Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/1114

 992

ITALY

first category men who have passed through the army and mobile militia, could be made use of, should its services ever be required.

The arm of the Italian infantry is the Mannlicher Carcano ritle, a mag- azine weapon of 6*5 mm. calibre. The territorial militia has the old Vetterli. The field artilleiy is being rearmed with Krupp guns, calibre 7 '5 cm., model 1906.

The following table gives the peace strength of the Italian army in 1911 : —

Officers

Men

Horses & Mules

Administration, staff, military

schools, etc. ....

1,548

2,061

2,510

Infantry, 389 battalions, and 88

district headquarters.

7,627

159,297

6,211

Cavalry, 150 squadrons, and 29

depots

1,006

27,976

25,443

Artillery, 263 batteries, 110 com-

panies, 51 depots, etc.

2,359

48,961

23,090

Engineers, 80 companies, and 10

companies engineer train.

630

11,105

1,300

Medical, 12 companies

769

3,712

81

Commissariat, 12 companies.

452

3,978

420

Carabineers, 12 legions.

704

30,067

5,374

Total

15,095

287,157

64,429

In consequence of the despatch of an expeditionary force to Tripoli and Cyrenaica, the Italian army has been increased by Royal Decree of December 7, 1911 (converted afterwards into the law of June 27, 1912) as follows: — Infantry: 24 battalions of infantry of the line of 4 companies each; 3 battalions of bersaglicri of 3 companies each. Cavalry: 5 squadrons. Artillery : 2 groups oi field artillery of 3 batteries each ; 4 groups of mountain artillery of 3 batteries each ; 4 groups of fortress artillery of 3 companies each. Engineers : 2 battalions of 3 companies each.

The cadres have been increased of the following number of officers : 20 for the carabinieri ; 342 for infantry ; 21 for cavalry ; 112 for artillery ; 20 for engineers. The same law has provided for the constitution of 1 Flying Corps (1 battalion of 2 companies — Batlaglione Aviatori).

The military budget of Italy for 1912-13 amounted to 16,966,471Z. , including 3,214, OOOZ. extraordinary expenditure. In 1908, extra credit of no less than 8,920,000Z. Avas granted, to be spread over 9 years. This amount was to be spent on the re-armament of the artillery, guns for per- manent works, fortifications, railways, barracks, mobilisation stores, and horses.

The Italians have a special African corps in Erythrea, consisting of 3 com- panies of white infantry and 4 native battalions ; also 1 squadron of native cavalry, a local company of artillery (Italians), and a native mountain battery. Its total strength is about 4,600 of all ranks, of whom about 3,800 are natives.

In Italian Somaliland there is a native corps of 4 infantry companies and 1 artillery company, with Italian officers, and a body of military police. Total strength about 3,000 of all ranks.