taro, Civitavecchia, Gaeta, Baja, and Castellamare in the Gulf of Naples; works in the Straits of Messina; various places in Sicily; Tarentum; Brindisi, Ancona, the mouth of the Adige; Brindolo and Chioggia. On the north Sardinia is defended by the fortifications in the Island of St. Madeleine, and on the south by those of Cagliari. Rome is surrounded by walls, and is being protected by a circle of forts. II. ARMY. Universal liability to arms forms the basis of the military organisation of Italy. A certain portion of all the young men who have completed their twentieth year, amounting to about 200,000, is levied annually, 82,000 of whom are drafted into the standing army, while the rest are entered in a second and third category. According to the law of August 6, 1888, the time of service in the standing army for the first category of recruits is five years in the infantry, four years in the cavalry, and three years in the other arms. Having completed their service under arms, the men of the first category are granted unlimited leave, but are enrolled in the permanent army, the infantry for four years, the cavalry five years, when they are both transferred to the territorial militia. The men belonging to the other arms are enrolled in the permanent army for five or six years, when they are transferred to the mobile militia, in which they complete twelve years of service before being transferred to the territorial militia. Those of the second category are entered in the permanent army for eight years, and the mobile militia for four years, when they form part of the territorial militia. The men of the third category are entered at once in the territorial militia, but are given unlimited leave. The total period of service is 19 years. As in the German army, young men of superior education are permitted under certain conditions to serve as one-year volunteers. The different arms of the Italian army have the following organisation according to the law of June 23, 1887 1. Permanent Army. The main army is composed of:-Infantry: 96 regiments of the line and 12 regiments of bersaglieri, each regiment of 3 battalions of 4 companies and 1 depôt; 7 regiments of Alpine tro ps divided into 22 battalions, in 75 companies; 87 military districts with 98 companies. Cavalry-24 regiments of 6 squadrons and 1 depôt; depôts for re mounts. Artillery-12 regiments of divisional field artillery, each of 1 staff and 2 brigades (8 batteries); 1 company of train, and 1 depôt; 12 regiments of army corps field artillery, of 1 staff and 2 brigades (8 batteries); 1 brigade of train (2 companies) and 1 depôt; 1 regiment of horse artillery, of 1 staff, 3 mounted brigades (6 batteries); 1 brigade of train, of 4 com panies and 1 depôt; 1 regiment of mountain artillery, of 1 staff, 3 brigades of 9 batteries, 1 depôt; five regiments of fortress artillery, 2 of these composed each of 1 staff, 4 brigades (16 companies), and 1 depôt; the other 3 each of 1 staff, 3 brigades (12 companies), and 1 depôt; 1 regiment (5 companies) of artillery mechanics, and 1 company of veterans. Engineers:-4 engineer regiments, 2 of which of 1 staff, 6 brigades of sappers (18 companies), 1 brigade of train (2 companies), and 1 depot; the 3rd regiment of 1 staff, 3 sapper brigades (7 companies), 3 brigades (6 companies) of telegraphists and 1 of specialists, 1 brigade train (3 companies), and 1 depôt; the 4th regiment of 1 staff, 3 brigades of pontooners (8 companies), 1 railway brigade (4 companies), 1 lagoon brigade (2 companies), 1 train brigade (3 companies), and 1 depôt. Carabineers:-11 territorial legions, and 1 legion of cadets. Sanitary corps, 12 companies; commissariat, 12 companies; veterinary corps; administrative corps; invalids and veterans, 4 companies; establishments and institutes of instruction; disciplinary establishments, 15 companies; 2 houses of correction. 2. Mobile Militia. Infantry:-48 regiments of the line of 3 battalions of 4 companies; 18 battalions of bersaglieri of 4 companies; 22 companies of Alpine troops. Artillery-13 brigades of field artillery of 4 batteries; 14 companies of train; 36 companies of fortress artillery; 3 brigades of mountain artillery of 3 batteries. Engineers:-7 brigades of sappers with 21 companies; 2 railway companies; 3 companies of telegraphists; 1 lagoon company; 4 companies of train. Sanitary corps of 12 companies, and commissariat corps of 12 companies. Special militia of Sardinia-3 regiments of the line, each of 3 battalions of 4 companies; 1 battalion of bersaglieri of 4 companies; 1 squadron of cavalry; 1 brigade of field artillery of 2 batteries, and 1 company of train; 1 brigade of fortress artillery of 4 companies; 1 company of engineers; 1 sanitary company; and 1 commissariat company. 3. Territorial Militia. 320 battalions of the line of 4 companies; 22 battalions of Alpine troops with 75 companies; 100 companies of fortress artillery and 20 brigade commands; 30 companies of engineers and 6 brigade commands; 13 sanitary companies; 13 commissariat companies. In time of peace the territorial militia is called out every four years for 30 days' drill, which may be divided into two, three, or four years. There are 12 army corps. The following is the official statement of the strength of the Italian army for July 1, 1890: The special African corps, constituted in accordance with a law of July 10, 1887, and subsequent decrees up to August 28, 1890, consists of 2 battalions of chasseurs, 1 battalion of sharp-shooters (bersaglieri), 1 mountain battery of 6 guns, 1 company of fortress artillery, 1 company of artillery mechanics, 2 companies of sappers, 1 of specialist engineers, I sanitary, 1 commissariat and 1 train company. The corps contains in all 109 officers, 3,180 men, and 429 horses and mules. It forms an integral part of the army. In the Italian possessions in Africa there is also a corps of native troops, consisting (September 3, 1890) of 6 battalions of infantry, 2 squadrons of cavalry, and 1 mountain battery, with, in all, 152 officers (104 Italian), 5,295 men (108 Italian), and 833 horses. The Italian army is provided with the Vetterli repeating rifle (the Vitali system) and sword bayonet. III. NAVY. The following table contains the official data as to the strength of the Italian navy on January 1, 1890 (I= iron; S = steel; W = wood; B = breech-loader; M = muzzle-loader : On January 1, 1890, there were building, of the first class, 3 iron-clads, with a total of 40,456 metric tons displacement ; of the second class, 6 torpedo rams, of together 17,329 metric tons; and of the third class, 1 gunboat and 7 torpedo cruisers. The total tonnage building was 63,810, and horse-power 116,700. = The following table, derived from the Annuario Ufficiale della R. Marina, gives the names and other particulars of all the firstand second class ships of war built and building in the Italian navy (a = barbette ships; b turret ships; c = broadside ships; d deck-protected cruisers; e spar or flush-decked unprotected vessels). The machine-guns and smaller guns with which all the vessels are well supplied are not given in the list. = |