England can employ her regular army in a Continental war so long only as all is quiet in the Colonies.
This fact brings into prominence how important it will be, should war break out, to threaten England in her colonial possessions, and especially in Egypt.
Against the powerful hosts which the Powers of the Triple Entente can put into the field, Germany can command an active army of 589,705 men (on peace establishment, including non-commissioned officers) and about 25,500 officers; while Austria has an army which on a peace footing is 361,553 men and about 20,000 officers strong.

The combined war strength of the two States may be estimated as follows: In Germany there were drafted into the army, including volunteers and non-combatants, in 1892, 194,664 men; in 1909, 267,283 men; or on an average for seventeen years, 230,975 men annually.

This gives a total of 3,926,575 men.

If we estimate the natural decrease at 25 per cent., we have 2,944,931 trained men left.

By adding the peace establishment to it, we arrive at an estimated strength of 3,534,636, which the French can match with about the same figures.
The annual enlistment in Austria amounts to some 135,000.