EUROPE IN ARMS

Northern Advocate, 22 February 1911, Page 3

EUROPE IN ARMS

THE GERMAN HOSTS.

Colonel Gaedke, the celebrated German expert, writing in the Tageblatt states that at the present moment Germany is capable of sending into action the colossal force of 5,200,000 trained soldiers and sailors. That number includes only a portion 400,000—0f the so-called "substitute reserves." The grand total represents 8 % of the population of the Empire, as compared with 5.9 % (274,000) of Prussia's population of 5,000,000 who toOk the field in 1813 to overthrow the power of Napoleon. Colonel Gaedke calculates that Germany will have actually under arms in 191 1 a total of not less than 714,----000 soldiers and sailors, "and probably more." Without calling upon the substitute reserves," the colonel states, "Germany can at any time now put 4,800,000 trained men in the field from among the 6,064,000 who have done service with the colors by land and sea lor the past 25 years." The ofticial North German Gazette describes the next year's "Kaiser's" manoeuvres," which are to be on an extraordinarily extensive scale. The theatre of war will embrace portions of Schelswig-Holstein the Grand Duchies of MecklenburgSchwerin and Mecklenburg-Strelitz, and the provinces of Pomerania, Hanovei, and Brandenburg. The manoeuvres will consist of joint operations between the army and navy, and the Guard Corps, the Second and Third Army Corps, and the battleships and cruisers of the High Seas Fleet will all take part. The navy's operations will be mainly in the neignbourhood of the east coast of Southern Schleswig-Holstein and the island of Ruegen.