European Armies | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 27, 1874

European Armies.

Brosen Zeitung, of Berlin, publishes an account of the military forces of the great powers of Europe, from which it draws the conclusion that “several of the powers which have hitherto been ranked as of the first class will, in consequence of their military development not having kept pace with that of other great powers, be incapable of going to war in future unless they have allies. This is especially the case with Austria and England, and also with Italy.” The strongest military power, says the writer, is Russia. The Russian army, which hitherto consisted of 773 battalions (equal to 771 German ones), is now raised to 228 regiments of infantry with 784 battalions, 228 rifle battalions, 250 reserve battalions under the new army organization, 73 regiments of the Guard and of the calvary of the line, 50 regiments of Don Cossacks (for service in Europe with 660 squadrons) and 701 batteries of eight guns each. Of this force 96 battalions, 20 squadrons, and 16 batteries belong to the Caucasian or Asiatic army, so that there remains a force of 816 battalions on active service, and 250 reserve battalions for disposal in Europe.

Next comes Germany. This power, reckoning only the troops which are ready for the field, has 148 regiments of the guard and infantry of the line (equal to 445 battalions), 24 rifle battalions, 302 battalions, of the Landwehr, 120 cavalry regiments with 556 squadrons, and 382 batteries (including 72 reserves) of six guns each. The French army will, under the new organization, consist of 148 infantry regiments (including four Turcos regiments) and 30 rifle battalions, making in all 518 battalions on active service, and 228 reserve battalions. To these must be added 64 cavalry regiments, with 384 squadrons and 360 batteries of six guns each. Austria has only 80 infantry regiments (240 battalions), 40 rifle battalions, 41 cavalry regiments and 176 batteries of six guns each. Her 160 reserve and 140 Landwehr battalions are as yet raw troops, which it would take some time to train for active service. The Italian army is similar in strength to that of Austria. It consists of 80 infantry regiments, 10 of Bersaglieri, 20 cavalry, and 10 of artillery—270 battalions in all—and 160 batteries of six guns each. The last of the European States as a military power, concludes the Brosen Zeitung, is England, which can only muster for service in Europe 107 battalions, 92 squadrons, and 84 batteries of six to eight guns each.—Pall Mall Gazette.