New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-08-28
sERvIA ABOUT TO DECLARE WAR
PRINCE MILAN AND HIS MISlsILNS
wAR-ARMY COMMANDERS APfolNihD'
LONDON. Monday, Aug. p, 1877

PRINCE MILAN AND HIS MINISTERS
wAR-ARMY COMMANDERS APPOINTED
LONDON. Monday Aug. p, 1871
A Belgrade dispatch to The Times says there are
very strong indications that servia Will again uy
,be fortunes Of war; District officials have received
orders not 70 give passports to any militamen who
wish TO 90 to the interior abroad There are IN
interrnpted daily communications with the Russian
headquarters.
Reuters Belgrade dispatch, dated Monday, says at
Ministerial council yesterday, at which Prince Mi
Ian presided the cooperation of the Seryian Army
with the Russians in Bulgaria was determined upon
md the commanders of the various corps were nom
mated.
A deputation from Servians now taking part IN
tbe instruction in Bosnia is negotiating with the
s.r,.;a Minister Of War for the formation of Ser
vian free corps, under command Of Seryian oncers'
q 10 aispatched to the insurgent camp in Bosnia
ervia NJ the same time taking supreme direction OF
Tho BosniaD bands. The Scryian Government, how
over. seem unwilling to entertain this project.
B.fore war is declared against Turkey an extraor-
binary session Of the skuptschina will be con-
yokcl The Ministry has taken the initiative IN
proposing war in order to unite all parties ana
eAould tho Skuptschina approve its course coal-
ton Ministry viii be formed.
Prince ZcscheT has arrived in Belgrade from the
Russian headquarters, and IS comforting with Prince
Milan. Prime Minister Ristics, and the Minister OF
War. ..-
According TO the census OF December 81 1874 the
rorulaton OF scrya amounted TO 1,352522 souls Of
lou, co, ZIG were males: and 40 the end OF 1873, &C
corlnr TO official returns it had increased to total Of
13-7OGS Comparing these figures with 10000 rs ne
latest official nominal strength on war footing OF the
entire army and reserve, and making every allow
auce for the losses OF lest years campaign
with the subsequent dcmoraliz9uon arising from
nitmay still he confidently expected that 10000 men
can be put in line the money forthcoming by al ac-
counts and appearances tho sneWs Of war have been
somehow provided These 10000 men can at least be
available for the secondary operations Of wall such as
guarding communications, masking fortroses' aud the
Ike all Of winch, while Indispensable, materially reduce
the strength Of an invading army Tor operations il the
fed and for the day OF battle.
The scryan Army is composed, according TO the
organic law Of 1852, and its subsequent notifications in
1867 Of two distinct parts, namely the Standing Army
and the National Army Militia. In time Of peace the
FIRST is distributed the whole territory OF the
IrinciDallty and Is CIeuy lntcudeO 10 ACT rs III
struetors for the militia. This last is divided
into two bans or categories, OF which the first is
composed OF al arms o. the service, and con-
situtes the active Army for field operations.
The second ban IS only composed Of Infantry, and IS
destined principally for the defence Of the soil although
may also be utilized 20 I'll the gaps in the ranks Of the
first ban Each Serb bound to serve lis country from
hs twentieth TO his ffueth year The law fixes the
duration Of service in the Standing Army at three
years bat ordinarily IL does not exceed two. Two
nore are passed ia the reserve, and the remaining ter
ty-six in the militia.
InIS75 by order Of the skuptchna, the then Min
igtcr Col Ploch furnished the following details Of
the militia The first ban was supposed TO number 9S-
90 men, and the second ban $1,000. or these, as
Immediately effective comuatants, there were G725Q
Infantry Of the frst ban, and 4S40O Infantry OF the
second ban, 1880 cavalry and 1891 engineers To
these DE- added 80 batteries with 1900 arrymen and
$50 guns and also the standing army, which would give
an effective Of about 1880. The militia furnished by
two districts Of the couutry-those OF the capital Bel
grade and Of Kragujewaz- arc artlerymen; the rest
ore infantry There appears 10 be also since last year
Aewly.Orcauized volunteer service.
The finances OF seryia have been for years in
wellreguated state and until last year when the war
with Turkey necesstated the issue Of small internal
lcan, there no public debt