THE FRENCH ARMY

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2251, 10 September 1914, Page 6

THE FRENCH ARMY

PEACE AND WAR STRENGTH. Some of the latest information concerning the French Army is contained in tho Juno number of the "Journal" of the Royal United Service Institution. Tho peace establishment and war strength are shown as follow. — Peace. War. Infantry 386,338 2,600,000 Cavalry ............ 73,369 430,000 Artillery 97,571 .588,000 Guns 2,720' 3,200 Other arms and . departments ... 60,422 ■ 260,000 ..Total 617,700 3,878,000 .The war strength comprises: Active Army, 1,009,000; reserves and depots, 1,600,000; Territorial Army, 818,000; Territorial .reserve, 451,000. The French Military Budget for 1913 amounted to ..£39,328,974, showing an inoreaso over that. voted for 1912 of £2,509,029. In addition, a further sum of £9,380,000, out of a Bill asking for £17,600,000, was voted in the summer for expenses incurred in the retention with the Colours- from October 1 to the end of the year of tlid 1910 class of soldiers, who, under ordinary circumstances, . would have, been liberated in October. It is interesting to note/ the "Journal" states,, that from April, 1914,' the Coast , Artillery was. to be' manned by sailors, the military personnel being transferred to the Eastern ■frontier. By a law dated August 7, 1913, all Frenchmen, with certain exceptions, have to perform three years' service instead of two as previously. The chief points of the law are: — (1) Service with the. Colours to be for three years, with a proviso that well-behaved men are to have four months' leave. ' . (2) Liability for service to be 28 years in all, viz., three years in tlio Active Army; eleven in the Reserve, seven in. the Territorial Army, . and seven in the Reserve of the Territorial Army. , . (3) Recruits to be incorporated at the age of 20, instead of 21, as formerly. (4) A minimum strength below which no unit was to be permitted was fixed. Consequent, upon the Three. Years' Law,, and tho Loi des Cadres, a new organisation 'of the troops on the frontier came into operation on October 1, by means-of which it was_ hoped that mobilisatioh",'woulcl bo ameliorated, and the defence"'of.-the- frontier improved. I.i conformity with the Loi des Cadres and the Three Years' Law, tho following units.wgre. created or formed:—(l) Ten new line regiments, numberd 164 to 173; (2) nine regiments of Tirailleurs; and:-(3), .the,. 31st Battalion of .Chasseurs. ....rTea' cyclist companies ' were created out;of the battalions of Chasseurs and -were attached to the ten cavalry divisions