The estimates as to how much the army numbers when on a war footing varies between two and three-fourths millions and four millions. Austria’s army, on paper at least, numbers 380,000 men in time of peace, which number gradually was to have risen to 410,000 in the next few years. In war-time it is estimated at 1,300,000 men. Curiously enough Italy, with a peace army of only 300,000, estimates her war army officially at 3,400,000, or about as much as either Germany or France.
Military Telephone Station
For the armies of the Triple Entente we have an estimate published by the Deutsche Tageszeitung in January, 1914, which is worth quoting at some length, as it is from a well-known military writer, Lieutenant Colonel von Bremen:
The basis of France’s military increase in 1913 is the reintroduction of the three years’ term of service. By retaining these third-year men the peace-showing is increased by almost a third. This year 185,000 men are to be called in. The peace strength of the French army will, from the autumn of 1916 on, amount to 33,000 officers and officials and some 833,000 men, while up to that period we can reckon with 780,000 men. One must add to this, 28,000 gendarmes, customs and forest officials, who likewise belong to the territorial army (like the Landwehr). In Germany we have for 1913 and 1914, counting officers, non-commissioned officers and men, 802,000, to which, in 1915, will be added 13,000 men. Deducting from the present strength of both armies the mere laborers who have to do with supplies, etc., Germany’s peace force is momentarily the higher, but not if we reckon France’s gendarmerie, etc. Counting in this, France, with 40,000,000 inhabitants, has a larger army in time of peace than Germany, with 65,000,000. The French army has further advantages in the longer training and in the increased readiness for war. The troops covering the eastern frontiers have two hundred men to a company (four-fifths of the war strength) and even at the time when the recruits are being mustered in, one hundred forty trained men; while our companies at the same time can dispose of only half so strong a number. And what it means in case of war to have at hand two fully trained years’ contingents (especially in the cavalry) during the period of training the recruits is self-evident. Further advantages in the French army lie in the longer training of the inactive officers and in the good provision for officers and non-commissioned officers. In the house of deputies negotiations are pending regarding advancement regulations tending to lower the age limit of the whole body of officers. And, above all, it has been [Pg 28] made possible to create a new, twenty-first army corps. So we see that France, in 1913, has made a very great step forward.
Putting up Campaign Tents
The Russian armaments of 1913 are also significant. The most important event was the appearance in October of the draft of a law to prolong the term of active service by three months and that in the decisive time from January first (fourteenth) to April first (fourteenth). As in Russia, the recruits are called in at latest by November fifteenth. Russia will, until spring, still have under arms, besides the recruits, the trained contingents of three years in the infantry—four, indeed, in the cavalry. That considerably increases her readiness for war. And in addition to lengthening the term of service the number of recruits is still further increased by twenty thousand men. The momentary military strength of the Russian empire is about one and one-half millions, of which about 1,200,000 concern Europe (thirty army corps and twenty-four cavalry divisions). But already for 1914 we can reckon on the formation of from two to three new army corps and on a considerable increase of the artillery by at least forty batteries, for which purpose three hundred twenty million marks have been called for. To make mobilization speedier and to facilitate the march to the west boundary railroads are to be built. The estimates for this are about two hundred sixty million marks. The following stretches are under consideration: 1. Nowogeorgiewsk to Plozk on the Vistula. 2. Cholm—Tomoschow—Belzek. 3. Schepetowka—Proskurow—Larga. In addition a number of lines are planned of which one is to encircle our province of East Prussia. Along the German frontier, too, the erection of wireless stations has energetically been taken in hand. Likewise they have begun to modernize their fort and field artillery. Side by side with these endeavors go intended improvements in military education and training and organized changes in the situation of the officers’ corps and general staff in the way of raising salaries and of quicker advancement. Thus for the Russian army, too, and its capacity for service the year 1913 is to be looked upon as important.
Death’s-head Hussars