ARMED EUROPE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1490, 23 February 1887, Page 3

ARMED EUROPE.

" Digatnma," writing to the Dunedin Evening Star, says : — I find by reference to tb« Ourlcmd Mail of December 3, 1886, that the " peace strength of the French army is 523,824 men, with 2694 guns and 110,890 horses. On the oatbreak of war France is able to raise an army, including the reserve and territorial ; forcep, of 1,959,861 men, with 2952 gtms, j of which 1,355,205 ara field and reserve i troopp, and 604,656 territorial troops. The army of the first line is estimated by French sources at 2,051 459 men, and that of theisecond lino at 2,057,196 men, or a total of 4,108,655, but that estimate can scarcely be depended upon. The peace strength of the German Army, according to the Budget of 1886, was 445,424 men. The war strength of the German Army is 1,519,104 men, with 2808 guns and 312,731 horses. The Landstrum is estimated at 993,000 men. The total war strength of the forces at the disposal of Germany is consequently, m round number?, 2,762,000 men." In any case the numbers seem much m excess of those stated by Mr «J . View Gay. The total war strength of all European Powers is put down at 14,751,864 men, 17,985 guns, 1,464,093 horses ; and, if we further add all available forces, such as Armed Constabulary, military police, Garde Oivique, eto., etc , the figures, m round numbers, mount up to 20,500,000 men, with 20,000 guns.