St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-06-20
How Europe Raises Her Armies.

At the present time it may be inte rest
ing to see how the nations OF Europe
raise their mammoth armies, and what
demands are made on the patriotism of
their citizens.
In Germany, France, Russia, Austria
and Italy every able bodied man must
expect to give from twenty-one to
twenty-nine years of his life to soldering,
and his service commences at ages rang
ing from seventeen years in Germany to
twenty. one years in France and Italy.
At the beginning of each year lists are
prepared throughout Germany of all
youths who have reached the prescribed
age, and during spring the recruiting
commission makes tour OF all the
various districts, where the youths are
mustered for inspection.
All who are physically unfit for service
are rejected; and those who are still ply
sically unripe for it are put back for a
year. Men who, though strong and
healthy, fail to reach the requisite stan
dards are passed into the Ersatz reserve,
together with those who are sons of
widows or the support of their families; ;
and from those who are passed as fit for
service the required number is selected by
ballot. OF the recuits certain privileged
men of birth and education are only call
ed upon to serve one year in the regular
army, on condition that they pass GER
tain examinations and pay the cost of
their equipment; while the remainder are
expected to serve three years in the ranks,
followed by four years in the reserve.
The next five years they spend in the
first levy of the Landwehr, and they are
then passed into the second levy until
they reach the age of thirty-nine.
In France military service begins at
twenty-one, and lasts for twenty i've
years, with similar exemptions from ser
vice and limitations to one year in the
ranks to those sanctioned in the Ger
man army.
The French conscript must spend his
first three years of service in the regular
army, followed by seven years in the
army reserve. He is then passed into
the territorial army for six years and
the remaining nine years are spent in the
reserve of the territorial, which is called
out only in case OF absolute necessity.
In Russia the CONSUMPTION takes place
every year in the months of November
and December, when the required recruits
are selected by lot. Clergymen of all
churches are exempt from service, while
Mohammedans and the inhabitants of
certain districts in Asia can substitute
payment for service; and some OF the
high classes may reduce their term of
service in the ranks under certain con-
ditions.
Service begins in the twenty-frst year
and lasts for twenty-four years; of which
FIVE years are spent in the ranks and
thirteen in the reserve. On finishing SER
vice in the reserve the soldier is passed
into the militia, where he spends the re-
mainder OF his period of service.
In Italy youth is liable for service
when he reaches his nineteenth birthday,
and is only exempt when he reaches his
tortieth birthday. None but those ply
sically unfit for service are absolutely ex-
empt, but sons OF widows and sole sup
porters of families are passed into the
militia without being called on to serve
in the army ranks.
In Austria the only exemption is in
favor of the physically unfit, and even
they are required to pay sum, proper
toned by their means, into the army
pension fund. Service begins at nineteen
and lasts for twenty-three years, of
which three are spent IN the line and
seven in the reserve London Tit-Bits.