PEACEFUL WORLD

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 78, 29 September 1930, Page 3

PEACEFUL WORLD

YET MORE UNDER ARMS

GREATER FORCES THAN IN VifAR

RUSSIA'S BIG TOTAL

Though peace is with us, Europe still has 20,000,000 soldiers under arms and in reserve. Toward the close of the Great War, when the employment of man power had reached its apex, the figure of combatants engaged did not exceed 15,000,000. This number included 2,000,000 Americans, who are not included in to-day's figures. In many respects the wartime military strength of the various nations has been completely reversed since the close of the war. While Germany commanded the most formidable military machine up to November, 1918, she is now numerically and in equipment the weakest, says the- "San Francisco Chronicle." N

Franco has become the moat powerful military power on the Continent. The peace strength of the Fernch Army amounts to 655,700 men, not including troops dispersed over the North African colonies, the Syrian mandate, and the French possessions in Asia and America. MAY BE RAISED. The peace strength can be augmented to 4,500,000 combatants by calling up existing reserves. The artillery has 333 light and 293 heavy batteries and thirty anti-aircraft units. To this must be added 22,000 light machine guns and 15,000 heavier type, plua 2553 tanks. Aerial forces include 1667 first-lino machines, 1000 second-line 'planes, and another 2000 school aeroplanes. Insofar as the number of combatants is concerned, and partly also in the sphere of artillery, Soviet Bussia tops France. The Soviets have close to 1,500,000 men in the Bed Army. This has a reserve of 4,500,000 behind it, making,a j;otal of 6,000,000 men. The Bed Army further has at its disposal 850 light batteries, 255 heavies, and twenty-four anti-aircraft batteries. In machineguns the Bussians possess 14,000 light type and 14,500 heavy type models. There' are 250 new tanks in the Bed Army. GEE AT BRITAIN'S STRENGTH. The pcaco strength of the British Army is 186,000. men. In the event of war England, without the Dominions, is capable of putting 2,000,000 men in the field. She has ninety-seven light and fifty-one heavy batteries; of artillery and forty-eight anti-aircraft batteries, 10,000 light and ■ 3000 heavy machine guns, 300 tanks, and 1547 aeroplanes of all types. The following are the figures for Italy: Peace strength, 338,000 men; war strength, 3,500,0u0; 303 batteries of light artillery, 166 heavy batteries and mountain artillery, 54 anti-aircraft units, 120 tanks, 1160 aeroplanes, 8300 light machine guns, and 1000 heavy. Japan has a permanent army of 235,000 men. Its war strength is 4,000,000. It further has an artillery park of 114 light and 78 heavy batteries, 1000 light and 1100 heavy machine guns, 15 tanks, and 650 battle 'planes. The smaller States that fought on the side of the Entente in the "World War also are extremely -well equipped. Poland stands at the top with a permanent army of 275,000 men, which costs the Polish State nearly half its total 7iational budget. In war the Poles could muster 2,500,000. Poland has 327 light and 102 heavy batteries of artillery and 42 anti-aircraft organisations. She has 220 tanks and 1000 j battle 'planes. Czechoslovakia follows with 140,000 men in peace, 1,250,000 in war; 198 light artillery, 114 heavy batteries, 60 tanks, 800 'planes, and 20 anti-aircraft units. JUGO-SLAVIA RATES HIGH. Jugo-Slavia stands out prominently among the smaller nations, insofar as war material and actual men under arms are concerned. She has 200,000 men under arms at all times, and can bring 2,000,000 in the field upon mobilisation. Further equipment consists of 180 light batteries, 42 heavies, 50 tanks, 492 aeroplanes, 3200 light machine guns, and 756 heavy type repeaters. While the old Austro-Hun-garian empire in its heyday had only 50 generals, the Serbs, Croats, and; Slovenes have 150 generals. For Bumania the figures are 144,000 men peace strength, 1,000,000 in war, 90 tanks, 250 battle 'planes, 308 light artillery batteries, 42 heavies, 19 antiaircraft units, 9000 light machine guns, and 5038 heavies.

Belgium, although 10,000,000 less in population than. Rumania, has about the same actual and potential strength. In war she could mobilise 700,000 men.

Against the figures .of the former Allies stands Germany's 100,000 men for a population of 65,000,000, the smallest in Europe. Though intrinsically an army of perfect discipline and training the Reichswehr is poor in equipment. The Germans have not a single tank, not a single battle 'plane, possession of such equipment being forbidden by the treaty of Versailles. There are in Germany 72 light artillery batteries, but no heavies and no antiaircraft machines.