The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-22

comrades. In consequence as soon as his
18th birthday IL passed he begins to have
keen eye on the official posters dis
played on the walls of the town hail, the
schools and other public buildings. These
posters are white, like all other official
posters displayed In France. but they are
of exceptional size. while. that there may
be no possibility OF their escaping no.
tice among their many miscellaneous fell
lows, they compel attention by most
apparent distinctive sign, consisting of
two tricoior flags placed crossways above
the reading matter and printed In COL
ors. One Of these military posters de-
tails the arrangements for the departure
OF the classe, or annual contingent, and
from IT the conscript learns the date OF
his Incorporation and other items Of in
formation
In the course of the twentieth year he
should give his address to the nearest
recruiting Office, and see that the mayor
of his district has put down his name
among the conscrfpts 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 universal military service
the operation Is practically a mere for
mality, the abolition OF which is con-
tempiated- 1t takes place in January
and February in every town hall
throughout the country. Every conscript
draws his number in the district In which
he was born: II is not imperative that
ne should attend the ceremony in person.
as in his absence the mayor will draw
a number for him. The great majority
OF the conscripts make the occasion the
excuse for a 1oliiication. With a large
square OF paper. gorgeously colored and
bearing the number he has drawn pinned
to his hat, and bedecked with a number
OF tricolor rosettes, the copscript, ac-
companied by his friends and felIow-con-
scripts. tours from wine shop to wine
shop. singing and finally bawiing as he
goes along patriotic and regimental
songs. II should be said that the con-
script draws his number in the January
that follows the completion OF his twen-
tieth year. In consequence, a conscript
born in December has only just turned
twenty when the army claims him,
whereas n conscript whose birth Is In
January IL twenty-one at the time Of the
tfrage au sort. The only use at present
of the drawing of numbers In that when
there is deficiency OF men for the ma
rine infantry the vacancies are filled up
from among the conscripts who have
drawn the numbers one. two or three.
tut the next SIX months or SO the con-
script Is left to himself. but toward the
middle OF the year he makes acauaint-
ance In earnest with the military author
tiles The occasion II the sitting OF the
councils of revision, the bodies that de-
fnitely decide the fate of conscripts The
council of revision Is composed of two
civil functionaries. of a superior officer.
and of an army doctor, and II has the
assistance of a member OF the recruiting
stan and OF several gendarmes. A coun-
ell sits In the chief town OF every can
ton. The mayer of the different local
tiles comprised In the district are allow
ed to be present at its operations, with
a view to the safeguarding the interests
of the sons of their electors. The con-
script IL expected 10 present himself be-
fore the council, but should he abstain
from putting In an appearance he does