WAR NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 80, 26 August 1914, Page 7

WAR NOTES.

GERMANY'S PLANS. The following message was despatched from Berlin on July 11:—It is learned from authoritative sources that the German Government is endeavouring ,to per- I feet plans for mobilising tlie empire's financial resources" in the event of war. It is urging the banks of tire country to agree voluntarily to keep It) per. cent, of their deposits and other assets on kand in actual money. The •proposals emanate fTom the Reichsbank. \ If the bankers decline to entertain this suggestion, as it is understood most of them will, the Government hints at the possibility of enacting legisl at ion to give effect lo its wishes. The is a development of the policy which (Turin# the lust year or Itwo has aimed l to raise the Ileiehsbank's gold reserve to higher figures than ever before—the present, reserve is £lm,!mlm«) —an increase the warehc-t from £ti,oo(> - (KM) gold to £12,OOt)jOOO in gold and £(>.00(t,0(K) in silver. The Keichsbank's plans are likely to be pushed with vigor in view oi (the disappointing rtlurns for the £">0,(HI0.0(K) war levy. It wasi announced to-dav that, the entire proceeds of the levy instead of being £00.000,000 as generally was predicted. can not now be expected to exceed £30,000,000. Pi'us.-,ia's total return of £30,750,000 is especially interest i ng. The explanation of the diiappointmen is the unfavorable state of the German money market on December :il last, when the returns from incomes and fortunes were made and nisi.- the alteration in the regulations for assessing inheritanoi's and estates. ARMY ORUAXISATK >X. The organisation of the British army and that of the armies of Geiiinany. France and liussia differ in one important particular. Whereas the basis of the British field army organisation is a division, the basis of the German, French and Rusi-iiin licld army organisation is an army corps. A German array corps is about twice as strong as a British division. It numbers 41.000 men and 14-1 iruns. A French arjuy corps has an establishment of 33310 men ;'nd from 120 to 144 guns. A British aunty division, which number.- IS.tiTO men and 7(i guns, consists of three infantry brigades of four battalions each, four field artillery brigades, one heavy battery, one ammunition column, two companies of engineer*, one signal comIpanv, one snundron of i.tvalry, one aeroplane squadron, one divisional train, and th lee ambulances. Th" war establishment of a British battalion of infant rv is otliceivi ami '.)!>."> other ranks, in eight companies. A British cavalry division has -ISli oflicei's and SUIO other ranks. A German infantry division numbers Ifi.-MH) men. and :i German infant rv brittle f1 1 ;:l men. A German calavrv division has JttKi and a Gemini cavalry brigade 14HI men. A French ''ei- corps is oraani-c-.l on much ihe «:»>•.• lines as a_ <i.;r:esMl. U e'TJtain- two in'antrv divisions, each division cou-is'.ing of 'l t;Nn A Free,-::! infancy div.sion contain", two infnntrv liri !»:<«!••«. a ! vigade <*{ mf-mt-rv numberinlr~ 531)0 in'll. A French cavalry division has a war strength of -HSt) wn. and a French oavnlrv brigade a strength of 14CO men. A Ri'.r-sian infantry division has 17,900 men, and' a cavalry division 4000 men.