The Big Battalions.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 787, 1 April 1887, Page 9

The Big Battalions.

ARMY AND NAVY MAGAZINE. Another move has been made in the great European w»r game. General BonW-ger’s proposal to preserve the peace of Europe by adding over 40,000 men to the effective of the French standing army, has provoked the Inevitable reply from bis opponents across the Rhine. The friendly move of tbe Wegg of French politics has been recognised in its true meaning, despite the affectation of philanthropy under which it wa< cloaked. Prince Bismarck and his colleagues, although probably more enxious to maintain the peace than even the French Government, freely that their proposal to increase the German army by 42,000 men ia made rather in the interests of Germany than in that of her neighbours. Thev assert opealy that the German army is being outnumbered ; and imply that the superior organisation of her mhitarv system will no longer avail Germany against the odds that may at any moment be brought against her. In May 1880, the peace effective of the German army was determined, for tbe seven year* commencing April 1881, at one per cent, of the population returned by the census of 1875. Since that time, the military situation of the Empire has changed very much for the worse. Not only France and Russia, from whom Germany has most to fear, but tbe other military states of Europe, have siiice added largely to the n rength of tbeir standing forces. Austria has increased her active armv hy several battalions ; and rendered it an offensive rather *h-an a defensive power, by the creation of a Lacidetrum, comprising several millions of men, for tbe defence of the country. Italy, in the xneavitime, has thoroughly reorganised her military system, and, although considerable additions were made a few years ago to hor standing troops, a Commission of Inquiry has recently adviced the formation of several new re.imenta of cavalry and batteries of artillery. Tbe smaller Powers of the Continent have made almost equal exertions in tbe name direction—all tending to destroy the absolute military preponderance enj >yed by Germany a. few years since. The military expansion of France and Russia during the s -me period, ba3 been yet more rapid and alarming. The army raised by the Republic, immediately after the war, was numerically suoerior to that maintained by (he combined German States at the B&m9 date : and its subsequent increase ha* been eff.clel without any regard to the almost stationary number of inhabitants. Iu 1870, tbe German army consisted, in round numbers, of 378,000 men ; that of France, about 359,000. In 1881, the numbers were respect ivel’y 427,000 and 444,000 ; and in 427,000 and 472.000. As regards the various arms of the Bervice, Germany possefue-* 4®B battalions of infantry, 20 battalions of jager (or rifle-). 465 squadrons of cavalry. 340 batteries of field artillery, with 1 404 guns, 31 battalions of garrison artillery, 19 battalions of pioneers, 2 battalions of railway t«o.'s, and 18 battalions of train. The French infantry is composed of 649 battalions (2 939 companies aud 295,000 men), tbe cavalry of about 358 squadrons, and the field artillery of 446 batteries, with 1,856 guns. The artillery has beeu tbe object oE especial care in France. Reorganisation has been the rale for Beveral years past, and the peace strength has recently been increased by 54 guns. To add to the numerical disproportion already existing, General Boulanger’s new measure provides for an increase of nearly 44,000 men to the peace effective of the French army, while the nivy already requires 67,000 men, as compared with less than 14,000 for that of Germany. Debits, therefore, the large additions made siuce the war to the available fighting force* of, - the German Empire, France ia rapidly gaining an overwhelming advantage in numbers, if not in organisation, which the present and the past attitude of the French people renders iu the highest degree dangerous to their neighbours. This fact alone should be sufficient to justify the proposed increase, without reference to the eaormons military growth of what M. Ddrou'bfo is pleaded to consider the natural ally of France, and the natural enemy of Germany.

RUSSIAN REORGANISATION. The last war with Turkey taught Russia many let-sons, of which she has been prompt to avail herself. Her army siuce th* peace has been radically reorganised, ro-equipped, and numerically increased. The peace cadres of the corps available for a European campaign have been strengthened by the addition of 256 battalions of infantry, 90 squadrons of cavalry, and 35 batteries of artillery. At the present time the infantry and artillery comprise 984 battalions, with 547,000 men, and 395 batteries, with 1,736 guns. In the cavalry, the numbers are still more disproportionate. Including the Cossack*, whose organisation is now almost identical with that of tho regular troops, it has been calculated that Russia could put into the field nearly 170,000 horsemeD, as compared wi’h less than 60 000 in Germany. On both sides, therefore, Germany is losing ground ; and losing ground, a» the advocates ot-the new meustire have pointed out, through her hesitation to impose upon herself the excessive burdens which her neighbours have voluntarily or involuntarily assumed. As regards personal service, the percentage of men ‘underarms in Germany isslightly greater than in Russia, but very much less than in France. The Russian army comprised in 1870, I’o2 percent.; io 1880, PO6 per cent. ; in 1886, 0 92 per centof the population. The French army has meanwhile risen from 0'93 per cent, in 1870, to 1.18 per cent, in 1830 ; and 1-22 per cent, ia 1886. Even under the new measure, the standing forces of tbe German Empire will not exceed one per cent, of the population. It ( appears, from statistics, that vast as is the burden already imposed upon the average German citizen, it is less than in Russia, and incomparably Jess than in France. With these figures before him,-the Emperor in his speech from tbe throne contended 'that if Germany wished to maintain her present

position in Europe, she must ba prepared to make personal and financial sacrifices at. least equal to those of her neighbours ; and the Dew Bill, although adding nearly two corps d’armde to the peace effective, will still leave.a decided advantage on her side. •I: ■ ; A POUCY OF PEACE. That the policy of Germany is, for tlr present, at least, purely pacific, few but the members of the .Patriotic League can seriously doubt. Her whole interests are centred in the maintenance of peace ; she has absolutely nothing to gain, an i much to lose, by war. A protracted struggle with France at the present moment would paralyse, if not ruin, her rapidly growing commerce, upon which she relies to counterbalance the drain upon her resources at homo. That, however, she is prepared to defend her conquest* and maintain her present position in Europe, the character of the three men who still rule her council* is a sufficient guarantee, if the explicit utterances of Von Moltke in his characteristic speech wore wanting to confirm it. “'! he demand,’’ ho said, ** which we are dow ca'fod neon t-.> meet is made in order that the peace of Surope, which ha* been hitherto preserve • wir.h so much difficulty, may continue to he maintained. Should we reject this B 1, we shall incur a mot-t serious re* kponsih lit *\ perhaps for the misery of a hostii- : • va-.ion. By great sacrifices we havfe aoqui-od what so many Germans longed for—the -init y. of Germany. May she also be united on this question. The whole world knows vve intend to make no conquests. May it abo know that wa intend keeping what we have, that wo ore determined and armed to do so.” should General Boulanger and his colleagues disregard these wo"ds from a man who never promises what he doe* not intend to perform, they may ba held responsible for the most.crnshing ancl lasting defeat Franca has ever suffered.