LF WAR BROKE OUT.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14159, 27 September 1911, Page 9

LF WAR BROKE OUT.

FORCES OF ITALY AND TURKEY.

It is interesting, in view of the pos6ibility of Turkey and Italy goma to war, to examine the strengths oi the two Powers on land and sea. The peace strength ot tho Italian army iv 1910 was 23d,617 men, and the total war strength, could, on paper, be brought up to 3,360,000, but over two million of thoso additional man would bo almost untrained. Service in *ue Army (or Navy) is universal and compulsory. Italy ranks as a formidable military power, but of late doubts have been expressed about the efficiency oi tho Arriiy, as compared with that * f, say ; France or Germany. A commission which sat a few years ago found serious shortcomings in it, especially in the artillery, and. it is ,hardly likely that theso have been remedied by now. The peace strength of the Turkish army is about 375,000 men, of which many thousands are in the Yemen, and many other detachments elsewhere. The wide disposition of the Army would make it difficult for Turkey to concentrate a force quickly in Tripoli. Altogether, tho Empire oould put about 1,000,000 men into the field, but a largo proportion would havo little fighting value. The degree of efficiency which tho Army has attained is a matter of doubt. Since tho Revolution its 10----organisation bas been placed in the hands of German officers, and authorities agree that great improvements have been mado, but it was stated last year that Turkish soldiers wero not up to the level of those of civilised Powers At sea Turkey would be overwhelmed by Italy if it came to an engagement. Turkey has only five armoured ships, all small and old, half a-dozen or so smallor vessels, and about thirty "moscraft." Before the Revolution the Navy was of no fighting value, but British officers havo been at work icorganismg it since then. Italy, on the other hand, is a strong naval Power There are ten battleships, most of them fairly large, fairly new, and powerful, nmo armoured cruisers 14 protected cruisers, and well over a hundred torpedo boats, destroyers, and submarines.