Carbineer.
There is also a Corps closely connected with the Army which deserves mention, namely, the Gendarmes, or “Carabinieri Reali,” whose strength amounts to 543 officers, 22,487 Foot Gendarmes, and 11 legions of Mounted Gendarmes.
Formerly many a story was told of the fights between the Carabinieri and the banditti. Nowadays, both the robbers and the old Carabinieri have disappeared, and the present Carabinieri Reali form an excellent Corps, whose duty it is to maintain peace and good order in the country.
In war-time a battalion of them is sent with each Army Corps. They have then to provide orderlies for the Staff, as well as to act as Military Police.
Organisation.
The whole kingdom is divided into twelve Army Corps Districts.
In peace-time the Army Corps vary in strength. In war, each Army Corps consists of 2 Divisions, the Division numbering 2 Brigades (each brigade consisting of 2 regiments of Infantry), and an Artillery Division of 3 batteries. Besides these, each Army Corps has 1 regiment of Bersaglieri, 1 or 2 Artillery Divisions, each of 4 batteries, 1 regiment of Cavalry, 2 companies of Engineers, with bridging-train, and 1 battalion of Carabinieri, forming altogether 27 battalions of Infantry, 5 or 6 squadrons of Cavalry, 12 to 16 batteries of Artillery, and 2 companies of Engineers, etc.—total, about 29,000 men and 112 guns.
The Alpini are not included in the Corps organisation.
Milizie.
The Landwehr consists of 48 regiments of Infantry, 18 battalions of Bersaglieri, 22 Alpine Companies, 61 batteries of Artillery, and 35 companies of Engineers. It is formed into twelve divisions in time of war.