ARMIES, MODERN. The formation of standing A.. may be said to have introduced the modern military system. When the remarkable exploit of Jeanne d'Arc (Joan of Arc) had enabled Charles VII. to check the victorious progress of the English in France, he set about remodeling his army. By gradual changes, and amid great difficulty, he converted his ill-governed forces into a disciplined standing army. During the reign of his son, Charles VIII. (1433-98), the consequences of this change made their appearance. Charles conducted a well-appointed army into Italy (1494), in support of some preten sions which he had to the throne of Naples.
The change made by Charles VII. was not simply that of substituting a compact standing army for au ill-organized medley of feudal troops and of mercenaries; feudal ism itself gave way under the influence of this combined with other reforming agencies. So far as concerned the actual formation and discipline of the standing A. above noticed, a few changes were from time to time introduced: pistols and carbines were given to the cavalry; cuirasses were worn by the heavy troopers; and new evolutions were intro duced. During the Thirty Years' war (1618-48), Gustavus Adolphus and Wallenstein adopted opposite modes of dealing with masses of infantry: the former spread them out to a great width, and only six ranks in depth; whereas the latter adopted a narrower front, with a depth of 20 to 30 ranks. Frederick the great, in the next century, intro duced a most complicated system of tactics and drilling; insomuch that when he could maneuver, he nearly always won his battles; but when the result depended on bold and unexpected onslaughts, he was more frequently a loser than a winner. The great mili tary leader in the early part of the present century, Napoleon Bonaparte, made a larger use than any previous European general of the method of moving masses of troops with great celerity, heating the enemy in detail before they could combine in one spot.
It is desirable to present, in the most condensed form, a few statistics of the actual A. of Europe; leaving to future articles, under the names of the several countries, cities, and battle-fields, all details concerning special A. and military encounters.
France.—A law passed in 1872 enacts that every Frenchman, with a few specified exceptions, is liable to personal service in the army, and forbids substitution. Every Frenchman not declared unfit for military service, or specially exempted therefrom, must be for 5 years in the active army (composed of those who have reached the age of 20 years), for 4 years in the reserve of the active army, for 5 years in the territorial army, and for 6 years in the reserve of the territorial army. By the law of July 24, 1873, France is for military purposes, into 18 regions, each occupied by a corps d'armee, containing 2 divisions of infantry, 1 brigade of cavalry, 1 of artillery, 1 battalion of engineers, 1 squadron of the military train. When the present reorganization is com
pleted, the active army will be composed of 156 regiments of infantry (line, light, Zouaves, Algerian tirailleurs, etc.), 25 single battalions, and 293 companies (depots, etc.); making in all, for the infantry, 279,986 men; of cavalry, 67 regiments in France, 3 in Algiers, 13 depots of these regiments, and a cavalry school, comprising 67,888 men; artillery, 40 regiments and 17 companies, with 58,096 men; engineers, 4 regiments, having 13,551 men; of the military train, 11,486 men; in all, for the active army, 441,007. On the war footing this number would be increased to 1,104,735, without taking accomit of sanitary corps, gendarmes, etc. Including the territorial army, its reserve force, and the reserves of the active army, the total military force of France is 2,505,000. The budget of 1876 provided for 490,321 men, including gendarmes, etc.
Germany.-By the imperial constitution, April 16, 1871, the Prussian obligation to serve in the army is extended to the whole empire. Every German capable of arms is bound to be in the standing army for 7 years, as a rule from the end of his 20tll to the beginning of his 28th years. Of the 7 years, 3 must be in active service, and 4 in the reserve. Them he must serve for 5 years in the landwelir. The whole of the land forces of the empire form a united army, all the troops being bound unconditionally to obey the emperor in war and peace. The army of the German empire consists of 18 corps d'armee; viz., the corps d'armee of the guard, 13 Prussian corps d'arniee (Nos. I.-XI., XIV.-comprising the troops of Baden-and XV.), the corps d'armee of Saxony (XII.), of Wurtemberg (XIII.), two of Bavaria (I. and II.), and the division of Hesse. In time of peace the German army has: (1) of infantry, 146 regiments of the line, 26 battalions of chasseurs, with 4687 commissioned and non-commissioned officers of the landwehr, amounting to 274,711 men; (2) cavalry, 93 regiments, containing 65,513 men; (3) artillery, 35 regiments of mounted, 13 of foot artillery, having 45,439 men; (4) engi neers, 19 battalions, 9568 men. In all, with 2056 staff officers, military train, etc., 17,030 officers, 401,659 men. On the war-footing, this force is increased by the following addi tions: field troops, 16,076 officers. 676,486 men ; depot troops, 4431 officers, 245,793 men; garrison troops, 9599 officers, 354,247 men. Total of the German army in time of war: 31,006 officers, and 1,276,526 men, with 287,746 horses. The maximum number of troops employed by Germany in the war with France was 1,350,787 men, and 203,735 horses.