Evening star., 1896-03-21
GERMAN MILITARY SERVICE.
Entrance Into the Army md the Gus.
tom Regulating Promotions.
From the New York Herald

Entrance Into the Army aRd the Gus
tom Regulating Promotions.
From the New York Herald
The German empire is formed by a con-
federation Of twenty-five states and the
imperial territory Of Alsace-Lorraine. Its
area is 211,149 square miles, and the num-
Ter of inhabitants Census of 1880 is 49,
So, $50.
OF this number every German male is
Fable to military service between the ages
of twenty and forty-five years, except men,
bers of reigning or mediatized houses the
two latter classes, however, entering the
military service voluntarily almost without
exception.
Military service may be divided into active
and Landsturm service. The period of ac-
tive service Is initiated by three years SER
vice with the colors, which begins the year
the German youth completes his twentieth
year. Next he goes. at twenty-three years
of age, to four years service with the re-
serve. While thus enrolled he is liable to
two trainings of not exceeding eight weeks
each. From the reserve at twenty-seyeD
years of age, the soldier passes to the Land
wehr service in the first ban, or levy, last
Ing for five years, bringing him down to
thirty-two years of age, while service in the
second ban of the Landwehr, seven years
longer. brings the soldiers age to thirty
nine. The Landwehr is intended, in time of
war. to support the active army but in
emergencies may be used to fill the ranks
of that army.
The last division of the army is the Land
sturm, whose function 1t is to provide for
the defense of the country. and. in extreme
necessity, to strengthen the army and navy
1t consists of all males between the ages
of seventeen and forty-tive not belonging to
the army and navy. The Landsturm forces
receive no special training. but are required
to wear a badge, SO as to be easily recog-
nized.
There is also a special body of men who
do not pass through the standing ARM.
cut are used to fill up the ranks of its units
from time to time, called the Ersatz re-
serve. 1t consists of men disqualified for
military service for certain reasons among
which are family dependency, minor bodily
defects and temporary physical disability.
Appointments aud Promotions.
During times Of peace German officers are
appointed from two sources-the CORPS of
cadets, and from young men of educa ton
aid social standing who join the regiments
as officer aspirsrts. The proportion of civil
Ian appontees to cadet appointees is about
three to one.
ofhcers OF the reserve and Iandwehr are
furnished from the officer aspirants ouittiny
the active army, by officers transferred from
the active Mst. and from men who have
distinguished themselves before the enemy
Promotion Is not fixed by law, but by Gus.
tom. Up to the grade of captain promotion
Is habitually by seniority, but the emperor
has unlimited power to promote meritor,ous
officers. Above the grade of captain the
rule OF seniority Is rarely departed from.
Among field officers the rule is even carried
TO an extreme. for a field officer cannot he
promoted to the next higher grade until ali
MS seniors of the same grade In other arms
nave been promoted. But a regulation
which makes this custom less rigorous is
that pay and allowances go with command
as well as grade, that a field officer in
command OF a regiment receives the nav
and allowances Of colonel Few officers
tail 10 reach the grade Of battalion com
nander, but when they reach the ton of
the Nst of field officers, whether thew will
De retained or overslaughed by an appoint-
ment Of the emperor becomes a question
OF much moment to them There are no
examinations for promotion, but each com
pany officer must annually write an ESSAY
on some professional subject Promotion is
also based on confidential reports made an
nually by the regimental commander on
the official and private record Of all officers
in his command. The duties of officers nm
TO the rank Of colonel are much the same
as In our army, but the regimental COM
nendeTs duties are much more responsible
as ne Is personally accountable for the
clothing and equipage, and has much great
er freedom within his command The high
er divisions Of the army are the brfeade
division and corps, there being twenty army
corps.