The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-04
FRENCH MILITARY Law
Every Young Man Must Serve as
a Soldier.
Listed in the hooks of the Recruit
ing Department Three Days After
BEGINNING His Existence on This
Mundane Sphere-No boy Allowed
to Escape Service in the Army.


The French boy is no sooner born than
the military authorities have their eye
on him. Within three days after his entry
into the world his parents are bound under
severe penalties to register his birth at
the local marie or town hall. This
formality accomplished, the youngster at
once receives the visit of the doctor at
tached to the register office. The ''mede-
Gin de Petat civil" as this functionary is
termed. yeriies the declaration made by
the parents, and satisfies himself that the
infant is indeed man in miniature. This
precaution is necessary. as the father and
mother. were they left entirely to their
own devices, might be tempted to palm of
their boy as girl. with view to enabling
him to escape his military service. Until
not so very long ago every child had to be
taken to the marie shortly after Its
birth to allow the authorities to convince
themselves that no mistake had been made
as regards the sex. Even now however.
mistakes do occur and every now and
then case crops up of girl who by some
unaccountable error has got on to the
books of the recruiting department and Is
summoned to serve with the colors.
The existence of the youngster having
thus been duly placed on record, he is
allowed to run loose for score OF years.
IL he chooses to he can shorten this period
OF liberty by voluntarily enlisting
before his time. providing, Of course, his
physique passes muster. The marine in
fantry. a corps that sees a good deal of
actual fighting in the colonies, recruits
number of adventurous spirits in this
way. and not few Of the young men who
propose to adopt the army as their career
improve their prospects by making an
early start. The average conscript. how
ever, is in no hurry, and takes advantage
of the full latitude allowed him by the
law. He is well aware that he must be-
gin to think seriously of his military OBJ
legations the moment he is out OF his
teens. Even il this necessity had not been
drilled into him at school, he could not
ignore it, since it is the constant preoc-
cupation of his relatives and comrades.
In consequence, as soon as his twentieth
birthday is passed he begins to have a
keen eye on the official posters displayed
on the wall OF the town hall, the schools
and other public buildings. These pos
tiers are white, like all other official pos
tiers in France, but they are OF exceptional
size, while, that there may be no posi-
bilsty of their escaping notice among their
many miscellaneous fellows, they compel
attention by a most apparent distinctive
sign. consisting of two tricolor flags placed
crossways above the reading matter and
printed in colors. One of these military
posters details the arrangements Cor the
departure of the ciasse, or annual contin-
gent, and from it the conscript learns the
II \;
of information.
In the course of his twentieth year he
should give his address to the nearest re-
cruiting office, and see that the mayor OF
his district has put down his name among
the conscripts Of the coming class. The
mayor. however, is bound to see that his
name is on the list. whether he concerns
himself with his inscription or not. The
next step is the tirage au sort. or drawing
Of number. Since the introduction of
military service the operation Is
a mere formality. the abolition
of which is contemplated 1t takes place
in January and February at every town
hall throughout the country. Every con
script draws his number in the district in
which he was born; it is not imperative
that he should attend the ceremony in per-
son, as in his absence the mayor will draw
a number for him. The great majority of
the conscripts make the occasion the ex-
cuse for jollificatlon. With a large square
Of paper gorgeously colored and bearing
the number he has drawn. pinned 10 his
hat and bedecked with a number OF tri-
color rosettes the conscript, accompanied
by his friends and fellow-conscripts tours
from wine shop to wine shop, singing and
finally bawling as he goes along patriotic
and regimental songs. 1t should be said
hat the conscript draws his number in the
January that follows the completion of his
twentieth year. In consequence. a con-
script born in December has only Just
turned twenty when the army claims him.
whereas conscript whose birth is in jan
nary is twenty-one at the time of the tiraSe
au sort The only use at present OF the
drawing of numbers is that when there
is a deficiency of men for the Marine In
fantry the vacancies are filled up from
among the conscripts who have drawn the
numbers one, two. or three.
For the next six months or so the con-
script is left to himself, but toward the
middle of the year he makes acquaintance i
in earnest with the military authorities |
The occasion is the sitting of the councils |
Of revision. the bodies that definitely de-
eide the fate of the conscripts. The coun-
ell of revision is composed of two civil
OF a superior officer, and of
an army doctor, and 1t has the assistance
Of member of the recruiting staff and
Of several gendarmes. A council sits in
the chief town Of every canton. The
mayors Of the different localities COM
prised in the district are allowed to be
present at its operations. with view to
the interests of the sons of
their electors. The conscript is expected
TO present himself before the council. but
should he abstain from putting in an ap-
pearance he does not incur a penalty. He
loses the right. however, should he remain
away, to benefit by certain dispensations
which will shortly be explained and he Is
purely and simply taken as soldier with
out more adobe is taken d'office. 1t is /
said. In the case of the con-
scripts who come up before it-and they /
ire the vast majority-the council decides /
whether they are physically fit to perform |
heir military service. and pronounces on !
he admissibility of-the claims they may |
put in to be dispensed from the full term |
If service to serve one year instead of |
.hree The question of physical fitness is !
ion. an experience that affords the con- !