Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/1023

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

DBKK

971

first serie of the reserve aud 8 je*rs iu the secoud seiie. The normal annual contingent of recruits, fixed by the Parliament, was about 25,000.

After the Armistice, November, 1918, a large part of the Greek army joined the Allied fortes in occupation of Turkish territory. Demobilisation was therefore delayed and normal conditions of service had not been restored in January, 1921.

At that time the approximate strength of the army was 200,000 men, organised in 4 army corps aud a reserve Two of these corps and the reserve were in Asia Minor, in the Smyrna district; the remaining two corps were in Europe. The army corps in Asia each consisted of two divisions, those in Europe of three divisions, the total number of divisions thus being twelve. The average strength of a division was 12,000 men. The Greek cavalry is not organised in divisions, but is distributed by squadrons to the divisions of the urmy corps. The infantry is organised in regiments of three battalions. thr«*c regiments forming the infantry of each division. The field arti. organised in brigades, each of two regiments. The regiment of artillery is composed of three groups, and ea h group of three batteries of four guns. The Greek infantry is armed with both the Maunlieher and the Mauser rifle but some battalions are armed with the Martini. The artillery is armed with the French "75 field gun and the French light and medium howitzer. The reorganisation of the Greek army is in abeyance pending the ratification of the treaty of Sevres with Turkey, and in consequence of the situation which has arisen from the fall of ML Venizelos aud the restoration of King Constantine.

II. Navy.

The Greek Navy was reorganised in 1906, and after 1911 a British naval mission superintended the training and organisation of the fleet. The -principal vessels are as follows (the three first named have now little value): —

Bpetaai

Hydra . Psara . Averoff. Kilkisi l.eiiiiios HelleS.

18--B9

1880 1910 1905

1912

  • > 1

-- -

it

Tons

Armour

Belt Gun In. In.

U.OOO

10,113 ! 13,000 ' 2,600

8 9

IS

Principal Armament

- - -L Z

3 10 6; 5 oin.; 1 4in.

4 9-2 ; 8 7 5in. .

4 12in.; 8 Sin.; 8 7in. 2 6in.; 4 4ia.

«,70O

19,000 14,000 6,500

"^ J.

KnoU

IT

= 4 17 SO

» Purehastd 1914 from th« U.S. Navy." 2 Cruiser purchased 1914 frem China.

There are also 13 destroyers, 6 modern torpedo boats, 2 submarines, and a variety of miscellaneous craft. To these have been added the ex-Austrian destroyer Ulau, and (for police duties only) 7 surrendered torpedo boats.

Much preliminary work has been done on the new arsenal for the Greek Navy, which is intended to take the place of the establishment at Salauiis. The cost of the new work was estimated at %, 800,000/. ; it was to be carried out under the direction of British engineers. A recent Brii Missiou

iu Greece has been charged with the re organization of the Greek