The problem of horse supply for the cavalry is a difficult one for Italy, hence she is obliged to limit the number of her cavalry. The cavalry officers are excellent horsemen. At the head of small bands of soldiers, they traverse the most rugged portions of the country, climbing its mountains and dismounting promptly ready to attack in places which seemed inaccessible.
It is owing especially to Inspector General Majnoni (who was Minister of War during the administration of the Honorable Sidney Sonino), that such a practical direction was given to the instruction of the Italian cavalry. All the professions are represented by the army; thus they have physicians, veterinarians, commissaries, accountants, all vested with a certain military rank of varying degrees.
The legions of Royal Carabinteri are an important factor in the strength of the army. These, beside being the most perfect body of police known to Europe, rendered eminent service in the national defense and took an honorable part in all the wars of Italian inde pendence.
Every army corps consists of two divisions of infantry, and has besides a proportionate number of cavalry, artillery and engineers, a commissariat department, a department of health, hygiene, munitions, etc.
These divisions consists of two brigades of infantry, provided with the departments that are strictly necessary for the troops. There are also some independent divisions of cavalry.
Epch itsfantry, brigade is, commanded by a major-general and as composed of two regi 1 , ,,, In tune of peace the work of the levy, or annual conscription, is entrusted partly to the civil authorities (mayors and prefects), partly to military districts.
The nulitary district is, in fact, the bond of union between the people and the army. It holds the register of all enlisted men and soldiers on unlimited furlough, It notifies them by, police proclamation of the call to arm% subjects them to medical examination and dis, tributes them in the various corps.
The,tinnual. contingent of recruits: amounts (in time.rg peace) to about 500,000, from which must. be deducted those that are disabled by ysical ailments, by various objections and fancily reasons, and this leaves only about 1 enlisted men a year. The enforced
military service, the time during which a citizen, in time of peace, must serve in the army, varies from a 111111W:11111 01 10 to a maximum of 34 months, and taking into account the loss by sickness or other causes, we see that the aver age strength of the Italian army in time of peace, is 215,000 men.
7 , A cause for exemption from military serv ice, other than a specific malady or reason for unfitness specified by the law, is the fact, of a man being an only son, of having had brothers who have borne arms, of being the support of his own family or of his nearest relatives., Thus it,i seen that the flower of the nation is called tn dekend the country, for such defense requires MI thf ranks a number of men of robust con, stuution and good morals.
There were authoritative estimates to the effect that, should war occur, the regular army could place more than half a million men in the field, in addition to 200,000 militia (milizia mobile), while the Territorial Militia and the Communal Militia defended certain portions of territory and maintained public order. With a view of, making Italy a military nation and diminishing the burdens of the army, the Tiro a segno Nacionale was instituted, so that young men could, pi!actice (firing a mark), and other important warlike exercises.
The government contributed $120,000 to initiate this patriotic institution, which was so warmly advocated by Garibaldi, and which is destined to develop greatly in the future. As it is evident that every war in Italy will be carried on most bitterly in the northern regions, the chains of the Alps, Ligurian, Apennines, and the Riviera of Genoa and Venetia were covered with fortifications, which have been extended from year to year.
The rifles. of the infantry (1890-91 model), are of small calibre, with long, rapid discharge, and are one of the best weapons known. There are in use steel cannon of 75 millimeters cal ibre; these cannon, which can be dismounted, are considered the best in the world, evert su perior to those in use in France. Generally speaking all the munitions of war are con structed in the arsenals, laboratories and foun dries pf the state with military organization.