The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-01-04
THE GERMAN ARMY.
An Intenigibie account OF Its organl.
zatIon. -

a correspondent ol tue AoHuoH 1LueE,
writing from the Prusslan headquarters, says:
While speaking OF the organization Of the
North German army, 1t may not be out OF
place to state the various conditions oil service
In the army. Much has been written on tho
subject, but there are probably still great
many persons who confound landwehr and. re-
serve. who believe in the existence of the
landsturm, and who would be unable at a
moments notice to explain the difference
between an auantGgear and one-year volun-
teer. =.
To begin at the beginning. every North Ger
man of the age Of twepty-one who has not al
ready yolunteeredis is taken by c0nscriptlon to
serve In the ranks Of the army, with these ex-
ceptions: First, mediat!zed princes; second,
students in theology; third. only sons Of
widows, If their labor be necessary for their
mothers support; fourth members or the sect
of Mennontes, diving chiefly In East Prussia. }
whose religion torblds them TO shed blood; bus
as their religion does not forbid them to heal
wounds, the MennOnites have totserve as hos
pital attendants, litter-bearers while Oh the
deld of battle. and 80 on. Volunteers-these
are of three kinds-one-year volunteers, three
year volunteers, and dudntQgeurs.
The one-year volunteer must pass an ex-
animation or produce certificate to the effect
that he has been in one of the highest classes
of gymnasium. He may then choose his
arm and regiment He must support himself
and furnish his own uniform and equipment.
If he enters the cavalry he brings his own
horse with him, except In time Of war, when
the government provides the horse, but
charges the one year volunteer for forage.
His twelve months service at an end, The one
year volunteer, as rule, retires into private
life. But, If he wishes, he may nrass q military
examination, aud after serving from four to
six weeks as corporal and as sergeantmajor,
II. 1oo han hn-
come an officer of reserve, and, after q time, a
landwehr officer.
The three-year volunteer [who must Volun-
teer for four years If he enters the cavalry
has the privilege Of choosing bis regiment and
of beginning his service at the age Of eighteen,
or, If the inspecting surgeon consents, seven
teen. To be near his home he selects regi-
meut stationed in his own town or district,
and he finds it ON advantage at the age. OF
twenty or twenty-one to<haTe fulfilled his mlli-
tary obligations to the State. Often, however,
the three.year volunteer acquires a. taste for
military lie, and 1t is from tlls class that the
non-commIssioned officers are chiefly taken.
After completing his three or tour years. ser
vice he may re-engage himself rom year to
year, and when he has been twelve years IN
the army has recognized claim 10 an appoint
ment on q railway, In the Telegraph or POSI-
office; or in some other department In which
cierkships and porterships are specially reserv-
ed by the State, or by contract with Inc Stale,
for retired ''under officers"
The q, untdgeur, or cadet, Is volunteer who
enters the army as private with the distinct
object of becoming an officer. Before being
admitted In the character of drdntageIr he
must have passed university exantnation--
the same as that for the rank OF ensign. he
then serves for year, or sometimes less taan
year, as private, or first as private and after
wards as non-commissIoned officer; when, If
his conduct and character are approved BY the
colonel and the body Of officers, he Is recon-
mended for commission. -,
In 1867 the Prussian, or North German, mill
tary system was modified In various particl-
lars; and, among other changes, the landsturm,
abolished; formerly the Prussian soldier served
three years in line, two in reserve, seven In
landwehr of the first draft, and seven in
landwehr of the second draft. THAT brought
him to the age OF 40, and from - to 4S he was
stTl liable, In case of Invasion, to serve IN the
andsturm. At present, entering at the age
of q, the conscrlpt serves three years (lsu-
aly o few months less) In line. He may then
get married and live according 10 his own
Views, except that twice Year he must
present himself to the sergeant Of bis dis
trict and twice year 90 through from four
TO six weeks drill. He Is In reserve. and
so remains for four years, during which
period, If war breaks out, he VIII De calleu
upon to resume service in the line. At the
expiration of the reserve period of four years
tho eX-linesman becomes landwchrman Of
the first draft. He serves no more with
troops of the line, but on the landwehr being
called out, will be among the first summoned
to arms. After five years OF the service. or
liability to service the landwehrman OF the
first draft becomes landwehr Of the
second draft, and for five years more may
be required to bear arms, but not until the
line, with It's reserves, and the laudwehr Of
'the tirst draft have already taken the field.
When, in the armies of the newly-alied
States each line regiment, as In Prussia, has
It's andwehr regiment corresponding with IL,
there will be no such thing as ''landwehr OF
the second draft" The service required OF
every conscrIpt will be limited las intheory 1t
is at this mement) to three years In line, four
wears in reserve and five years in landwciy.