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Transcriber’s note:
Underscores are used to enclose text in italics; the three
words that end this sentence _are in italics_.
Plus signs are used to enclose text in bold face; the four
words that end this sentence +are in bold face+.
The symbols ^{} are used to represent a superscript; for
example “3 squared” would be printed as “3^{2}”.
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[Illustration: England. I.
_Printed by G. Löwensohn, Fuerth Bavaria_
_Published by William Clowes & Sons, L^{d}, London._]
THE ARMIES OF EUROPE
Illustrated.
Translated and Revised by Count Gleichen,
Grenadier Guards,
From the German of FEDOR VON KÖPPEN.
Illustrated by Richard Knötel.
London:
William Clowes & Sons, Limited,
13, Charing Cross, S.W.
1890.
London:
Printed by William Clowes and Sons, Limited,
Stamford Street and Charing Cross.
CONTENTS
PAGE
CONTENTS iii
PREFACE v
TRANSLATOR’S PREFACE vii
ARMY OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE 1
THE GERMAN ARMY 20
AUSTRIA-HUNGARY 36
ITALY 42
FRANCE 46
RUSSIA 53
DENMARK 59
SWEDEN AND NORWAY 61
SPAIN AND PORTUGAL 64
SWITZERLAND 67
HOLLAND AND BELGIUM 69
TURKEY AND THE STATES OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA 73
APPENDIX (NAVIES) 79
PREFACE.
“Si vis pacem, para bellum!”
“Let him who is desirous of peace prepare himself for war.” Thus runs
the proverb which sums up the experiences and history of the most
powerful Empire of old. If this maxim held good in the old Roman days,
how much more applicable is it to the present time, when war-clouds are
darkening the horizon, and threaten to burst in ruin and devastation on
all nations who have not heeded the warning! There are, however, few
who have not heeded it, and the governments of all nations have been
for some time, and are still, reorganising their Armies and bringing
them to a high state of efficiency in accordance with the experience
taught them by the great wars of the last thirty years.
It is therefore necessary for all who take an interest in military
matters, or in foreign politics, to become acquainted with the strength
and organisation of the armed forces of the different European Powers,
for it is only by a study of these Armies that we get to know the
relative value of our own.
TRANSLATOR’S PREFACE.
The matter contained in the following pages has been corrected up
to date. The _Corrigenda_ at the end of Germany, France, Italy, and
Russia, refer to the alterations that have taken place during the
progress of this work through the press.
A few words of the original text, such as “Landwehr” and “Ersatz,” have
been retained in the translation, although applied to other than German
countries. For their meaning, _v._ “The German Army,” p. 21, etc. There
are no corresponding English words.
G.
_November_, 1890.
[Illustration: England. II.
_Printed by G. Löwensohn, Fuerth Bavaria_
_Published by William Clowes & Sons, L^{d}, London._]
ARMY OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE.[1]
The British Army is constructed on a purely original system. It is like
no other army in the world, and for this very good reason, that there
is no empire in the world like the British Empire.
[Sidenote: +The British Empire.+]
Great Britain and Ireland alone do not constitute the Empire. India,
Australia, Canada, the Cape, and shoals of other colonies in every
quarter of the globe, all help to build it up, and for its defence we
must have an Imperial Army constructed to fit it. Let us see what we
have got.
The first thing that strikes us about the Army is that, although of
a decent size, it is not by any means too large—in fact, some people
say that it is nothing like large enough. That, however, is a question
which chiefly concerns the British taxpayer and his pocket, and
with which we have nothing to do at this moment, so we will confine
ourselves to contemplating its actual size.
[Sidenote: +Strength of Imperial Army.+]
The Empire contains, roughly, over 9,000,000 of square miles, and over
326,000,000 of inhabitants. To defend these we have an Army which
numbers roughly as follows:—
Regular Forces 202,000
1st and 2nd Class Reserves 57,000
Militia and Militia Reserve 134,000
Yeomanry 11,000
Volunteers 224,000
Colonial Forces 84,000
Indian Native Army 152,000
altogether, 864,000 men at the outside. This apparently large number,
however, includes every single able-bodied man, British or Native,
who has been trained to bear arms: the Regular Army forms not quite
a quarter of it. Taken altogether, this gives an average of about 1
combatant to 350 non-combatants—not a large proportion. Germany’s
proportion is 1 to 99. This is a large proportion, it is true, but
then she is threatened by powerful enemies on her eastern and western
frontiers, whereas we are an island, and look to our Navy as the first
line of defence. This being so, we can do with a moderately small Army,
and need not (yet) have recourse to the system of all other European
countries—namely, universal conscription.
It is absolutely necessary, however, that we should follow the
principle which underlies the military systems of all countries,
whether their armies are composed of conscripts or not. This principle
is that of keeping a small number of troops under arms in peace-time,
with a large reserve of trained men ready to be called out in case
of war. In our case, the small number under arms in peace-time is
represented by the Active Army, both British, Indian, and Colonial,[2]
and the large reserve by the 1st and 2nd Class Army Reserves, the
Militia, the Militia Reserve, the Yeomanry, and the Volunteers.
Before starting on the details of these different forces, it would be
as well to give the mode of enlistment and terms of service of the
British soldier, with a slight sketch of his history.
[Illustration: Mounted Infantry.
(Tropical Field Kit.)]
[Sidenote: +Recruitment.+]
The system of recruitment throughout the Army is that of voluntary
enlistment. As mentioned above, we are the _only_ country in Europe
whose soldiers are thus enlisted. The subjects of all other European
countries are liable to be enrolled in the army whether they like it
or not, and, as a rule, they do not like it. This voluntary enlistment
is a great advantage for us in one way, in that only those need be
soldiers who want to be; but, on the other hand, the strength of our
Army is chiefly dependent on the number of men who happen to fancy
soldiering, and this is hardly a matter for congratulation. Up till
now, the system has sufficed: let us hope we shall never have to change
it.
It is not generally known that there exists an Act[3] which has to be
suspended annually by Parliament (or else it would now be in force),
by which the Crown is empowered to raise by ballot as many men as may
be necessary for the Army. In other words, the country _is_ liable
to conscription, as far as may be determined by the Crown’s advisers.
This Act has, however, not been enforced since 1815. N.B.—This mode
of raising troops must not be confounded with the “Embodiment of the
Militia,” of which more hereafter.
[Illustration: Cavalry.
(Tropical Field Kit.)]
Recruiting is carried out by paid recruiters (non-commissioned
officers) in the different districts. Formerly, the recruiting-sergeant
used to clinch the bargain with the would-be recruit by presenting him
with a shilling, on which the recruit usually got drunk. The “Queen’s
Shilling” has, however, been done away with, and the recruit has now to
get drunk at his own expense.
After going through certain formalities and answering certain questions
before a magistrate, the recruit signs his “attestation-paper,” and is
then considered as enlisted.
[Illustration: Officers of Highland Light Infantry and Argyll and
Sutherland Highlanders.]
The terms of service are, as a rule, seven years with the colours and
five years thereafter in the Reserve. There are a few exceptions to
this; men joining the Household Cavalry, Colonial Corps,[4] and one
or two other smaller branches of the Service, enlist for twelve years
with the colours; men for the Royal Engineers or Foot Guards have the
alternative of the usual term, or three years with the colours and nine
years in the Reserve; whilst the Army Service Corps and Medical Staff
Corps men and a few others serve for only three years with the colours
and a varying term of years in the Reserve.
[Illustration: Officer, 5th (Northumberland) Fusiliers.]
Recruits, at the date of their enlistment, must have the physical
equivalent of 19 years of age, must be at least 5 ft. 4 in. high, and
must have a minimum chest-measurement of 33 inches.[5]
Re-engagements up to seven or twelve years with the colours are
permitted in most, and up to twenty-one years in special, cases.
[Sidenote: +Sketch of the History of Our Army.+]
At a very early period of English history every able-bodied man was
bound to take up arms in the event of a civil war or invasion. He was,
however, only liable to serve in his own county. This force thus formed
was called the General Levy.
During the Middle Ages the feudal system was in force, _i.e._, the
retainers, tenants, and vassals of every knight were required to
attend their master if he went to fight abroad. The knights in their
turn were bound to attend the king when _he_ went to fight abroad,
and thus a very respectable army was formed for the time being. This
army, _i.e._, the knights and their followers, was called the Feudal
Levy. Towards the end of the sixteenth century, members of the General
Levy were told off for the service and defence of the Crown. They were
trained and exercised in the profession of arms, and received the name
of Trained Bands. The Honourable Artillery Company, a similar force,
was raised about this time. The Sovereign could, if necessary, hire
additional mercenary soldiers to assist him in war, and these were paid
by Parliament. The Civil War, however, in Charles I.’s reign, upset the
general military system, and for some time there was no National Army.
On the Restoration, in 1660, considerable changes and improvements
took place. The Feudal Levy was abolished, the General Levy became the
Militia, and the foundations were laid of the present Standing Army.
It may be news to some people that the “raising or keeping a standing
army within the kingdom in time of peace is against law,” but such is
the fact. Parliament has every year to specially notify its consent to
a standing army; otherwise the Army would cease to exist.
Since Charles II.’s time, the Standing Army has gradually been
increasing and improving. Voluntary enlistment dates from his reign,
but it apparently has not always been sufficiently productive of men,
for we find in the last century that debtors and criminals were obliged
to serve in the ranks, in order to keep the Army up to strength. The
pressgang was also in force till 1780. It is hardly astonishing then
that some, nay, a great many, ill-educated people have been taught,
by means of traditions handed down from their great-grandfathers, to
look upon the Army as a sink of iniquity, and that they still hold
extraordinary and utterly unreasonable views on the subject. They
need be under no apprehension about letting their sons and relations
enlist. The Army is now composed of a very good class of men, drawn
chiefly from the labouring and _not_ from the criminal classes (as some
people seem to imagine). The proportion of educated recruits is rapidly
increasing, a better class of men is now enlisting, and the military
crime of to-day is absurdly small as compared with that of twenty years
ago, and is still decreasing.
[Sidenote: +Organisation.+]
The Active Army is divided into—
1. The Regular Army;
2. The Native Indian Army; and
3. The Colonial Forces.
1. The Regular Army consists of Cavalry, Artillery, Engineers, and
Infantry; besides these are the non-combatant branches, consisting of
the Army Service Corps, the Ordnance Store Corps, the Medical Staff
Corps, the Pay, Medical, Chaplains, and Veterinary Departments, and a
few more.
[Sidenote: +Cavalry.+]
The Cavalry consists of 31 regiments, including—
2 Regiments of Life Guards (Household Cavalry).
1 Regiment of Royal Horse Guards (Blues) (Household Cavalry).
7 Regiments of Dragoon Guards (1st to 7th).
3 Regiments of Dragoons (1st, 2nd, and 6th).
5 Regiments of Lancers (5th, 9th, 12th, 16th, and 17th).
13 Regiments of Hussars (3rd, 4th, 7th, 8th, 10th, 11th,
13th to 15th, and 18th to 21st inclusive).
The British Cavalry is the smartest in the world. In the Cavalry of
nearly all foreign armies, Germany for instance, and France, the horses
are trained to a degree that is unheard of in the English arm; thus
their men require but little skill in riding, and may be described as
good soldiers on horseback. Ours, on the contrary, are born horsemen,
and do not need to have their horses so thoroughly trained. The
consequence is that when our men find themselves in a predicament not
provided for by the Regulations, their natural qualities stand them in
good stead, and by their brilliant riding and dash they turn to good
account a situation which might otherwise offer serious difficulties.
The British Cavalry is divided into Heavy, Medium, and Light, according
to the size and weight of the men. The Household Cavalry, 1st and 2nd
Dragoons, are heavy, and are never quartered abroad, the Hussars are
light, and all the rest are medium Cavalry.
The Life Guards, Dragoon Guards (except the 6th), Dragoons, and 16th
Lancers wear scarlet, the remainder of the Cavalry dark blue, tunics.
The Life Guards and Blues are the only regiments who wear cuirasses,
and these they would probably leave behind on active service. They, the
Dragoon Guards and the Dragoons (except the 2nd Scots Greys, who wear
bearskins), wear steel or brass helmets, with plumes varying in colour
according to the regiment. The Lancers wear the well-known Lancer cap,
with the scarlet[6] “plastron” in front of their tunics. The Hussars
wear the busby, with busby-bag and plume of different colours according
to the regiment; and they have also six rows of yellow braid across the
front of the tunic. All the Cavalry wear dark blue pantaloons[7] or
overalls, with red, white, or yellow stripes, and the Household Cavalry
has in addition white leather breeches and jackboots for full dress.
The Cavalry forage-cap is a small round one, and always worn over the
right ear.
Their arms are sword and carbine throughout; the Lancer regiments in
addition carry the lance of male bamboo, and with a red and white
pennon. The Cavalry carbine is of the Martini-Henry pattern, with a
bore of ·450 in.; it is sighted up to 1,000 yds., and is a first-rate
little weapon.
The establishment of a Cavalry Squadron (2 troops) in the field is:—
6 officers,
16 non-commissioned officers, and
122 rank and file, of whom 26 are dismounted, and
144 horses, including draught-horses.
A Regiment (4 squadrons) is composed of:—
1 lieutenant-colonel,
3 majors,
6 captains,
16 subalterns, and 6 other officers, including adjutant,
quartermaster, surgeon, paymaster, and 2 “vets.”
75 N. C. O.’s,
666 rank and file, and
614 horses.
A Cavalry Brigade numbers 3 regiments, and details altogether 114
officers, 2,280 men, and 2,200 horses.
A Cavalry Division numbers 2 brigades (6 regiments), 2 batteries Horse
Artillery, 1 battalion Mounted Infantry, and details altogether 325
officers, 6,600 men, and 6,500 horses.
[Sidenote: +Artillery.+]
The Artillery forms one “Royal Regiment,” consisting of:—
20 Batteries of Royal Horse Artillery,
80 ” ” Field Artillery,
10 Mountain Batteries, and
96 Garrison Batteries,
with several depôts and 3 depôt batteries for their maintenance and
supply. The Horse and Field Batteries are formed into groups of 2 or 3
batteries, chiefly for tactical reasons, called Brigade Divisions, each
under a lieutenant-colonel.
A Horse Artillery Battery consists of 1 major, 1 captain, 3
subalterns, 21 N. C. O.’s, and 160 men (of which 73 are drivers), 193
horses, 6 guns, 6 ammunition wagons, and 7 other wagons.
A Field Artillery Battery of much the same, but with 9 men and 52
horses less.
The guns in use are at present of four different patterns:—
----+-----------+----------+------------+---------------------
| Weight of | Calibre. | Sighted | Are Armed with it.
| Shell. | | up to. |
----+-----------+----------+------------+---------------------
_a_ | 12 lbs. | 3 in. | 5,000 yds. | { 14 R. H. A. and 29
| | | | { F. A. batteries.
_b_ | 13 ” | 3 in. | 4,800 ” | { 1 R. H. A. and 12
| | | | { F. A. batteries.
_c_ | 16 ” | 3·6 in. | 4,000 ” | 2 F. A. batteries.
_d_ | 9 ” | 3 in. | 3,500 ” | { 5 R. H. A. and 37
| | | | { F. A. batteries.
----+-----------+----------+------------+---------------------
Of these patterns, the 12-pounder alone is a breech-loader; the others
are muzzle-loaders.
The 12-pounder is being issued as fast as possible to all R. H. A.
batteries. The F. A. will be divided into Light and Heavy Field
Artillery, the former of which will receive the 12-pounder B.-L. gun,
and the latter a new pattern 20-pounder B.-L. gun, with 8 horses to
a team. When this is done, the R. H. A. will probably receive a new
10-pounder B.-L. gun.
2 guns and wagons together are called a Section; 1 gun and wagon, a
Sub-division.
A Garrison Battery is variously constituted, according to its locality.
The men of the battery have to work guns of all sorts and sizes in the
different forts where they are quartered, and, as a rule, have no guns
of their own.
Of the 96 Garrison Batteries, 4 are Siege-train batteries, quartered in
the United Kingdom, and armed with heavy guns for battering purposes,
and 4 more are “Heavy” batteries, quartered in India, the guns of
which are drawn by elephants and the wagons by bullocks.
[Illustration: Sergeant-Drummer, Coldstream Guards.]
The Garrison Artillery is grouped in 3 divisions: the Eastern (29
batteries), Southern (42), and Western (25). Although these divisions
are by way of corresponding with the different points of the compass
in Great Britain, the batteries composing them are scattered in every
quarter of the globe, and the Militia Brigades attached are not
necessarily Eastern, Southern, and Western ones.
The Mountain Artillery is armed with 2½-inch 7-pounder jointed guns,
each gun and gun-carriage being carried in pieces on 5 mules. One
battery is in England (Newport), one in South Africa, and the rest in
India.
The Royal Malta Artillery is for the defence of that island, and is
composed of Maltese officers and men.
Men of the Horse Artillery are dressed in dark-blue Hussar-like
jackets, and busbies with a white plume and scarlet busby-bag; the
remainder of the Artillery in dark-blue tunics with red facings, and
black felt helmets with a brass ball instead of a spike. They are
armed with Martini-Henry carbines, and either sword or sword-bayonet,
according to their branch of the arm. The forage-cap is a small, round,
brimless one, with a band of orange braid.
[Sidenote: +Engineers.+]
The corps of Royal Engineers is divided into a number of battalions,
depôts, and other units, which are given below as far as possible. As
will be seen, their duties, and especially those of the officers, are
extremely various.
[Illustration: Officer, 6th Dragoon Guards (Carbineers).]
The officers are employed sometimes with their men and sometimes apart
from them. A large number of R. E. officers (between 350 and 400)
serve in India, in connection with Native Engineer troops; others
are employed either at home or in a colony on staff work, public
works, Military Schools, the Ordnance Survey, military telegraphy and
railways, Engineer Militia and Volunteers, and a host of other duties
too numerous to mention. In fact, the Engineers form the Scientific
Corps of the Army. The officers are trained in the R. M. Academy at
Woolwich, and the rank and file are nearly all well-educated men,
skilled mechanics and trained workmen forming the bulk of them. That
their work does not interfere with their worth as soldiers has been
shown on many a field, and individual instances of their gallantry are
numerous.
Formerly the Corps was composed of a large number (about 40) of
independent companies, split up and quartered throughout the Empire.
Now they have been collated together and formed into different
battalions and other units, according to their work.
The Corps is now composed as follows:—
(a.) A Bridging Battalion, consisting of 2 pontoon troops, each troop
numbering 5 officers, 28 N. C. O.’s, and 183 men, with 20 pontoon- and
8 other wagons, and 190 horses. Each troop carries the material for 120
yards of pontoon-bridge.
(b.) 2 Field Battalions, each of 4 companies. The companies however
still preserve their independence to a great extent, being quartered in
widely divergent localities, according to requirements.
The 1st Battalion consists of the former Nos. 7, 11, 17, and 23
independent companies, and the 2nd of Nos. 12, 26, 37, and 38.
A Field Company consists of 7 officers, 26 N. C. O.’s, 184 sappers,
etc., 70 horses, and 13 vehicles.
A proportion of the company, from one-fifth to one-third, is mounted.
These companies, as their name implies, are employed in digging,
sapping, making field-works, and blowing up places, on active service.
(c.) A Telegraph Battalion of 2 divisions (in war, of 4 sections), the
whole consisting of 6 officers, 15 N. C. O.’s, 224 men, 171 horses, and
22 vehicles. Their duties consist in laying lines of field telegraphs,
and making themselves generally useful in their branch of science
wherever they may happen to be.
(d.) A Submarine Mining Battalion, consisting of one depôt and 11
service companies (the old Nos. 4, 21, 22, 27, 28, 30, 33, 34, 35,
39, and 40), numbering about 760 of all ranks. Their strength varies
according to the locality in which they are employed.
(e.) A Coast Battalion of 3 divisions, altogether about 240 of all
ranks, employed in defensive works on the sea-coast.
(f.) 4 Survey Companies (Nos. 13, 14, 16, and 19), 330 men in all,
engaged in the Ordnance and other official Surveys.
(g.) 17 Fortress Companies, of varying strengths (Nos. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6,
9, 15, 18, 20, 24, 25, 29, 31, 32, 36, 41, and 42), which are employed
in the repair and keeping up of fortresses. In war-time they would
design and execute siege-batteries, parallels, and all work connected
with either the attack or defence of fortresses. In peace-time they
number altogether about 1600 men.
(h.) 8 Depôt Companies, which are employed in the training and drilling
of recruits, and in work relating to the Corps. They number 820 men.
(i.) 2 Railway Companies (Nos. 8 and 10), which number 140 men
together, and would be employed in the laying and repairing of railway
lines on service.
(k.) A Supernumerary Staff of nearly 400 men, which is employed in a
great variety of duties too numerous to mention.
420 more men are distributed in different parts of the world and in
military schools of different sorts.
The grand total of Royal Engineers in peace-time is therefore about
7,300 men.
Officers and men are dressed, armed, and equipped very similarly
to the Infantry of the Line (q. v.). They may, however, be readily
distinguished by the broad red stripe on their trousers, and by the
Royal Arms in front of the helmet. The forage-caps of the rank-and-file
are small round ones with a broad yellow band and no brim, worn on the
top of the head. Officers wear a black and gold pouch belt instead of a
sash. The facings are of dark-blue velvet, with yellow edging.
[Sidenote: +Infantry.+]
The British Infantry is composed of—
The Brigade of Guards (3 regiments).
69 Regiments of Infantry of the Line.
1 West India Regiment.
Napoleon the Great said of the British Infantry: “It is the best
infantry in the world; luckily, there is not much of it.” It has
certainly not deteriorated since his day; but, unfortunately, it is not
much more numerous now than it was then.
Two years ago a distinguished Russian general said to an English
Guardsman: “Are your men as fine a lot as they were in ’54?” and on
receiving an answer in the affirmative, said: “I am sorry for it, if we
ever have to fight you again. I had more than enough of them in the
Crimea.” And Moltke said of the late Nile Expedition in 1885: “No one
but English soldiers could have done what they did.”
Such remarks speak for themselves.
The Brigade of Guards consists of three regiments—
The Grenadier Guards, of which there are 3 battalions.
The Coldstream Guards, of which there are 2 battalions.
The Scots Guards, of which there are 2 battalions.
These three regiments form the Sovereign’s Body-Guard, and do not
usually serve out of Europe. The late campaigns in Egypt, however (1882
and 1885), and the prospective campaign in Canada in 1864, in all of
which two or more battalions of Guards took part, go to prove that
every rule has its exceptions.
At home, usually five battalions are quartered in London, and the other
two in Windsor and Dublin respectively.
The uniform of the Guards differs from that of the Infantry of the Line
chiefly in the shape of the facings and in the head-gear, the latter
being the well-known bearskin, with white or red plumes for Grenadiers
or Coldstream respectively. The forage-cap is round, with bands of red,
white, and dice for the three regiments respectively. The armament and
equipment is precisely that of the Infantry of the Line.
Of the 69 Regiments of the Line, one (Cameron Highlanders) consists
of 1 battalion; two (60th King’s Royal Rifle Corps and Rifle Brigade)
of 4 battalions; and the remainder of 2 battalions each. Total 141
battalions.
The regiments are now called after their “Territorial Districts,” which
are the districts whence their recruits are drawn, and in which their
depôt is situated. Up to 1881, the Infantry of the Line consisted of
109 regiments, mostly of 1 battalion each, and numbered up to 109. In
that year, however, the system was changed, and a regiment is now known
by the county or part of the country it recruits in, with occasionally
the addition of a few other titles, such as “Borderers,” “King’s Own,”
“Loyal,” etc., etc.
Of the 69 regiments we have—
9 Regiments of Fusiliers.
4 ” ” Rifles.
5 ” ” Highlanders.
7 ” ” Light Infantry.
44 ” ” Infantry (pure and simple).
The Infantry, with the exception of the four Rifle regiments, is, of
course, clothed in scarlet tunics, with facings of dark blue, white,
yellow, or green, according as whether the regiment is a “Royal,”
English, Scottish, or Irish one.
The head-dress of the Fusiliers is a busby of rough sealskin, shaped
similarly to the Guards’ bearskin, but much smaller. The (5th)
Northumberland Fusiliers wear a red and white plume, the remainder none.
The Rifle regiments are clothed in a very dark green, almost black,
uniform. The Rifle Brigade facings are black, those of the 60th K. R.
R. red, and those of the other two, Scottish and Irish Rifles, dark
and light green respectively. The first two mentioned are historically
connected with Hussar regiments,[8] and consequently the officers
wear round forage-caps, trailing swords, and a few other Cavalry-like
details; and the late head-gear used to be a Hussar-like black busby.
The helmet of all Rifle regiments is at present black, but it will
shortly be exchanged for a black Astrakhan fatigue-cap, with plume for
full dress.
The five Highland regiments are the Black Watch (Royal Highlanders),
the Seaforth, the Gordon, the Cameron, and the Argyll-and-Sutherland
Highlanders. They wear the feather-bonnet and well-known Highland
dress—plaid, kilt, hose, white gaiters, and shoes. The tartan, sporran,
hose, and a few other details differ in the various regiments.
The remainder of the Infantry, whether Light Infantry or not, wear[9]
black felt helmets with brass spike and fixings, the scarlet tunic
aforesaid, and blue-black trousers. Their forage-cap is the “Glengarry.”
The West India Regiment consists of two battalions of negroes,
officered by Englishmen. The battalions are quartered, turn and turn
about, in the West Indies and in our possessions on the West Coast
of Africa. The men are dressed in white jackets, with a red vest
over them, loose blue Zouave knickerbockers, and yellow gaiters. The
head-dress is a turban.
The Infantry, whose weapon for the last seventeen years has been the
Martini-Henry rifle, will very shortly be all armed with the new
magazine rifle, which has already been issued to a considerable
number. The action is on the breech-loading bolt system; by it
cartridges may be fired either singly or by means of the magazine,
which is a black tin box, holding eight cartridges, and suspended
immediately in front of the trigger-guard. The bore is extremely
small, being only ·303 inches. The bullet is coated with a hard metal
composition, for if it were of lead, it would “strip” in the grooves
of the barrel, and by degrees choke it up. The powder is as yet not
definitely fixed on, though numerous varieties have been tried with
great success. It shoots point blank up to 300 yards, and is sighted on
the back sight up to 2,000 yards. By a hanging foresight arrangement,
it can be sighted up to 3,500 yards—nearly two miles! The cartridges
are so small and light that more than twice the amount of ammunition
can now be carried than was possible in the case of the late weapon.
The new bayonet is a much shorter implement than the late one, looking
more like a large knife than a bayonet. The name of the new rifle is
the Burton-Lee.
The equipment consists of a valise and canteen, suspended by leather
braces to the belt, a havresack, wooden water-bottle, and bayonet-frog.
Inside the valise is carried the great-coat (under the valise flap),
and such articles as are necessary for the time being, such as boots,
shirt, socks, hold-all, etc.
A new equipment, slightly different from the above, is now being issued.
Two pouches are attached to the belt in front, holding twenty rounds
Martini-Henry ammunition each. Thirty more rounds are carried in the
valise and havresack, making seventy in all. With the new rifle
cartridges, however, and new pouches, it is expected that each man will
be able to carry 150 rounds.
A battalion of Infantry is composed of 8 companies, each company
numbering 3 officers, 10 N. C. O.’s, and 111 men on a field
establishment. In peace-time, the company rarely numbers above 90 men
all told, except in India. The battalion consists therefore of—
30 officers (1 lieut.-colonel, 4 majors, 5 captains,
16 subalterns, etc., etc.),
91 N. C. O.’s,
975 men,
70 horses,
16 carts.
These horses and carts belong for the most part to the Regimental
Transport, which has been issued to each battalion forming part of the
1st Army Corps (of which more hereafter).
An Infantry Brigade consists of four battalions and details, and
numbers in war-time 130 officers, 4,350 men, and 530 horses.
An Infantry Division consists of 2 brigades, 3 batteries Field
Artillery, 1 squadron of Cavalry and details—total, 327 officers,
10,060 men, and 2000 horses.
An Army Corps is to consist of 3 Divisions of Infantry, 3 Horse
Artillery, and 2 Field Artillery batteries, Royal Engineers, Cavalry
squadron and details—total, 1,158 officers, 35,000 men, and 10,000
horses.
[Sidenote: +Medical Staff Corps.+]
The Medical Staff Corps consists of 17 Divisions, distributed
throughout Great Britain and Ireland, and numbering altogether about
400 medical officers and 2,000 N. C. O.’s and men. The depôt and
training-school is at Aldershot, and the Army Medical School at
Netley. This Corps does not include the Indian Medical Staff Corps.
[Sidenote: +Army Service Corps.+]
The Army Service Corps corresponds to the former Commissariat and
Transport Corps, and deals with the issue of rations and general
transport duty. It is divided into 37 companies, distributed throughout
Great Britain and Ireland, and numbering 230 officers, 3,363 N. C. O.’s
and men, and 1,300 horses and mules.
[Sidenote: +Chaplains’ Department.+]
The Chaplains’ Department consists of about 80 chaplains, divided into
four classes. There are four official denominations allowed, Church of
England, Roman Catholic, Presbyterians, and Wesleyans. Men belonging to
any other of the numerous sects of religion prevalent in England are
officially entered as “Church of England.”
The organisation of the remaining departments, _i.e._, Ordnance Store,
Veterinary, and Pay, is uninteresting, and need not be detailed here.
[Sidenote: +Military Districts.+]
Of the Regular Forces, 21 regiments of Cavalry, 91 batteries of
Artillery, most of the Engineers, and 73 battalions of Infantry are
quartered in Great Britain and Ireland. Great Britain is divided into
11, Ireland into 3, and the Channel Islands into 2, Districts, each
under the command of a major-general. These districts are sub-divided
into Regimental Districts, each of these latter comprising the
recruiting ground, depôt, and Volunteer battalions of a Territorial
(_i.e._, Line Infantry) Regiment of two Regular and two or more Militia
battalions. The Artillery and Engineers, both Regular, Militia, and
Volunteer, are also apportioned to each district. The Regular Corps
of all arms rarely remain more than two years in the same quarters,
changing from station to station in accordance with different rosters
and requirements.
[Sidenote: +Foreign Service.+]
The whole of the Regular Forces, with the exception of the five Heavy
Cavalry regiments and Brigade of Guards, take their turn at foreign
service in India and the Colonies. As a rule, one battalion of each
regiment of the Line is abroad for sixteen years, and is “fed” with men
from the other battalion at home. This system, by which all the best
and soundest men of a regiment are sent abroad, can hardly be called a
good one, but it is difficult to suggest another. For foreign service
it is no use having the youngest and unmatured soldiers—they would
probably only fall sick in a hot climate. It is, therefore, necessary
to keep and train the men till they know their duty thoroughly, and
then send them out as full-grown men. It is for this reason that
complaints are so often seen in the newspapers that certain regiments
are apparently composed of “beardless boys.” This may be so with the
home battalion, but if the complaint-makers were to journey to the
Colonies and see the other battalion, they would soon alter their
opinion.
It sometimes occurs that both battalions are abroad together, in which
case the depôt of the regiment is largely increased; in order to feed
the two.
Cavalry regiments stay abroad from twelve to fifteen years, and are fed
by their depôt.
This foreign service is one of the main impediments in the way of
recruiting by conscription.
Of the Regular Forces abroad, 9 Cavalry regiments, 88 batteries of
Artillery, 3 companies R. E., and 53 battalions of Infantry are in
India; and 1 Cavalry regiment, 27 batteries Artillery, 13 companies R.
E., and 20 battalions of Infantry are in the Colonies.
[Sidenote: +Marines.+]
The Royal Marines, although not coming strictly under the head of the
Army, are yet soldiers in the widest sense of the word, for they have
been engaged by land and sea in every single campaign since their
formation in 1755. They consist of two divisions, _i.e._ Artillery
(16 companies) and Light Infantry (48 companies), in all nearly
14,000 men. They enlist for twelve years’ service, and may re-engage
for nine years more. In garrison they perform the same duties as the
Regular army, and on board ship work of a military character, such as
guard mounting, working big guns, forming part of armed force on boat
service, or fighting on shore under all sorts of conditions and in all
climates. The latest development of the Marine is not a Horse-, but a
Camel-Marine, a force of Marines having served up the Nile with the
Camel Corps.
The Marines have done well wherever they have been, and still form,
chiefly no doubt owing to their long service, some of our steadiest
troops on service.
Their uniform and equipment is very similar to those of the
corresponding branches of the Regular Army. A Marine may always be told
from a Linesman by the badge on his helmet and shoulder-straps—a globe
with the thoroughly apposite motto of “Per Mare, per Terram.”
* * * * *
[Sidenote: +Native Indian Army.+]
The Native Indian Army is composed of Native Cavalry, Artillery,
Engineers, Infantry, Medical Corps, etc., etc., partly officered by
Englishmen, and numbering altogether about 152,000 men, including
13,000 Volunteers.
It is divided into the Armies of the Bengal, Madras, and Bombay
Presidencies. The English officers are drawn from the three Staff
Corps of those Presidencies, which they have entered after serving for
at least one year with their English regiments.
The Army of Bengal numbers—
19 Regiments of Bengal Cavalry, including 7 Lancer regiments.
4 Regiments Punjab Cavalry.
Central India Horse.
2 Bengal Mountain Batteries.
5 Punjab Mountain Batteries.
Corps of Bengal Sappers.
Corps of Guides, Cavalry (6 troops), and Infantry (8 companies).
45 Regiments Bengal Infantry.
5 Regiments Goorkha Light Infantry.
4 Regiments Sikh Infantry.
6 Regiments Punjab Infantry.
Hyderabad Contingent, 4 batteries F. Artillery, 4 regiments Cavalry,
and 6 regiments Infantry.
Several Irregular Corps, and a Medical Department,
chiefly Englishmen.
The Army of Madras numbers—
4 Regiments Cavalry, 2 of which are Lancer regiments.
Corps of Madras Sappers.
33 Regiments Madras Infantry, and a Madras Medical Department, etc.
The Army of Bombay numbers—
7 Regiments Cavalry, 2 of which are Lancer regiments.
2 Mountain Batteries.
Corps of Bombay Sappers.
30 Regiments Bombay Infantry, and a Bombay Medical Department, etc.
Natives enlist for any period of service, from three years to thirty.
Most of the troops enlist for nine or fifteen years. They must be
physically fit and physically equivalent to a full-grown man. They are
for the most part very keen soldiers, especially those that come from
the North-West Provinces and Punjab. In many regiments the men have to
find everything except firearms—even horses, accoutrements, and food,
on their pay of about eighteenpence a day; and yet in some popular
regiments there are several hundred candidates waiting for admission.
The Infantry is armed and equipped similarly to the British Infantry.
Their rifle is of the Snider pattern, and is being exchanged for
the Martini-Henry rifle. The uniforms of the Indian Army are very
variegated, ranging from scarlet to yellow, and drab to green. The
usual head-dress is the turban, but the other details of costume vary
too much for description. The English officers wear in some regiments
the native uniform, in others an English one.
A Native Cavalry regiment consists of 4 squadrons of 2 troops each,
with an establishment of 10 English officers, Native officers, N. C.
O.’s, and about 540 privates.
A Native Infantry Regiment consists of 1 battalion of 8 companies,
with an establishment of 9 English officers, Native officers, N. C.
O.’s, and about 820 privates. Each Infantry regiment is linked with two
others, one of them supplying the other two with men, etc., in time of
war.
The establishment of the Mountain Batteries varies according to
locality.
A Native Reserve is being formed, but is not yet completely organised.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: +Colonial Forces.+]
The Colonial Forces consist of those raised by each Colony of the
British Empire for its own protection. With the exception of a few of
the smaller islands in the West Indies and Pacific, it may be said that
every one of our Colonies has trained a certain number of men for home
defence.
The system of enlistment and service varies in almost every colony,
according to requirements. In very few of them are there permanent
forces under arms. They mostly correspond to our Militia, and are
called out for an annual training only.
The native forces of _Canada_ are—
Cavalry, 4 regiments of Dragoons.
5 ” of Hussars.
4 Independent troops.
Artillery, 19 batteries Field Artillery.
5 Brigades and 13 batteries Garrison Artillery.
½ battery Mountain Artillery.
Engineers, 2 companies.
Infantry, 74 battalions of Infantry.
21 ” of Rifles.
5 Independent companies.
Medical Staff Corps.
Total strength 38,500.
Of the above troops, a very small number are permanent troops; the
remainder consist of Militia, called out for about twelve days’
training in the year. There is universal liability to service in the
Militia Reserve for all men between 18 and 60, so that in case of war
the armed levy of the country would amount to over 600,000 men! Not
more than 45,000 of these however are regularly trained. The country is
divided into twelve Military Districts, and these again into Brigade
and Regimental Divisions.
Besides this force, there is a Royal Military College, and Royal
Schools of Instruction for Infantry, Cavalry, and Artillery.
_Cape Colony_ has a force of about 4,500 men, consisting of Corps of—
Cape Mounted Riflemen (practically a Police Force),
Volunteer Artillery,
” Engineers,
” Mounted Infantry,
” Infantry, and a
” Corps of Cadets.
_Ceylon_ possesses a force of about 900 Volunteer Light Infantry.
_Hong Kong_ possesses a force of Volunteer Artillery and Military
Police (370).
_Jamaica_ possesses a force of Volunteer Militia, Mounted Rifles, and
Garrison Artillery (1,300).
_Natal_ possesses a paid Volunteer Cavalry, Field Artillery, and
Rifles, 1,500 altogether.
_Singapore_ possesses a paid Volunteer Artillery and Military Police
(1,000).
_New Zealand_ possesses a Corps of paid Light Horse Volunteers, 13
batteries Volunteer Artillery, Engineer Corps, Force of Militia
Infantry, and 7 or more Rifle battalions. A total of 7,400 men.
_New South Wales_ has a force of 6,350 men, consisting of—
Regular Artillery}
} 940 of all ranks.
Volunteer ” }
Engineers, 200 of all ranks.
Mounted Infantry 160 of all ranks.
4 Regiments Infantry, 2,100 of all ranks.
Reserve Force of Cavalry, Artillery, and Infantry, 2,700 of all ranks;
besides a Naval Brigade and Naval Artillery Volunteers numbering nearly
500 men.
_Queensland_ has a Defence Force of three classes, numbering
altogether over 4,500 men.
1st Class—“Permanent Defence”—135 men.
2nd Class—“Defence”—2,600 men.
3rd Class—“Volunteers”—about 1,800 men; besides 4 Lines of Reserves
in case of national danger, composed of every male between
18 and 60.
_South Australia_ has 2 troops of Lancers, 1 Field and 2 Garrison
Batteries, 2 battalions Rifles, and numerous Mounted Rifle Corps,
numbering altogether 2,700 men, including Volunteers.
_Victoria_ has a force of several Cavalry and Artillery Corps, 4
battalions Rifles, Mounted Infantry, and numerous Rifle Volunteer
Corps, besides a Reserve. Total 8,300 men.
_Tasmania_ has a small force of Artillery and 2 regiments of Rifles,
total 930 of all ranks.
_Western Australia_ has a small force of Volunteer, Infantry, and
Artillery—640 altogether.
_Trinidad_ and other islands in the West Indies have raised small
forces for their defence, about 1,000 altogether.
Total Colonial Forces, about 84,100 men.
* * * * *
Let us now turn to the Reserve Forces at home, composed of the two
classes of Army Reserves, Militia, Militia Reserve, Yeomanry, and
Volunteers. We will not take into account either the Native Indian
Reserves, as they are not yet fully formed, or the Colonial Militia or
Reserves, as they are inextricably mixed up with the Colonial Forces
already described.
[Sidenote: +Army Reserve.+]
The 1st Class Army Reserve, created in 1877, consists of men who have
served their three, seven, or eight years with the Colours, and who
then pass to this Reserve to complete their service to twelve years.
They are liable to service at home and abroad when called out; this
would happen only in case of war or national danger. The men would then
either join their own regiments or be formed into separate corps, or,
with their consent, be attached to a regiment or corps other than their
old one. This class numbers over 54,000 men.
The 2nd Class Army Reserve, in which there are not quite 3,000 men, is
composed of those men who have served twelve years with the Colours and
then choose to enter this Reserve, and of a few other special classes
of men. They do not serve out of Great Britain. Both classes are liable
to be called out for an annual training, but have never yet been so
called out.
[Sidenote: +Militia.+]
The Militia consists of men voluntarily enlisted for six years, with
power to re-engage for periods of four years up to forty-five years of
age. The recruits are trained for six months or less at the depôt of the
regimental district, and have subsequently to undergo only twenty-eight
days’[10] training a year with their corps when called out. During these
twenty-eight days the men receive regular pay, with a “bounty” of 10_s._
or upward at the end of the training. They are then dismissed till next
year.
In cases of national emergency, the Militia may be called out, _i.e._
“embodied,” for active service. This has occurred four times already in
this century; during the Crimean War, for instance, ten battalions of
Militia were garrisoning our possessions in the Mediterranean, and no
fewer than 32,000 entered the Regulars and fought before Sebastopol.
The Militia comprises Artillery, Engineers, and Infantry.
The Artillery consists of 34 brigades of Garrison Artillery, attached
to the regular Garrison Artillery Divisions as follows:—4 to the
Eastern, 21 to the Southern, and 9 to the Western Division. The
Engineer Militia numbers 7 companies.
The Infantry consists of 131 battalions, attached to the different
regiments of Infantry of the Line as their 3rd and 4th or other
battalions, and belonging to the same regimental districts. Some
regiments have only one Militia battalion attached, others as many as
five.
The Militia is clothed, equipped, and armed identically with the
Regular Army, the only distinction being that a Militia private wears
the number of his battalion, and a Militia officer the letter M in
addition on his shoulder-straps.
The Channel Islands have 4 regiments of Artillery, and 6 of Infantry
Militia. Malta has 1 regiment of the latter.
The Militia numbers altogether 103,500 men.
[Sidenote: +Militia Reserve.+]
The Militia Reserve consists of men enlisted from the Militia for six
years or for the remainder of their Militia engagements. These are
liable to an annual training, or to embodiment in case of national
danger. The body was created in 1867 as a temporary expedient for an
Army Reserve, the Austro-Prussian war of 1866 having caused extreme
uneasiness to our authorities; for they discovered then that we had
absolutely no reserves whatever, in case we went to war. The inducement
to join is a pecuniary one, _i.e._ £1 bounty, paid in advance, for
every year service in the Militia. It numbers altogether 30,160 men.
[Illustration: England. III.
_Printed by G. Löwensohn, Fuerth Bavaria_
_Published by William Clowes & Sons, L^{d}, London._]
[Sidenote: +Yeomanry.+]
The Yeomanry is composed of 39 county regiments of Cavalry, and forms
a species of Cavalry Militia or Volunteers. They are called out
annually for only one week’s training. They are liable to be called
out, in addition, for service in any part of Great Britain in case of
threatened invasion, or to suppress a riot. They receive allowances and
pay during their training, an allowance for clothing, and their arms,
from the Government; but have to find their own horses. There is no
Yeomanry in Ireland.