, 1863-03-12

1'ramototn in the French army never takes |
| Ace by purchase. and not often by special |!
o:tcr. Seniority ut present determines more
t}:sn one l,aif the appointments.
ilat the military system of Prussia, how.
ever, is admirably adapted to the exigencics
oi war and the maintenance 6f the govern
mcnt, there can be but little room for ques-
hcn. When a given number Of troops is
wanted, the order is giyen to the proper OH
GERS throughout the kingdom, and II more
arc raised than the necessity demands, they
arc passed over to tho next years. eccount,
or to the next requirement. Every soldier,
as We said, with the exception alluded to,
is compelled to serve three years whether In
peace or war. At the expiration Of this time
hc IL allowed to 70 home, and resume his
civil avocations, but Is still d soldier; and for
FIVE years utter hia three years service has ex-
pired, he Is ut any time liable to be called into
active service. Once soldier, always SOL
dier, is the law Of Prussia For even after
this hye years term is orcr, each man is COM
PEELED to enter the Landtcehr {militia), and
there -he remains until be is forty yeara Of nge
the whole Landmhr being called out every
two or three years for discipline and review.
After the age Of forty, be is still liable, In
case of invasion, to serve in the Landsturna,
sort Of reserve militia. 4 volunteer, born in
Prussia, who enters the service voluntarily
oJo.r! he is twenty years old is required to
serve but two years. With these exceptions,
the Prussian Inv is absolute, and no consezipt
GIN provides substitute. The oonscription
81 =. 3t,- hiatt no1f
the Far Of Freedom against Napoleon, which
took place between the years 1878 aud 1913.
The soldiers who only serve one gear, alter
they hare passed their examination, become
officers in The LandreA,; and those who enlist
os volunteers before the age Of twenty, are al
lowed the privilege Of choosing their arm Of
service, whether cavalry or fnGintEy, provided
they are physically strong enough to perform
its duties.
The military laws Of Russia aud Austria are
based upon q cruel despotism, and are pretty
much alike In their provisions and requisi-
tfops. In the former country, every able
bodied man is required to scrve in the army
for twenty-five years. Substitutes are per-
mitted, but 1t is so expensive to obtain them
that ycry few aEail themselves Of the priyi-
lege. ConEcription is rigid1y enforced, and
when The Emperor has decided as to the num-
bez Of men he requires, the draft is made upon
the estates Of the nob1es according to the
number of scrfs employed upon them, and
this number, as well as the age Of each per-
son, is founded upon the records Of the church
registers.
The Emperors both Of Rnssia and Austria
being absolute in their authority, can change
their conscript laws to suit their convenience
or glnt their malice aud revenge. The late
attempt to enforce these laws by Russia upon
the inhabitants Of Poland is proofof this,
and shows, in Its results, how obnoxious the
laws were to the entire people, and how deep
| Ii rooted and implacable Was their hatred
| their oppressors. The will of the Emperor
decided in this case, not that the draft shoult
be equally enforced throughout the conquered
country, but that it should fall upon thos'
classes..who by their rank, position and intel
lfgtnce, we're the natural leaders Of the PEG
pie; the object being to clear Poland Of n
persons who might be presumed favorable t
insu1Eection and q new war for freedom an'
nationality.
| The military affairs Of Austria esttsEtta- Ut
|eeeeaaaai1ctea eeaai1ccttea BY separate Department, th
rulers Of which are responsible to the Empt
ror alone, and his will, like that Of his brott
er Of Russia, is the final Law.
In England the army proper Is nla}ntasne
By volunteer enlistments, although the COZ
scription-or BALLOTS established by law 70
the militia, ehould volunteers be wanting
The Militia and Yeomanry [Cayalry) reg
ments, and Rifle Clubs, constitute an In
mense army Of reserve, apart from the staut
Ing army Of the country. In times Of war
except in the navy seryice-Epgland has mos
. j. employed foreign mercenaries to I'LL her ii
mics, rather than resort to the draft.
The Republic Of Switzerland is based upo
, the military service Of every one Of its cit
zens, without any exception save for disloya
i II, or crime. Lieutenant Colonel Rutishauss
Of the 5Sth Illinois volunteers, who has serve
: twenty years in the Swiss army, and has con
manded regiment in the present Y;
5 against the rebels-says, in communicate
received from him, that the spirit Of llbcr
Is cultivated in the schools Of Switzerlan
. and that boys irom twelve to eighteen yea
Of age, arc drilled in military exercises a,
tactics. At stated periods, these young M
I of the schools arc mustered into conpani
: ana regiments, often Of many thousands
l men, and, led by a General, perform ali I!
/ eyolutions Of regular army.
t. Beside this governmental defense Of t
land, there is another force of immense val
to the State, although it is strictly priya
and under no military control. This is call
y the Society Of fsharpShooters. These socict
b exist in every locality, aud are sustained,
y some extent, By prizes given by the goyel
e ment to The most proficient marksman-
a 4 great stimulus to the enterprise Of ar
# is 10 be found in tho yearly Ftstirals, VIII
h thousands Of dollars in money, nnd equ
"a mcnts arc distributed to the most cfflcit
IL soldiers. at these generous holidays, a1l P
It sons, no matter Of what rank or politics,
h present, and lose all their differences in th
g. enthusiasm for Fatherland.
t, The system, says our authority, Of lead
y and commanding the Swiss army is entir
If different from that Of America. No man (
" be m officer until he has served as soldi
r. and is thoroughly instructed in mi1it:
s, knowledge. No Lieutenant can become
D. commander Of . company without passing
h strict examination as to his competency; I
,e anlc become Field officer until he has scr,
in the lower grades, and passed his exami
IS tion.
II Home Questions.