The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-10-19

strength of the Various Arms and
How They Are Called Out.

strength Oh the various Arms and
How They Are Called Out.
A correspondent is anxious to- know the
NUMBER OF men at present serving in the
army and militia reserves, the circumstances
IN which they can be called out and the
mode OF procedure. On. Jan. l last the army
reserve, composed of regular soldiers, con-
sisted OF 10000 men, of whom $4,000 were
under 80 years of age, $4,000 were between
the ages of 30 and 35, and 1000 between
80 and 40. The cavalry reserve consists
OF $500 men. the royal artillery of 10, 500, tn
royal engineers of 5000, the foot guards of
$500, the infantry of the line of As, 800, the
army service corps of $780, and the re-
ma1nder are departmental. On Jan. 1 last
the militia reserve consisted of 20 900 men
composed of the pick of the Militia. They
the very fine body of men and would be
welcome addition to any regular regiment.
The military forces of the country may
be divided into three categories-the first
Line, the second line and the third line.
The first line Is available for services in
all quarters OF the globe and is composed
OF the regular army, the army reserve and
the militia reserve; the two latter are .uti-,
lized to bring the regular forces to a war
footing and can be called out oby Jprocla
nation in case of imminent national danger
and of great emergency and are liable to
serve anywhere a home and abroad The
second line is composed of the militia and
is available for home defense and for gar
rlson1ng foreign station. The militia NAV
be embodied Dy proclamation under the same
circumstances as the army and militia re-
serves can be called out. e., in case of
Imminent national danger, of great emer-
gency. 1t is thoroughly reliable force
and has been embodied on seven different
occasions and has never failed the country.
The third line is composed of the yeo-
many and volunteers, and would only be
called out as a last resource. 1t is valuable
only for home defense and for the most part
can only be called out when the United
Kingdom itself is in danger OF attack The
yeomanry can be called out whenever the
militia is embodied, but cannot be en-
ployed outside of Great Britain 1t has
In the past been caned out for short per-
iods in cases of riot and Instruction at
home, and served with credit, but in recent ,
years 1t has sadly diminished, in numbers,
while it's efficiency is doubted. Neither the
yeomanry nor volunteers can be employed
In defense of Ireland, even should that part
OF the United Kingdom be invaded, although
they could be employed on garrison duty in
Great Britain In such a case. The pres
ent volunteer force has never yet been call
ed upon nor put to the test; but there
Is no reason to think that it would serve
otherwise than with credit.
The procedure in regard to calling out
the reserves is as follows: When in the
opinion of the war office, mobilization an
pears imminent, general and other officers
commanding at home and abroad would be
duly warned, to give them time to carry out
any preliminary arrangements necessary Be-
fore mobilization can take place. the cab
met will, OF course, have arrived at de-
cision that the military forces of the coun-
try should be placed on war footing-that.
in fact, a situation has arisen which may be
termed one of Imminent national danger
and of great emergency" The cabinet will
also have decided whether the circumstances
are such as to demand the calling out the
whole or only a part of the reserves. Her
majesty in council can then, by proclama-
tion, the occasion being first communicated
to parliament, if sitting, declared in coun- |
Gil and notified by proclamation il parlia-
ment is not sitting to order the army re-
serve and militia reserve or either, to be !
called out for permanent service. The gen.
eral and other officers concerned viii then |
arrange for the proclamation to be posted |
in all public places. railway and passage
warrant is then dispatched to each reservist |
with notice to join; he will either, il pro-
physically fit, be drafted to his bat
talon to complete it to war strength or re-
main at the depot for further disposal. It
will be seen by these explanations how for
eign to their conditions Of service are those
cheap offers of embodiment on tie part of |
certain volunteer corps and how remote is
the possibility of their being accepted
London Globe