ranks of the active army. In order to explain completely the causes of this great difference let us take the last-published report of an annual conscription. It refers to the contingent of the year 1875.
| The total number of young men available in that year was | 283,768 | |
| Of these — | ||
| 29,797 | were physically unfit. | |
| 42,268 | were dispersed during peace, for family and other reasons. | |
| 19,508 | were postponed. | |
| 25,778 | were already in the army as volunteers. | |
| 4,295 | were conditionally released, as professors, teachers, etc. | |
| 121,646 | 121,646 | |
| There remained, therefore, for service, | 162,122 | |
These men were dealt with as follows: they were divided (according to the numbers they had drawn) into two unequal parts, called the first and second portions of the contingent. The first portion was incorporated in the regiments for five years; the second — from motives of economy, and for want of barrack-room — was called up only for six months,[1] and was then sent home on leave. The respective numbers of these portions were as follows: —
| 1st portion, for combatant services (including 7040 marines), | 95,788 |
| Do., for auxiliary services (Intendance, stores, etc.), | 21,259 |
| 2d portion, for combatant services, | 45,075 |
| Total, | 162,122 |
Furthermore, 8,345 men who had been postponed from preceding years were called up in 1875; 5,142 of them were placed in the first portion of the contingent, and 3,203 in the second portion, so carrying the exact numbers of the year to the following totals: —
| 1st portion: combatants, | 100,930 |
| Do., auxiliary services, | 21,259 |
| 2d portion: combatants, | 48,278 |
| 170,467 |
It happened that the numbers of 1875 were rather below the average; but, taking them as a minimum, they indicate that the combatant part of the French army, deducting the seven thousand marines, is recruited in peace time at the rate of 93,000 men per annum, all of whom are supposed to remain for five years under the colors. But in consequence of the delay of about six months which takes piace each year in calling up the conscripts, and of the fact that men are habitually discharged from their regiments six months before the expiration of their time, the term of real service is practically reduced to four years; so that in peace time the army is composed of four times 93,000 men — that is to say, 372,000 men, plus 45,000 men for one year's second portion of the contingent, and plus, also, 25,000 men already in the ranks as volunteers. The general total of combatants, in time of peace, is therefore 442,000 men; or, allowing for deaths, about 425,000. No deduction is, however, made here for men away on leave, who usually represent a considerable number.
And to this again must be added the portion permanente, which includes such members of the army as are independent of the annual contingent; that is to say, the officers, the gendarmerie, the foreign troops in Algeria, the re-engaged men, bandsmen, and certain special workmen. This portion amounts, altogether, to 85,000 men, so carrying the final total to 510,000.
The reserve of the active army includes: —
| 1 | Four classes of the 2d portion of the contingent, of 50,000 men each on an average, | 200,000 |
| 2 | Four classes of the reserve men from 26 to 29, at 150,000 each, | 600,000 |
| 3 | Four classes of the men dispersed during peace, at 40,000 each, | 160,000 |
| Total, | 960,000 |
But, allowing for mortality and other causes, this total cannot be counted to produce more than 920,000 men. Adding thereto the 510,000 men under the colors, the general total available for the active army (not including the territorial corps) when all the reserves are called up, is 1,430,000 men. It may, however, be supposed that this total, though theoretically exact, would not be altogether realized in practice, and that the effective number would not exceed 1,300,000.
Here, however, we meet with a difficulty. The French army is now composed of nineteen corps d'armée, and of a certain number of unattached brigades, regiments, and battalions, consisting especially of cavalry and foot-chasseurs. The precise war-footing of a corps d'armée is
- ↑ Henceforth, the minimum duration of service will be a year instead of six months.
