Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-08-30
THE PRUSSIAN ARMY.

hcIe IL IcudIhdUle slHpllCllJ an
comprehensiveness in the military OIL
II gauization of Prussia. Every able bod
IF led man is bound to military sevice iron
* the age of twenty until he reaches hi
y Gfteth year. There is no exemption ex
1t cept for special reasons, which must b.
* presented and examined when the new
&c recruits come up each May before militia
n ry commission. a young man whose ageC
n parents depend on him for support is ex
l. empt for few years, until his brother,
/ and sisters grow up to take his place; il
y he is an only son, however, he is usually
e permanently exempt; as is so always the
i only son of a widow, by special humane
! provision.
The soldiers are divided into four
. classes.
I. The standing army, comprising the
recruits who serve in this class for the
space Of three years, They are, in fact,
only troops in training. They are sub
iccted to severe driling-fom six to
eight hours daily-and are thoroughly
instructed in field service to march and
vancouver in companies, regiments, brig
AIDES, and divisions. They have also reg
ular lectures, from experienced officers,
on the duties Of a soldier on guard, in the
field, ard in bivouac, They learn, also,
the fundamental principles of field forti-
fcations. They all learn that important
part of soldiers training-how to pre-
pare their food. The total expense of
these soldiers Of the standing army is not
more than $40 per year.
After the appointed term of service IN
the standing army, the soldier is dismiss
ed, and he goes back to lis home to fol-
low his trade or profession. lie costs
from this time but little in time of peace
and yet is still trained soldier, ready to
by mustered, at few hours notice, into
his regiment, ready for active service.
II. The Land-wehr or militia of the
first ban or summons. This includes all
under the age Of thirly-two years who
have been discharged from the standing
army. They are the reserve force, to be
called out in time of war, for any service .
in connection with the former class. In
time of peace their military duties are
very light. They meet at certain times
in the year for muster and target firing.
They also meet twice in year for in
struction in field service, or to mancuver
with the regular army by brigajes and
divisions. Their uniforms, arms, the
harness OF their horses, their guns and {
field eqnippage, are kept in large store
houses provided for them at convenient
distances apart. They are guarded by
few officers and men, who are retained
permanently in the service for that pur-
pose. Their cavalry is mounted by
pressing into the service, for a fixed COM
pensation, such horses belonging to pri-
vate persons as are fit for the field.
III. The Land-wehr of the second
ban or summons. These comprise the
men from thirty-two to forty. They are
not called out in time Of peace bat form
the garrisons Of fortresses in time of war
and may in emergency be called into the
field to cooperate with the other forces.
~. The !and-sturm, embracing all
the men from seventeen to fifty years of
age who are not included in the three
other classes. They are not regularly /.
organized, and would of course only be
summoned to render such aid as they
might be able, in case of an invasion.
The total force of the peace establish
ment, exclusive of the Land sturm, is
23,lj2 cavalry, l6,500 artillery, $500
pioneers, 7j,7l2 infantry, making an ag-
gregate Of ll8,1Gl,
The war establishment-incl on
ly the first three casses--is composed of {
383,370 infantry, Gj,02l cavalry, C9,008 /
77l3 pioneers giving total 5
Of 5lG,li5. TO these must be added the n
soldiers of the artillery, bridge, provis-
ion and hospital trains, numbering 10000
and the regmental officers, about 10000 II
and the other special corps, which will
make tue grand total 100000.
Experiments have been made to de-
ermine how rapidly this great army can
,e mustered under arms, ready for active P
service. The whole body can be assem- Il
'led at their appointed stations in less tt
han week after the order has been is =,
sued from Berlin. In three days time, a
orce of about 100000 men could be as G
'embled at any given place in the king n
lon. II
This is the military force of a king ..
ION with population of 100000. =
It embraces all between the ages of 20 ID
md 10 who are capable of bearing arms, tc
With the exception of a few special cases p
'oted above. 1t is, probably, the cheap W
st military oganizaton possessed by any :,
ingdom in the world. 1t may safely be -
egarded as also the most efficient. A le
entury since when Frederick the Great
,ok the field to confront the Austrian
Il L q