Mr. Sanford to Mr. Seward.
Sir: In my despatch No. 398 I had the honor to inform you that the Belgian government had appointed a commission, consisting of members of the senate and of the house of representatives and of generals and superior officers, for the purpose of inquiring into the most eligible means of reorganizing the army.
The debates of the commission have just been collected and printed in a report of considerable extent.
Before mentioning the suggestions and conclusions of the commission, it may be well to observe that the Belgian army, by the law of June 8th, 1853, is to consist, in case of war, of 100,000 men. But in reality the establishment had remained on the previous footing of 80,000 formed by yearly levies of 10,000, liable to eight years’ service.
With the exception of the artillery, which, for technical purpose, are kept longer under arms, the actual time of service does not exceed two years and a half, the discharged soldiers falling into the reserve, but liable to be recalled to active duty till the expiration of their eight years. The peace establishment, therefore, amounts to 25,000 men, from which deductions must of course be made for casualties, &c.
The commission propose maintaining 100,000 men as the war establishment, that figure being considered indispensable for the security of the country. For this purpose, the yearly levy, consisting at present of 10,000 men, must be increased to 13,000; so that on an emergency the war effective of 100,000, [Page 643] allowance being made for casualties, may be obtained by calling out all the eight years’ levies.
At present the army is raised by conscription, as in France. The commission propose maintaining the system, with the power of obtaining exemption from military service on condition of paying the government before drawing a sum of not less that 1,000 francs. This would in the opinion of the commission put an end to jobbing and other inconveniences attending the present system of substitutes, and from the relative high sum would bring a better class of men into the army as privates.
The government, however, does not appear disposed to adopt this suggestion.
With respect to the time of actual service, the commission propose, as at present, two years and a half, with seven months’ additional service spread over the remaining five years and a half.
In addition to the regular force of 100,000 men, the commission propose a reserve of 30,000 at most, supplied by the unmarried men and widowers of the first ban of the civic guard, (under 30 years of age.) But the commission do not seem to have come to a practical solution as to the best mode of putting this reserve on a war footing, and combining its operations with those of the army.
The Belgian infantry consist of 16 regiments, viz: one regiment of grenadiers, two of chasseurs, one of carabiniers, and 12 of the line; in all 84 battalions, 68 active and 16 reserve, of 876 men, making in round numbers from 70,000 to 74,000 men, including officers, commissariat, punishment companies, &c. No essential change is proposed by the commission, except that the number of officers will have to be increased in order to meet the augmentation of the yearly levy raised, as has been above mentioned, from 10,000 to 13,000 men.
The cavalry consists of seven regiments, viz: one of guides, four of lancers, and two of chasseurs; forming 38 squadrons, besides nine companies of gendarmes, in all 6,530 men. No alteration is proposed in this branch of the service.
The only serious changes proposed refer to the artillery, which, in the opinion of the commission, requires to be considerably increased.
It is well known that Belgium, at one time, was covered with fortified places, filling a conspicuous place in military and diplomatic history. For political and strategical reasons, it was decided in 1851, by a military commission whose labors were published two years afterwards, that the fortresses on the southern frontier and several in the centre of the kingdom should be demolished as useless and untenable, and that the national defence should be concentrated at Antwerp, that city to be covered by an entrenched camp of considerable extent, strengthened by a system of detached forts. Behind this bulwark the government, the houses, &c, might, in case of invasion, find a refuge under the protection of the army falling back on Antwerp, which place was to be rendered capable of sustaining a siege of six months at least.
It was not, however, until 1859 that the legislature voted the sums required for carrying out this system of defence. Since that time the works have been carried on at Antwerp, and I have had frequent occasion to refer to discussions in Parliament respecting them. They are, in so far as relates to the original plan, about terminated; although for a complete system of defence, other works will be necessary in all probability. It is estimated on high authority that 15,000 artillerymen would be necessary to man these works.
The Belgian artillery consists at present of four regiments, comprising 24 siege batteries and 19 field batteries, (4 horse and 15 mounted,) of eight guns each.
The force on foot is stated in last year’s estimates at 4,772 men, besides a regiment of engineers, (839 men,) field train, &c.
The commission propose raising the artillery force to 15,394 men, of which 10,563 for Antwerp, and 1,650 for the fortresses of Diest and Termonde, serving as outworks to Antwerp, making for the three fortresses 12,213 men; the remaining [Page 644] 3,181 men for the field artillery. The number of guns required for Antwerp is stated at 3,201. The commission propose forming 31 new siege batteries, which, added to the 24 existing ones, will make in all 55 batteries. The inspector general of artillery insisted on 64, but his opinion was not adopted by the majority of the commission.
The field artillery, consisting at present of 152 pieces, distributed into 19 batteries of eight guns each, should consist, according to the commission, of 27 batteries, (5 horse and 22 mounted,) of six guns each, the latter number being adopted by the principal European powers, and even by Holland and Switzerland, since the introduction of rifled cannon. These changes would raise the number of artillery regiments from four to six.
The annual budget for the war department amounts to about 35,000,000 francs, ($7,000,000.) Should the proposed changes be made, the additional annual cost to the treasury will be about $700,000; to the people 3,000 more conscripts annually, and the government will have its patronage increased by 1,000 more officers.
This report is attracting a good deal of public attention, and opposition as well, but its suggestions in all probability will be in the main adopted.
I have the honor to be, with great respect, your most obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.