c. Trigonometrical section;
d. Topographical section;
e. Geographical-statistical section;
f. The map-room.
The three sections have the object of collecting and arranging information respecting the home and foreign armies. The home subjects to be treated are the means and warlike institutions of the State, its fortresses, magazines, ports, inland communications, the organization, recruiting, mobilization, armament, equipment, and drill of the army. The warlike systems of foreign nations, the strength and organization of their armies, regulations, and drill, the distribution of the troops, state of preparation for active service, and their systems of reinforcement and reserves, are the further subjects of inquiry. For these purposes the work is divided as follows, according to the division into—
1st Section.—Austria, Russia, Sweden and Norway, Denmark, Turkish Empire, Greece, Asia.
2d Section.—Prussia and North Germany, South Germany, Italy, Switzerland.
3d Section.—France, Great Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, America.
The number of officers actually belonging to the two categories of principal and accessory establishments of the staff is 115, of whom 94 belong to the first, and 21 to the second named branch. In the first there are 17 chiefs of the staff—viz., 13 with the army corps, one with the General Inspection of the artillery, and three at the head of the three sections—47 field officers, and 29 captains. In the accessory establishment there are four chiefs, five field officers, and 12 captains.
The office establishment, inclusive of the Engineer geographers—who are non-commissioned officers of the Artillery or Engineers serving permanently in the trigonometrical section in place of the officers who were till recently employed temporarily in this office, and of whom there are at present 10—consists of 18 permanent officials, not including a head messenger, two chancery servants, two house servants, and a porter.