Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/919

 DEFENCE

797

incorporation of reserve divisions. It would also appear that in a war requiring France to put forward lier whole strengtli, two additional army corps, each of two divisions, couhl be jirovided by the Algerian troops and the troops of the Colonial Army in France. These corps, with an Algerian cavahy division, would add about 70,000 men, making a grand total of about 1,300,000 combatants.

The depots of the fiehl army, when augmented by the surplus men of the reserve and territorial army who would be first called up (all fully trained soldiers), would amount, it is said, to about 626,000 men ; besides which, 600,000 to 700,000 additional men are supposed to be available to make good losses in the field.

The organised territorial troops are said to muster 596,000 men. The military customs corps, numbering about 40,000, and the Chasseurs Forestiers, about 10,000, would also be available for local defence.

The administration of the French army consists of a general staff and a number of departments, all under the War Minister. In the consideration of general questions the War Minister is assisted by a council, called the Conseil Superieur de la Guerre, consisting of himself as president, and 12 generals of rank, including the Chief of the General Staff (the Generalissimo of the Army in case of war) and the Chief of the Staff of the Army,

The following table shows the peace establishments of the Metro])olitan Army and of the Colonial Army in France according to the budget estimate for 1913.

—

France

Algejia

Tunis

Total

staffs and Services, &c. . Jlilitary Schools ....

Infantry

Cavalry

Artillery

Engineers

Train

Administrative (lorjjs Gendarmerie and garde republicaiiie Saharan Companies ....

7,274

2,828

312,429

64,061

92,237

16,564

8,020

14,550

24,847

1,226

36,546 7,466 3,532 1,302 1,859 3,750

1,005

202

12,373 1,842 1,802 469 01.", 700 143

.s,702

2,828

301,348

73,369

97,571

18,335

10,492

19,000

24,990

1,005

Total Metropolitan Army. Colonial Troops in France

542,810 27,944

50,686

18,204;

617,700 27,944

Total

570,754

56,08

18,204

045,644

The military budget of France for 1913 shows an estimated expenditure of 812,819,193 francs (32,512,767/.), for the Metropolitau Army, 43,287,334 francs (1,731,493^.) for the Colonial troops in France, 101,051,374 francs (4.042,054^.) for armament, works and buildings, and stores. Total 957,157,901 francs (38,286,316/.). The military expenditure charged in the budget of the Minister of the Colonies for 1913 amounts to 87,133,766 francs (3,485,350/.).

The arm of the French infantry is the Lebel magazine rifle : calibre '315. The cavalry carry the Lebel carbine. The present French field gun is the 7*5 cm. (2 '95 in.) Q.F., shielded, gun, model '97. The howitzer batteries are armed with 12 cm. (4 in.), or 15'5 cm. (6'2 in.) pieces.

Navy.

The Navy Estimates for 1913 amount -to 461,288,219 francs (18,451,528/.), in 1912, 423,278,924 francs (16,931,157/.).

The French navy is under the supreme direction of the Minister of Marine, who is assisted by a Chief of the Stafi'. The functions of the last-named officer,