RUSSIA. The Invalide Russe publishes the sub

North Otago Times, Volume I, Issue 7, 7 April 1864, Page 6

RUSSIA. The Invalide Russe publishes the sub-

joined information : — " The Minister of war is occupied at this moment in executing two important refoims :—lst,: — 1st, The new organization of the army ; and 2nd, the new system of military administration. The first relates to the formation ol active corps from the reserve, and to the formation of regiments and battalions for the defence of the fortresses, &c. ; also to the training of recruits for the active corps by means of special detachments. We have, as every one knows, besides the guards, the grenadiers, and the army of the Caucasus, only 72 regiments of active infantry, forming six infantry corps. France possesses at this time 106 regiments of infantry, without counting the guard ; Austria 94 ; and Prussia 72 ; and. moreover, the regiments of the guard and the landwehr. However, this organization of our army was sufficient : for in time of war we were able to form for each active regiment a reserve regiment, and also two battalions in depot. | In reckoning the legiment at three bat- ! talions of 1,000 men, our active force of infantry was 226,000 men, and a reserve of 350 battalions, or about 350,000 men. The fortresses even in time of peace, cannot be without sufficient garrisons, furnished up to the present time by troops that might be moie usefully employed on the field of battle. These garrisons have, therefore, weakened our active force : besides, it was necessary to keep for those troops, everything that composes the train of battalions of an army in activity. In future, the garrisons will be formed of men less capable of field service, and whom it will not be necessary to furnish with the train of equipage belonging to active battalions, which arrangement will effect a considerable economy. As the troops in garrison are not subject to perpetual marching, they will have plenty of time to

be trained to the use of cannon. They will consequently furnish a good number of artillerymen in reserve, and reinforcements for the active army, at the same time that they fulfil all the conditions of efficient defence of the places confided to them Up to this time the care of training recruits belonged to the divisions, and this inconvenience existed, that for one regiment ten recruits had to be trained, for another 100. for a third 1,000, and there were not always sufficient expert drillmasters. Now this care is entrusted only te a certain number of battalions, distributed in the fortresses, in the Government towns, and in some district towns. Experience proves that 100 drill-masters are sufficient to prepare, in a short time, 1,000 recruits; consequently we must have a reserve body of 10,000 or 12,000 good masters, in order to drill in the course of a year, not only the double, but in case of need the triple of our contingent for the y ear — v iz., 375,000 men. This system is already in the course of execution, and the reserve divisions of the first five corps of infantry are already changed into active troops."