THE FRENCH AND PRUSSIAN FORCES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 721, 14 September 1870, Page 3

THE FRENCH AND PRUSSIAN FORCES.

The following comprehensive extracts with regard to the French and Prussian forces have been translated from La Patrie and Le Constitutional. The first bas reference to the force France takes into tbe field: — At the very least estimate the French will, by means of the railways and the telegraph, be enabled to concentrate in the north the corps d'armee organised in 1868, 1869, and 1870, and which have successively occupied the Camp of Chalons, under the command of Generals de Failley, Le Bceuf, Bazaine, Bourbaki, and Frossart. Some of the commanders of these corps d'armee no longer occupy the same positions, but the brigades and divisions which make up the troops under their command can be reunited at any moment. To the five corps d'armee commanded by the above generals, of 125 to 135,000 men, may be added as a reserve the 30,000 men who compose the French guard. A picked body of some 30,000 veterans can be withdrawn from Algeria without any inconvenience, since the troops have been furnished with the redoubtable Chassepot rifle. It will appear that, within a few days France can confront the Prussians with 200,000 trained and practised soldiers. The five great divisions of the line, which are easily and quickly organised, will require.three divisions of infantry of two brigades, and one of cavalry of three brigades, with twelve batteries of artillery, of which. five form the reserve ; fifteen battalions of chasseurs on foot, sixty regiments of infantry, thirty of cavalry, and sixty-two batteries of horse -artillery. But as their strength of armament is composed of twenty battalions of chasseurs ■« pied, one hundred regiments of the line, fifty regiments of cavalry, and one hundred and fifty batteries of horse artillery it follows that there will remain to form a second army of reserve for the interior five battalions of chasseurs a pied, forty regiments oi infantry of the line, twenty of cavalry, and about a hundred field batteries, to which must be added the corps d'armee in Algeria. This last division can be formed of battalions drawn from tbe three regiments of Zouaves, the three of Algerian sharpshooters, the battalion of African Light Infantry (infanterie legere\d' Afrique); the foreign regiment (JRegi-

ment Elranger), the seven regiments of light cavalry (Chasseurs d'Afrique and Spates), and will furnish thirty-twa battalions, and at least twenty squadrons, splendidly mounted. With regard to an army of observation on the Spanish or Pyrenean frontier, it is a question whether it will be necessary to form it. Is there, the Patrie asks, any serious danger to be apprehended from the direction of Spain ? In any case, two or three active divisions should be, as it appears to them, quite sufficient to hold in check any warlike demonstrations in that quarter. The division of the Guard, a splendid reserve of thirty-three battalions of twenty-four squadrons of war and of twelve batteries, is massed and ready for action. The concentration in the North of the remainder of the troops, with the exception of those in Algeria, will be quickly and easily done. In fact, with the exception of the three infantry divisions occupying Paris, the cavalry divisions, and the two regiments of Artillery of Vincennes can be transported in a few hours to the frontier. And again, excepting the three divisions of infantry, and the cavalry division of Lyons, and the division of cavalry on active service at Luneville, there are in the North-east six battalions of chasseurs a pied, thirty-two regiments of the line, seventeen of cavalry, and eight regiments of artillery. The next describes the probable power which will be brought to bear by Prussia in the conflict : — The Federal army of the North consists of thirteen corps d'armee, one of which is the Royal Guard. Each corps d'armee comprises two divisions, each of which is composed of . two brigades of infantry and one of cavalry, one bittalion of chasseurs a pied, one brigade of artillery, composed of one regiment of field and one of heavy artillery, one battalion of pioneers, comprising engineers and pontoon corps, and one baggage battalion. The infantry aud cavalry brigades are composed of from two to three regiments ; the first are numbered from 1 to 48, the second from 1 to 24. With regard to the artillery brigades, to the battalions of pioneers, and those of the baggage train they bear the numbers of their corps d'armee. The Huard which is quartered at Berlin and its environs forms two divisions of infantry and three brigades of cavalry, one brigade of artillery, one battalion of pioneers, and one baggage battalion. The Prussian infantry comprises* — 1 14 regiments and 16 battalions of chasseurs a pied; 9 of these regiments and 2 battalions of chasseurs form a portion of the Guard. All the regiments are composed of three battalions, each of 4 companies of 250 men. Tbe cavalry consists of 75 regiments, as follows : — 10 of cuirassiers, of which 2 belong to the Guard; 21 of dragoons, of which 2 belong to the Guard ; 1 8 of hussars, of which 2 belong to the Guard ; 21 of lancers, of which 3 belong to the Guard; and 4 regiments of Saxon " Reiters" (12th Corps), or dragoons. Each regiment is composed of 5 squadrons. Artillery. — The twelve corps d'armee ot the Federal forces, and the Royal Guard, have- each a j regiment of field artillery, bearing the number of the division to which they belong; in all three regiments. Each corps has besides a regiment of heavy artillery (artillerie de place), but in the three corps of the annexed provinces these regiments are in the course of formation. A regiment of field artillery is composed of four divisions (of which three are on a war footing), of four batteries, making altogether twelve batteries of four guns. (A recent order has been issued for the organisation of a fourth battery of horse artillery in each corps). In time of war each battery is increased to six pieces, which makes 90 guns for a regiment of field artillery, or a total of 1170 guns of 6 and 4 calibre for the entire Federal army. The regiments of heavy artillery are composed of two divisions, each of four companies. The pioneers combine the services of engineers and the management of the pontoons, which in France ia a part of the duties of the artillery. Besides this they are charged, when on active service with the destruction or reparation of railways or telegraph lines. They comprise one battalion of the guard and twelve of the line of four companies eacb, one pontoon corps, two companies of sappers, and one of miners. The thirteen battalions of the baggage train consist each of two companies, a depot, and of two divisions, one of workmen, and one of bakers. In time of peace the effective force at the command of Prussia is about 313,000 men, including the volunteers for one year. The total of the military schools, the rolls of the landwebr, tbe invalids, &c, may be estimated at 13,000, which leaves 300,000, distributed as follows: — 203,000 infantry, divided into 358 battalions, each at least of 560 men; 55,000 cavalry, with 55,000 horses, divided into 370 squadrons of 147 men and 139 horses ; 33,000 artillery, with 10,000 horses ; 6700 pioneers, and 3100 in the baggage train, with 1600 horses. When the mobilisation of the Federal army is completed, it is composed of three divisions — 1, the field troops or moveable corps ; 2, the troops of the reserve or depot ; and 3, the defence division, formed principally from the landwehr. The following figures will give some idea of the force of these three divisions when on a war footing : — l. Field Division. Infantry, 358 battalions of 1000 men, 358,000 men. Cavalry, 74 regiments of 4 squadrons, of 600 men and 713 horses each ; 44,400 men and 53,000 horses. Artillery, 1170 field pieces, and 13 regiments of heavy artillery ; pioneers, baggage train, &c.— 138,000 men, 133,000 horses. Total, 540,000 men, and 133,000 horßes. 2. Reserve Division.— On receiving orders for mobilisation, the 114 regiments of infantry form a second battalion ; the battalion of chasseurs a pied a fifth company ; the regiments of cavalry a sixth squadron; the regiments of artillery a division of three batteries ; the battalions of pioneers, one company; those of the baggage train, one division. So one will have: —Infantry: 144 battalions of the line, and 16 companies oi_\chasseurs a pied — 117,000

men. Cavalry: The sth and 6th squadrons of 74 regiments, in all 148 squadrons; 25,000 men, 28,000 horses. Artillery, pioneers, and baggage train: 46,000 men, 9000 horses. 3. Defence Division. — Infantry, 194 battalions of landwehr of 800 men, plus 11 battalions of reserve troops — 155,000 men. Cavalry : 216 squadrons, which are rather weak. Artillery, 216 companies. To these must be added the pioneers of the landwehr and the baggage train. Total, 20,000 men and 6000 horses. This brings the grand total of the three divisions of the Prussian forces up to 906,000 men and 178,000 horses.