Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1899 American Edition.djvu/1173

 DEFENCE 817

inhabitants and more ; in the others there is a 'resting' (rustende) militia. All men from 25 to 30 belong to the militia, from 30 to 35 to the reserve. The militia is subdivided into three parts (bans) : (1) the unmarried men and widowers without children ; (2) the married men and widowers with few children, who are supposed not to be absolutely necessary for their family or the exercise of their profession ; (3) the married men and widowers with children belonging to the militia. The militia numbers 2 per cent, of the i^opulation ; in 1897 the first part was formed by 42,243 men. Besides this there is the * landstorm,' consisting of all capable of bearing arms, and the ' Society of Sharpshooters,' corresponding somewhat to the English ' Volunteers.'

The regular army on footing of war consists in all of about 68,000 men, including special services, but excluding officers.

In peace the total number of the army was, on June 1, 1897, only 27,834 men and about 1,971 officers.

Included in the infantry are 1 regiment of guards, and 8 regiments of the line ; there are 3 regiments of cavalry, 1 battalion of sappers and miners, 3 regiments of field artillery, 4 of fortress artillery, 1 corps of light-horse artillery, 1 corps of pontooneers, and 1 corps of torpedoists (see under Colonies).

III. Navy.

The Navy i« maintained for a double purpose— viz. the protection of the Dutch waters and coast, and the defence of the East Indian possessions. These latter contribute to the maintenance of that division of it known as the Indian Marine. The fleet, built and building, consists of six armoured turret and barbette rams (ranging between 3,400 and 5,400 tons); 19 small port and local defence rams, monitors, and armoured gunboats ; a large number of small unprotected cruisers and gunboats, and a torpedo-flotilla, besides guard, training, and special service vessels, and three powerful protected cruisers (3,900 tons) of a type new to the Netherlands Marine, but resembling our Latoiui and Astrcca classes. The fleet is being extended upon a settled programme which will provide for the replacement of vessels which are regarded as obsolescent. These three protected cruisers, the Hollaticl., Zee- land, and Friesland, have been built as part of tliis scheme, and the work is to be conducted gradually by the addition of six coast- defence vessels. Two of them are for the Indian Marine, and a ship of 5,000 tons is to be built for the same service. The efteetive floating strength of the Netherlands, including the three cruisers alluded to, and the Indian Marine, may l)e thus stated : —

Coast Defence Ships. . 25 i Gun vessels, various. . 50

Cruisers, 2nd Class. . . 9 | Torpedo-craft, 1st Class. 28

3rd Class. . . 4 ' ,, 2nd & 3rd Class 28

The following is a list of the armour-clad fleet of the Netherlands and of the principal (uuisers. The first nine are sea-going vessels ; the rest are purely for local defence.

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