SWEDEN AND NORWAY.
Sweden, which once, in the time of the Thirty Years’ War, represented the first Military Power in Europe, keeps up now only a small Army, just large enough for the needs of the country. The military system of Sweden is a peculiar one, and entirely different from that of other States.
Military System.
The whole land is divided into a great many small “Rote” or Divisions, each of which has to supply one able-bodied man of the right age for the Army. This man serves for as long as his physical powers last. He receives a small property, consisting of house, farm, and ploughland, and definite pay as long as he is actually with the Colours.
Men for the Cavalry are provided in a very similar manner with their horses by the larger landowners or “Rusthalters,” in return for their exemption from certain taxes.
These troops are called “Indelta” men.
The second portion of the Swedish Army consists of the “Värfvade,” the men of which body enlist voluntarily for from two to six years’ service, and may re-engage for further service.
The Värfvade men can be trained much more thoroughly than those of the Indelta, for the former are continually with their Corps, whilst the latter are, during the greater part of the year, on furlough, looking after their farms.
The third portion is the “Bewäring,” which consists of all men between their twenty-first and twenty-sixth years of age. In case of war they would have to reinforce the other two portions.
Organisation.
The Swedish Army consists of—
Infantry.
Infantry—
| 2 | Regiments of the Body-Guard, |
| 2 | Regiments of the Body-Grenadiers, |
| 17 | Regiments of the Infantry, |
| 2 | Battalions of Body-Grenadiers, and |
| 4 | Rifle battalions. |
Each regiment consists of 2 battalions in peace-and 3 in war-time: this would give 48 and 69 battalions respectively.
Cavalry.
Cavalry—
| 1 | Regiment of Life-Guards of 4 squadrons, |
| 4 | Regiments of Hussars with altogether 26 squadrons, |
| 2 | Regiments of Dragoons with altogether 15 squadrons, |
| 1 | Corps of Light Horse of 2 squadrons. |
| Total, 47 squadrons. | |
Artillery.
Artillery—3 Regiments of Field Artillery, of 5 divisions of 2 batteries each, the regiment consisting of 10 (2 “Driving,” 6 Horse-Artillery, and 2 “Foot”) batteries, besides the Reserve Artillery of 3 Foot and 6 Driving-batteries. Each battery has about 6 guns, which gives a total number of 234 field-guns.
Engineers.
Engineers—1 Pontoon battalion, including a Field-Telegraph Company, and 1 battalion of Sappers.
Train—1 battalion of 2 companies.
The Swedish Infantry drill is somewhat out of date. The quiet and leisurely way in which a battalion drills is something astonishing. The skirmishers have to keep exactly in line and are directed by a sergeant in the centre with uplifted rifle. Every time a man in the firing-line snaps his rifle, he shouts out “Piff-paff!” The introduction of a new magazine-rifle will, therefore, probably cause some fatigue to the throats of the Swedish Infantry.
Sweden.
