Until the year 1885, Italy had no colonies, and consequently no colonial troops. For the military expedition to Massowah, which took place in the winter of 1884-5, the war administration organized a small army, mostly with furlough men drawn from the standing army. But in 1887 a special corps for the permanent occupation of Massowah and its dependencies was created under the special law of July 18, 1887.

This corps, which was to be considered as part of the national standing army, consisted originally of a colonial military command, a staff with all dependent services, 2 regiments of infantry, each of 3 battalions of 3 companies each, 1 squadron of horse chasseurs, 4 artillery companies, 1 supply and 1 train company.

These troops were recruited from among the men in active service who made special application, and also, in given proportions, from among furlough men of the first category. Their engagement was for a term of 4 years; rescindable, however, after 2 years, upon their demand. At the end of every two-years' term each soldier was entitled to a premium of 1000 francs. The officers were drawn from those of the standing army, either in actual service or on furlough.

The strength of the corps was 238 officers, 4762 men, 134 horses for the officers, and 322 horses and mules for the troops.

In June, 1889, a military corps of African natives was also instituted, which varied in size from time to time, as circumstances required, and which, under the command of Italian officers, has done excellent service.

The adaptability to the adverse climate shown thus far by the Italian troops encourages the hope that Italy may succeed in opening up to civilization that part of the Dark Continent which has come under her influence. At any rate, no such task would have been undertaken by Italy but for the existence of her army; and her army was also the starting-point of that triple alliance which has thus far secured to Europe the blessings of peace. The condition of the Italian garrisons in Africa having become safer, especially in consequence of a treaty concluded by Italy with Abyssinia after the death of Negus John, the colonial army, already reduced by decree of June 20, 1889, was

28, 1890, so that it at present consists of 2 battalions of chasseurs and 1 of bersaglieri, 1 mountain battery, 1 company of cannoneers, 1 of artillery artificers, 2 of engineers, 1 of the sanitary, 1 of the supply, and 1 of the train corps. The entire strength is 105 officers, 3208 men, 72 horses for officers, and 357 for troops. The mode of enlistment has not been changed.

On June 30, 1889, the military corps of natives was thus organized: 4 battalions of infantry of 4 companies each, 1 squadron of scouts, 1 mountain battery, 2 "bolucks," 1 "orta" of several companies for service in the interior. Total strength, about 4000.

But by the reorganization decree of September 3, 1890, the same corps was formed into 6 battalions of infantry of 4 companies each, 2 squadrons of cavalry, and 1 field battery, making together 104 Italian and 48 native officers, 108 men from the Italian army, 5287 natives, 174 horses for officers, and 669 for the troops.

This colonial corps has been found to answer perfectly the ends of the occupation, and its troops being naturally used to the torrid climate, it is not unlikely that, if necessary, it may be sooner or later increased, thus allowing a further reduction in the Italian corps.

Having thus far described the military establishment of Italy in its constitution and elements, let us now locate it; or, in other words, let us see how it is distributed among the different provinces of the kingdom in time of peace.

The mode of distribution is determined partly by the exigencies of the home policy of the state and the existing facilities for the convenient quartering of troops; but, above all, by the needs of the defence of the country against foreign enemies. In this latter respect the geographical position of the kingdom in relation to its neighboring states, and the peculiar configuration of the territory, so narrow, and at the same time so excessively long, are circumstances of controlling importance. The land communications of Italy with the neighboring states all terminate in the valley of the Po. The area of that valley hardly exceeds one-third of that of the territory of the whole state, while the remaining_twothirds are surrounded by the sea. Hence the land forces are assigned in the in

OFFICER OF CUIRASSIERS.

verse ratio, that is, nearly two-thirds to northern Italy, and little more than onethird to the peninsula proper and the isl ands. So, likewise, of the 12 territorial army corps commands, not less than 6 are in the north, viz., at Turin, Alessandria, Milan, Piacenza, Verona, Bologna: 5 are scattered all over the rest of the country, viz., at Florence, Ancona, Rome, Naples, Bari, and the 12th is at Palermo.

Nature has clearly defined the principal zone of military stations in the event of war with any of the neighboring states, but it has at the same time, by the length and the mountainous structure of the peninsula, created many hinderances to

from the south towards the north.

Therefore the organizers of the Italian army acted wisely in stationing permanently in the northern part of Italy a military strength far superior to that which would have belonged to it in proportion to its territory alone.

The active militia is organized as follows: Infantry, 48 regiments of 3 battalions of 4 companies each; bersaglieri, 18 battalions, each of 4 companies; Alpine troops, 22 companies. The centres of formation for the infantry and the bersaglieri are the districts; for the Alpine troops, the respective battalions.

The artillery of the active militia consists of 52 field batteries of 6 pieces each; 9 mountain batteries, also of 6 pieces each; 36 garrison artillery companies; 14 train companies. The centres of formation for the various units of this artillery are the artillery regiments of the permanent army.

The active militia engineer corps is formed into 21 companies of sappers, 2 companies of railroad men, 3 companies of telegraphists, 5 companies of pontoniers, 4 companies of train. The centres of formation are those of the active army engineer regiments.

To the above corps must be added 12 sanitary service and 12 supply service companies.

The divisions that can be formed with the above elements, and that can be mobilized to re-enforce the 12 army corps of

A glance at this table will suffice to show that the national army of Italy is far from having the proportions of cavalry and horse batteries that the armies of Germany, France, and Austro-Hungary give to the same arms. This comparative deficiency, however, is account

ed for and justified by the nature of the frontiers, as well as by the international position of the Italian Kingdom in respect to the neighboring states, excluding on its part any aggressive intention. The relative scarcity of cavalry in particular would in any case be justified by the actual scarcity of horses fit for military purposes (220,000 in all, fully one-half of which number would be required for the needs of a general mobilization), as well as by the state of the national finances, which hardly allows the maintenance of such an expensive arm on a large scale. Nevertheless, Italy is unquestionably able to check with her army any offensive movement from either the west or the east. The above table shows that no less than 12 active army corps, each 30,000 strong, can be formed, preceded by 36,000 Alpine infantry, and followed up by 12 divisions, each 120,000 strong, of active militia, giving a grand total of 540,000 men, all ready to take the field, the local militia amply sufficing for all garrison purposes.

The law of conscription makes every able-bodied Italian liable to military service from the age of 20 to 39. There are, consequently, 19 classes to feed the army. The men on the conscription lists found fit for service are enrolled, and divided by lot into three distinct categories, first, second, third. The first category contingent is determined annually by law. The men in excess of the first category contingent are assigned to the second cate