Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/917

 DEFENCE 795

Owing to the length of the reserve service, also to a number of the men being released after only one year in the ranks, the number of reservists per battalion is very large (2,000 or more.) On mobilisation, therefore, the reserve not only brings its unit to war strength, but every battalion and regiment forms a corresponding reserve unit, and there is still a certain surplus left for the depot.

Two infantry regiments make a brigade (usually 6, but sometimes 7 or 8, battalions) ; 2 brigades a division ; and 2 divisions an army corps. French batteries have only 4 guns each. Each division has a field artillery regiment of 9 batteries (36 guns), while the corps artillery consists of 9 field and 3 howitzer batteries : altogether 30 batteries to the corps. In addition there are 6 ' reinforcing batteries ' to each corps, which only exist as a cadre till mobilisation ; if they can be placed rapidly on their war footing it gives a total of 144 guns to the corps. To an army corps in the field are also attached a cavalry brigade of 2 regiments, 1 chasseur battalion, some companies of engineers, &c. There are also 42 heavy batteries, of 2 guns each, to be distributed amongst the army corps.

A cavalry division is nominally composed of 3 brigades of 2 regiments each, with a division of horse artillery of 2 batteries, in all 24 squadrons, and 12 guns. There are 8 permanent cavalry divisions, and 2 more will be formed on mobilisation. Those now in existance are mostly stationed on the eastern frontier, but half of them have only 4 regiments.

The mobilised strength of a normal army corps would be nearly 33,000 combatants. The strength of a cavalry division of 6 regiments would be about 4,700 combatants.

The French army is localised, and territorialised. There are 20 army corps 'regions' including Algeria fthe 19th) ; the division in occupation of Tanis is furnished by Algerian troops. Each region, Algeria excepted, furnishes a complete army corps ; also a variable number of units of cavalry, garrison artillery, &c. Each of the 8 infantry regiments of an army corps is recruited from its regimental district ; but there is also an additional regi- ment (the ' regional ' regiment) which is recruited, like the chasseur battalions, the cavalry, &c., from the region at large. The regional regiments, and also the chasseur battalions, are usually stationed out of their own regions, in the neighbourhood of the eastern frontier. The 6th army corps (Chalons) and the 7th (Besancon) are by this means augmented to 3 divisions, and there is a brigade of 3 regional regiments and 2 chasseur battalions at Lyons. This is the general arrangement : there are certain variations which need not bo detailed. Information regarding the distribution of the troops in N. Africa is given under Algeria.

The Reserve Troops form divisions corresponding to those of the first line. Therefore usually two in each region. There are in all 36 reserve divisions of approximately the same composition and strength, on mobilisation, as the first line divisions. The reserve formations of the regional regiments, of the foot artillery, and of the engineers, are available for garrisoning the fortresses.

The Territorial Armtj similarly consists of 36 divisions, and garrison troops. The Algerian troops have their own reserve formations, and also territorial reserve cadres for 10 l)attalions of Zouaves, 6 squadrons of Chasseurs d'Afrique, 9 field batteries, &c.

The surplus men of the reserve and territorial army M'ould be called to the dep6ts, as required, after mobilisation has taken place, and would be drafted to make good the losses of the army in the field.

The military Cxistoms Corps of 38 battalions, and a large number of Chasseurs Forestiers are recruited from men who have been passed