Show ARMIES OF POWERS COMPARED TOTAL OF WAR T PEACE FRANCL REAL BATTLE capabilities OF THE ARMIES OF EUROPE do you know that the contending armies irmler in n europe europa today are battling pon apon their peace time footings asked a colonel on the general staff of the U united states army and dont torset torget that the nation that gets its fighting force up to its full war strength first will gaina gain a material advantage in the she present turmoil this means that any hasty deductions made upon the basis of tights fights won von and lost up to date data may soon prove absolutely misleading the question then arises which of the she struggling armies can reach its ifa war strength soonest onest Bo and with that attained what are its chances for maintaining that standing ju la the gru ling eling days to comet come the answer is a matter of administrative efficiency vat and then follows naturally the relative merits of 0 t the reserve material pon which the nation can draw as tattle after battle and disease thin the ranks of those in the field at present the germans are virtually fighting alone four other nations but their initial setbacks are not properly true index of what to Is to come in the bear ear future some figures As it Is necessary to deal with figures it la Is just as well to begin now as later these figures interpreted in the light of additional information lava aavo another meaning one that comes closer to the facts inspiring tho the aggressive gres sive policy assumed by the kat in face of seemingly appalling adds according to authoritative information the peace and we tue war tooting footing of the powers named are as aa follows peace war Tle reserved Reser vea total OW 6 IN germany 5 V trance rance OW austria italy air i 1600 ODO england wa japan lOO OOOO As between france and germany part apart from the tatters lat superior war tooting footing the th e total of the fully trained reserves in the fatherland would be the most potent factor in a prolonged struggle ruggle at and also alpo the justification tor for a vigor vigorous cius initiative despite early aly heavy losses both germany and france have in the last two years in crease d the period of service from two to lothree three years in france this lengthening of the term with the cotera colors aroused a great deal of opposition sot not to say discontent immediately back of these soldiers sold lera are the first reserves men who but recently have finished their full tours of ct active service and of course are familiar with the latest practices now look at the foregoing figures ger minas banys peace footing Is only men stronger than that of france but upon pon the first call to arms this moderate superiority rity immediately jumps jumpa to the greater figure of giving the jahr an advantage of nearly 21 per tent cent hut this Is only the beginning of the difference germanas germanys Germ anys ys total reserve of fully trained reserves men trained with peculiar yc cullar thoroughness to la today quite while the admittedly less exactingly ac drilled reserves of france franca number but rank and file here as aa can plainly be seen been the fatherland leads by two and a times the war tooting footing ut of france while still having in reserve as many as i r franca ranco would have at best setting aside the question of tho the relative military value of the training of t the german end and tho the french sal ss dlen alers thoa of prance carry a maga mine ine rifle of eight millimeters mil limiters caliber and nd the get hermaa W infantrymen tremell repeat ers era having a caliber of 78 tera assuming the same name propulsive charge the german gun will carry further and travel flatter than the french weapon making for botter better marksmanship at all ranges again tho the french rifle la is heavier than the german Inor increasing easing to that extent the stress upon the man w who ho has to carry it on long marches the soldiers of both nations carry the same number of cartridges but the saving in weight la in the german musket Is offset by other weights he has to carry fully equipped the french foot soldier has n a total bur den of pounds while the german infantryman has to bear pounds As a broad proposition the average german is a sturdier man than his bis french rival and this greater tax is wisely laid upon him french equipment in the french army each company of infantry has the following portable tools eight shovels tour four pickaxes pick axes double headed three axes one folding saw and a pair of wire nippers the german foot soldier on the hand does not get off so easily be cause each company has das to carry small spades ten and five hatchets now what does this simply that the kaisers keisers kai sers infantrymen are able to entrench themselves quick er than their french rivals and tot that reason could hold art an advanced position more securely and guard themselves against attai while there better trian man the soldiers of the tricolor now let us see what russia represents as a toes foes to germany on the pa fa ther latida north northern northan rn border unquestionably tion ably the czar s army is superior to the kaisers keisers kai sers in mere point of numbers in peace in war and in the total available reserves reser vea and so far as personal bravery goes the russian soldier Is unsurpassed but battles are not won these days by just numbers training and handling of the men ore are of supreme importance broadly speaking it Is doubtful it the russian forces no aft any better bellar trained than they were vwe we re when they measured strength with tho the japanese 1 in 1904 08 the infantry are armed with magazine rifles of millimeter caliber and as aa marksmen they are nothing like the equals of the germans how they compare russia to ia measurably superior to germany in the matter of infantry cavalry and artillery in the form ot of field guns and germany turn leads france in the vital feature of artillery artillery has played a prime part in all great wars and the popular idea Is that it Is upon these guns that the tide of battle turns in a measure this Is so BO for the field pieces have to protect or support the ta infantry fantry but with thid done the ho decisive outcome ot of an action depends upon the conduct and gallantry of the toot foot soldier for he ha constitutes the backbone of any military force As an a matter ot of history the french hove bave led in field ordnance ever since the aranco prussian war the french were the first to adopt the long recoil which made it possible to use higher propulsion charges and to secure better practice against the target and to them too Is owed the introduction of the spade upon the trall trail by which the recoil of the carriage could be checked thus thua making it possible for the gun pointer to hold his position and to fire deliberately and rapidly to the tha french also abo world Is indebted tor for the tha higher development 0 of f the tu shrapnel shell with its U vi blut blui of leaden bullets |