paymasters, comprising 105 batteries, with a peace strength of 129 men each. veterinary surgeons, armourers, and saddlers, and 101,065 Twenty brigades (40 regiments) of field and horse artillery, comprising 442 field and 52 horse batteries of 103 men, and 14 mountroop horses. The above figures are exclusive of the tain batteries of 156 men. When serving in Algeria the batteries colonial troops, which are insignificant in number, there are of higher strength. Engineers.— Seven regiments, including 1 railway regiment. being in South-west Africa a force of about 750 Germans, in East Africa about 130 Germans and 1600 natives, in Two are of 4 battalions, the others of 3 battalions. There are 4 companies to each battalion, the railway companies having a Togoland 3 Germans and 150 natives, and in Cameroon strength of 160, and the others of 108 men. Each regiment 15 Germans and 300 natives. Kiaochow is held by has also a company of “train.” The engineer staff numbers 460 officers and 868 subordinates. marines from the Imperial Navy. (j. m. gk.)