War office systems of foreign countries and India / compiled in the Intelligence Division of the War Office.
- Date:
- 1901
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: War office systems of foreign countries and India / compiled in the Intelligence Division of the War Office. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![(INTRODUCTION, In the systems of the command and administration of armies which are here described there is considerable variation, but at the present moment all, with the exception of the United States, are alike, in that both command and administration, whether combined or divided, are in the hands of soldiers. In the United States the administration is in the hands of a civilian War States is absolutely voluntary, that the army is small, that there are no reserves, and that if has always taken America several months to organize her forces when warlike operations have become necessary. In Austria-Hungary the Emperor-King is the head of the army, but he has deputed much of his work of inspection, conduct of manceuvres, &c., to his Heir, the Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Responsible both to the Emperor- King and to Parhaments, is the Minister of War, who is always a military officer of high rank, appointed by the Crown. The Army Corps Commanders are subordinate to him, as is also, to all intents and purposes, the Chief of the General Staff. The reserve forces of both Austria and Hungary are under special Ministers of Defence who are apparently co-equals of the Minister of War as they are directly responsible to the Emperor-King and to the Parliaments. _ In France the nominal head of the army is the President of the Republic ; the real head is the War Minister, ‘‘ who is in fact Commander-in-Chief.”’ He may be a soldier or a civilian, but of the 31 Ministers of War since 1870, only 5 have been civilians; the present Minister is General André. ‘The -Minister is a member of the Cabinet and selected by the Premier with the approval of the President, but it is not necessary that he should be a member of either Chamber. It is often supposed that the French Army is controlled by the Conseil Supérieur de la Guerre, but this is not the case. ‘‘ On certain questions the *« War Minister is obliged to consult this Council; but he is not obliged to -** take its advice.’’ The Council merely guarantees that ‘“‘ grave questions ** touching the security of the country will not be decided till after they have ** been examined and debated by the most competent authorities.’’ The Chief of the General Staff is a member of the Conseil Supérieur and the rigkt hand man of the Minister, but he has no command over troops. In Prussia, and the States federate with it the system of specializing and decentralizing is seen in its most perfect form. The Hmperor is the real and working head of the army, no single officer uniting in his person all his many powers over it. He is assisted by the Chief of the Military Cabinet, whose special care is the promotion of officers. The command of the troops under the Emperor is invested in 17 Army Corps Generals, who report direct to His Majesty. The Chief of the General Staff is charged with the collection of intelligence, the study of strategy, and the selection and education of Staff Officers. The Minister of War, who is appointed by the Emperor and is always a soldier, is responsible for the finance and general administration of the army; he has ex-officio a seat in the Reichstag for the purpose of explaining military measures which require funds, but he is responsible to the Emperor and not to the representatives of the people that the money they vote is properly expended. In Italy the King is Commander-in-Chief and has a military household. Under him is the War Minister, who is a political appointment exactly as in Great Britain. He is responsible for the financial] matters to the Chamber of Deputies. He may be an officer or a civilian, ‘but since 1861, with the ** exception of two very short periods, the post has always been held by a “‘ General Officer.” ‘Ihe Under Secretary, a General Officer, who is the Deputy of the Minister, is appointed by the King. The Army Corps Generals and the Chief of the Staff are placed under the Minister of War. a3 Austria- Hungary. France. Germany. Italy,](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b32171389_0009.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
