310 THE MILITARY AND FINANCIAL 



THE MILITARY AND NAVAL EXPENDITURE. 



The revenue of the State for the past quinquennial period has 

 shown an annual surplus, which haS', been employed for the 

 reduction of the public debt. The latter was mainly incurred in 

 consequence of large deficits in former years, and in part for railway 

 undertakings, construction of harbours, lighthouses, and other 

 works of public importance. 



An important feature in the administration of the finances of the 

 kingdom is the maintenance of a reserve fund, which amounts to 

 ;^990,o99, the object of which is to provide means at the disposal 

 of the Government in the event of war. 



Annual Army and Interest of 



Expenditure, Navy, National Debt, National Debt, 



1 890- 1. 1890. i8go. 1890. 



^3,461,155. ^1,933.773- — ;£'i°.Si4,S°3- 



The public debt, which consists of the " passive " and " active," 

 and from the "active,'' amounting to ^3,560,222, considerable 

 annual receipts are placed to the credit of the revenue. 



FRANCE. 



THE ARMY AND NAVY. 



The military forces of France are based on a new " loi sur ie 

 recrutement," passed in 1872, and supplemented in 1875, 1882, 

 1887, and 1889, which enacts universal liability to arms from the 

 age of 20 to that of 45 years. Every Frenchman, not declared 

 unfit for military service, must serve 3 years in the "armee 

 active," 6 years in the "reserve de I'armde active," 6 years in the 

 "armde territoriale," and 10 years in the "reserve de I'arm^e 

 territoriale." 



By the same law the navy is manned partly by conscription, and 

 partly by voluntary enlistment, and the time of service is 3 years in 

 the active, and 6 years in the reserve. At the expiration of these 

 nine years the men pass into the territorial army, where they remain 

 until the age of 50. 



