Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-26
TIE GERMAN SOLDIERY.
HOW THE ARMY OF THIS MILITARY
COUNTRY Is CONSTITUTED.

Million Armed Men Always Ready
for Service-Every Man a Soldier-uow
the People Take 1t.
The German boy who reaches the age
Of II becomes liable to service in the
army, and this liability continues until
he is 10. If he Is not fit for active service
he Is relocated to reserve force not
called out tR1ess there is danger of in
vasion. Tor nearly his whole active life,
therefore, the German lives in a species
of military servitude that hampers him
should he desire to emigrate, and may be
full Of petty annoyances TO him IL he
does not.
Under ordinary circumstances the
German lad steps into the ranks at the
age Of 90. For three years he serves
with tho colors, the next four years he
is in the reserve, and the following five
years he belongs to the Landwehr,
another reserve more remote than the
first. OF these twelve years the first
three are occupied entirely in severe
military work. The most stupid peasant
a cy 0lCLA 81 ItA-
many's must be stupid beyond recovery if
he does not turn out an alert, obedieat
and well trained soldier. From the time
he takes his oath Of allegiance to his
military superior, the kaiser, he reEoun-
ces the civil responsibilities and rights Of
a citizen. With the loss Of his vote he il
taught that the sooner he forgets politi-
cal matters the better for him as a sol
der. His life is completely engrossed
with barrack routine and military ideas.
His only law is the law of court martial;
his only duty Is to obey without ques-
ton, and the Interpreter Of his duty Is
the captain of his company.
With the putting on Of his uniform he
becomes one Of an army which in times
of peace numbers 469, 400 men, thoroughly
equipped, admirably trained and ready
to follow their officers anywhere, from
the stor,ning of Russian redoubt to
charging a mob Of workingInen on
strike. The soldier of the German en-
pire ceases to be a Bavarian, "a Wurtem-
berger or Saxon when he steps into the
ranks. His military service Is personal
70 the emperor, from whom no receives
his orders, to the exclusion Of all other
authority. Everything that he secs and
hears in the army is calculated to I'm
press upon his mind THAI his particular
state and its particular public men are OF
very little consequence compared with
an emperor who has absolute power over
an army such as he belongs 70. BE also
learns that fidelity 30 his duties sc q
soldier is one of the few ss well az sure
means Of securing later IN life position
In that great class Of men whose salaries
come from the taxes Of the people and
whose appointments hang upon tbs IA
vor Of the government.
Every soldier dreams Of the day when
he shall possibly be promoted as non
commissioned officer, and ct the end Of
his term be given berth In the railway,
telegraph or postofice service, possibly
on the police force.
The peace footing Of the German army,
46S, 400, becomes in time Of war fight
ing force Of nearly i,5l0, 600, commanded
by 35,427 officers. A careful estimate
made by Hugo Einzs in Tie Berlin
Nation Of JAN IA. 1853. shows that Ger
many has today 3, %, 90 men trained 20
arms between the ages Of II aad -. The
experience Of the Franco-Gerua1 var
has taught that 10 every 90 nea there
should be at least 14.5 officers IA the
active army and reserve. and from % 20
81 70 the 1905 in the less responsible
reserves called Landxe nr and Ersatz-
.ruppen-troops designed % provide
hone defanse only. On this scale the
German fighting force calls for az lezs,
~ 2J3 officers, making a grad total
fighting force of 6,Ai, 253-aa army
greater IN numbers than the pop1iasto1
Of AL the Unked States when Il became
In Independents power D os1sry ago.
To this mus. be saSed q 900 maze who !
are surgeons, paynasers, vsteri5asses,
amo-ers, sz6dlezs, officials OF various /,
kinds snd 81, GO horses
To raise the peace footing OF ths Grmy,
10 treble u SIC Il twenty four hozi-s, tie |
nass careful system IL ctyerve5- On
-iass IN ever mock md corner O. tie En- |
pire know exactly where they ca E-l !
every abs bod.ed rraa VIE has seyve4 /
his frst three years ard fs now tsSe5s<ore ]
"a tee reserve Then they know Szzss /
cow Isany uniforms and scoouterrasats /
are needed and where tsey can prt .see1r 4
fingers on them at a moments cct-ce- 4
Iax<s val 6xzliea c<sox&ls $3.50. Lzazz