992
ITALY
first category men who have passed through the army and mobile militia, could be made use of, should its services ever be required.
The arm of the Italian infantry is the Mannlicher Carcano ritle, a mag- azine weapon of 6*5 mm. calibre. The territorial militia has the old Vetterli. The field artilleiy is being rearmed with Krupp guns, calibre 7 '5 cm., model 1906.
The following table gives the peace strength of the Italian army in 1911 : —
Officers
Men
Horses & Mules
Administration, staff, military
schools, etc. ....
1,548
2,061
2,510
Infantry, 389 battalions, and 88
district headquarters .
7,627
159,297
6,211
Cavalry, 150 squadrons, and 29
depots
1,006
27,976
25,443
Artillery, 263 batteries, 110 com-
panies, 51 depots, etc.
2,359
48,961
23,090
Engineers, 80 companies, and 10
companies engineer train .
630
11,105
1,300
Medical, 12 companies
769
3,712
81
Commissariat, 12 companies .
452
3,978
420
Carabineers, 12 legions .
704
30,067
5,374
Total
15,095
287,157
64,429
In consequence of the despatch of an expeditionary force to Tripoli and Cyrenaica, the Italian army has been increased by Royal Decree of December 7, 1911 (converted afterwards into the law of June 27, 1912) as follows: — Infantry: 24 battalions of infantry of the line of 4 companies each; 3 battalions of bersaglicri of 3 companies each. Cavalry: 5 squadrons. Artillery : 2 groups oi field artillery of 3 batteries each ; 4 groups of mountain artillery of 3 batteries each ; 4 groups of fortress artillery of 3 companies each. Engineers : 2 battalions of 3 companies each.
The cadres have been increased of the following number of officers : 20 for the carabinieri ; 342 for infantry ; 21 for cavalry ; 112 for artillery ; 20 for engineers. The same law has provided for the constitution of 1 Flying Corps (1 battalion of 2 companies — Batlaglione Aviatori).
The military budget of Italy for 1912-13 amounted to 16,966,471Z. , including 3,214, OOOZ. extraordinary expenditure. In 1908, extra credit of no less than 8,920,000Z. Avas granted, to be spread over 9 years. This amount was to be spent on the re-armament of the artillery, guns for per- manent works, fortifications, railways, barracks, mobilisation stores, and horses.
The Italians have a special African corps in Erythrea, consisting of 3 com- panies of white infantry and 4 native battalions ; also 1 squadron of native cavalry, a local company of artillery (Italians), and a native mountain battery. Its total strength is about 4,600 of all ranks, of whom about 3,800 are natives.
In Italian Somaliland there is a native corps of 4 infantry companies and 1 artillery company, with Italian officers, and a body of military police. Total strength about 3,000 of all ranks.
