HC Deb 02 March 1904 vol 130 cc1474-5
MR. CHARLES HOBHOUSE

To ask the Secretary of State for War if he will state what is the cost of the armies of France, Germany, Russia, and the United States, and the numbers on the active lists, respectively, for the last ascertainable year.

(Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) The figures are as follows:—

Army Estimates. Peace Establishments. Active Army (all ranks).
£
France, 1904 27,053,196 602,120
Germany, 1903–4 31,880,455 600,000
Russia, 1903 36,647,089 1,124,037
United States, 1903–4 24,383,469 67,438
In the case of France a number of items, such as coast fortifications, which are of a military nature, are provided for in the Naval Budget, and so also in the case of Germany, though to a less extent. The German Estimates make no provision for pensions, which are included in a separate budget and amount to about £5,000,000 a year.