INCREASE IN THE GERMAN ARMY.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5803, 26 January 1887, Page 2

INCREASE IN THE GERMAN ARMY.

The Speech from the Throne at the opening of the German Reichstag the other day, after emphasising the pacific desires of the Emperor, announces that as in the army lie* a guarantee for peace, a bill will be submitted for an increase in the peace effective of the German army j owing to the development of the military establishments of the neighboring States. The new Military Bill is very short, consisting of only four paragraphs. The first fixes the peace footing; of the standing army for the seven years from the Ist of April, 1887. tu the 31at December, 1894, at 406,409 men, or 41,135 more than at present. Volunteers for one year are: not included in this estimate. The second paragraph provides that from the Ist of April, 1887, the infantry will consist of 534 battalions, the cavalry of 465 squad' rons, the field artillery of 364 batteries, the foot artillery of 31 .battalions, the pioneers of 19 battalions, and the military train of 18 battalions. The two concluding paragraphs embody the various changes in military legislation rendered necessary by this increase. The bill is accompanied by a rather- short preamble, which bases the necessity fc the proposed Increase on a comparison of the German army on a peace footing with those of the neighboring States, France and Russia. The annual increase in the expenditure is estimated at 28 million marks, with, in addition, an ; extraordinary increase this year of 24 millions. The increase in the whole army; is 3L foot battalions, to be formed into five new regiments; together with 16 separate battalions, and 1 battalion of Jagers. The artillery is augmented by 24 batteries, the railway troops by 9 companies, and the Military Train by 14 companies.