Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1899 American Edition.djvu/1099

 J)EFENCE 743

1,938 kilometres. The coast line of the peninsula measures 3,383 kilometres; of »Sicily, 1,115; of Sardinia, 1,336; of Elba and the small islands, 1,042 ; the total length of coast is thus 6,876 kilometres.

On the Continental frontier of Italy the principal passes of the Alps are defended by fortifications distributed according to a plan decided on in 1874, and at present in process of execution. The basin of the Po is also studded with fortified places, though some of the old fortresses have been either abandoned or de- classed, while others are being constructed. The chief strong places in the region are the following : — Casale, Piacenza, Peschiera, Verona, Mantua, Legnago (these four form the old Austrian Quadrilateral), Venice, Alessandria, Bologna. On the coasts and islands are the following fortified places : — Vado, Genoa, Spezia, Monte Argentaro, Gaeta ; w^orks in the Straits of Messina ; Tdrento ; Ancona. On the north Sardinia is de- fended by the fortifications in the Island of Maddalena. Home is surrounded by walls, and is protected by a circle of forts.

II. Army.

The army of Italy, in virtue of the law of June 28, 1897, consists of the permanent army, the mobile militia, and the territorial militia. Personal military service is obligatory on all citizens fit to bear arms from the completion of their twentieth year to December 31st, after the completion of their thirty-ninth year. The annual levies are enrolled in three categories. Those who (as decided by lot) belon<; to the first category serve as follows : — In the permanent army the carabineers, and non-commissioned oflBcers of whatever corps, five years under arms and four years with unlimited leave ; in the territorial militia both carabineers and non-commissioned officers serve ten years with unlimited leave ; other corps (cavalry included), in the permanent army, two or three years under arms and tive to seven years with unlimited leave ; in the mobile militia four or three years ; and in the territorial militia seven years. Those of the second category remain eight or nine years in the permanent army with unlimited leave, four or three years in the mobile militia and seven years in the territorial militia. Those who belong to the third category join neither the permanent army nor the mobile militia, but serve their nineteen years in the territorial militia with unlimited leave. The men of the second category are called to arms for training for a period varying from two to six months, which may be divided over one or more years. Those of the third category have thirty da}'S training ; in time of war they have garrison duty and form the last reserve. In the levy of the year 1696, the number of recruits examined was 3i'6,824. Of these, 99,849 were put back ; 108,326 were unfit to serve ; 94,695 were assigned to the first category ; 1,681 to the second ; and 92,273 to the third. Youths who have received a superior education are allowed to serve as one-year volunteers on payment of a sum