Now that the new distribution of Army Corps has placed three Corps (XIVth, XVth, and XVIth) on the western, and four Corps (Ist, IInd, Vth, XVIIth) on the eastern frontier, it will be possible at the first declaration of war with either France or Russia to combine large masses of Cavalry and throw them at once into the enemy’s territory. One or two battalions of Jäger are also to be sent shortly into Alsace, in order to watch the passes over the Vosges. The peace-strength of the German Army is reckoned at— 534 Battalions of Infantry, 465 Squadrons of Cavalry, 364 Batteries of Artillery with 1,500 fully-horsed guns. Total, 19,457 officers and 468,400 men. In consequence of the extension of the Landwehr and Landsturm, it is difficult to arrive at an exact estimate of the German war-strength.[17] In the event of war, different Army Corps and Cavalry Divisions will be combined into Armies, but their number and strength will necessarily depend on the theatre in which they are to be utilised, on the plan of campaign, and on the strength of the enemy. The resources of the Empire will not, however, come to an end with the 20 Army Corps whose strength we have just been describing. Behind the men doing their seven years of service, who compose the Active Army, come those of the 1st and 2nd Class Landwehr, and behind these again come the Ersatz Reserve and the Landsturm. Although this tremendous Army of close on two million of well-trained and well-armed men may at first sight appear a menace to the peace of the world, still we must remember that Germany is absolutely obliged, for the preservation of her very existence, to keep up these huge forces, and that she has no intention of using them except for that purpose. As an old national proverb has it: “He who wants to come to grief in war had better try a fall with Germany.” ADDENDUM TO GERMANY. P. 25. The German Infantry now numbers 173 regiments and 19 Rifle battalions—total 538 battalions. P. 31. The Artillery has lately been increased to 387 batteries of Field, and 47 batteries of Horse Artillery, the whole forming 43 regiments. P. 32. The Engineers number 20 battalions. P. 34. The peace strength of the German Army now numbers 538 battalions of Infantry, 465 squadrons of Cavalry, 434 batteries of Artillery, with over 1700 guns. The latest estimate of the German Army at war-strength, _i.e._ Active Army, Active Reserve, and 1st class Landwehr, is as follows— 48,635 officers, 2,253,841 men, 445,104 horses, 3,982 guns. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 11: Or in the Navy and Naval Reserve respectively as required.] [Footnote 12: “Beurlaubtenstand.”] [Footnote 13: Corresponding somewhat to our University Degree.] [Footnote 14: Or rather, will be in the near future.—_Tr._] [Footnote 15: The word Uhlan means “belonging to the hoof,” in the language of that region.] [Footnote 16: Including the independent (25th) Hesse-Darmstadt Division.]