FRANCE. Since her disastrous war with Ger many, 1870-71, France, with excellent effect, has put her military house in thorough order, greater heed having been paid to organization and efficiency and less to numbers. (See Moan. IZATIoN.) Every Frenchman is liable to carry arms, substitution and enlistment for money are forbidden, and every man not absolutely unfit for military service and between 20 and 45 years of age may be called upon to enter the standing army or reserves. The yearly drafts serve three years in the active army, ten in active army reserve, six in the territorial army, and six in the territorial reserve. Any soldier who qualifies in his duties and passes the educational test may apply for indefinite furlough at the end of one year's actual service. The number of men actually liable for service is estimated at 4,350.000, of whom fully 2,500, 000 would he available. The army of France was more formidable at the beginning of the Twen tieth Century in numbers, efficiency, and morale than at any time in the history of the country. In times of peace, manoeuvres on a magnificent scale are periodically undertaken. and every ad vantage of improved military science and inven tions speedily appropriated. The artillery arm is receiving special attention and cultivation (see FIELD ARTILLERY), the general supposition being that France has improved types of guns and carriages not generally known. In many respects the French army is France itself, and formidable for that reason alone; and in point of military efficiency it is little, if at all, inferior to that of Germany.
The interior organization of the French army is as follows: Infantry.—The peace strength of the battalion is 14 officers and 506 rank and file; in war, 18 officers and 1050 rank and file. Most infantry regiments consist of three battalions. Caralry.—Reginients are made up of 5 squad rons, each one of which has 5 officers and 140 rank and file, which in war is increased to 155 rank and file. There are 89 regiments of regular cavalry. Artillery.—Artillery regiments are di vided into divisional and corps, the former hav ing 12 field batteries and the latter 9 field and 3 horse batteries. Batteries have from 4 to 6 guns, with an average of 150 rank and file and 4 officers. Engineers.—There arc 5 regiments of 3 battalions and 1 regiment of 4 battalions besides 1 company of engineer train. The average com pany has 4 officers and 160 rank and file. The infantry brigade consists of 2 regiments of G battalions or 24 companies, the cavalry brigade of 2 regiments or 8 squadrons with 6 guns. A division consists of 2 brigades of infantry, 1 squadron of cavalry, 6 batteries of artillery, 1 company of engineers, and other corps. Cavalry would be assigned to it according to its needs.
According to returns published in 1902, the strength of the French army was as follows: Grand Total 29,842 689.444