New-York tribune., 1901-12-23
GERMAN MILITARY POLICY
EMPEROR WILLIAM PREPARES FOR
WAR IN TINE OF PEACE.

WAX In VI A1-AON
The tactical problems" of both the armies and
the navies of the world have never awakened sucl
interest rs thev have in three or four years
International arbitration seems to have been lalo
ide until tbe military services be appreciated
This applies especially to Germany, where pro-
nounced mutterings of late indicate the sentiment
to be that sin time of peace we should prepare loi
war" Only recently Germany has allowed herseH
to be disturbed by apprehension as to what erect
the proceedings of the Pan-American congress
will have upon her interests in South Ahelicd'
AS the people of Germany are so often anecteo py
sentiment the EmperoT's official family may nave
had this In mind as excuse for military actiVl'y'
The methods of organization adopted at the 'iiie
Of the mobilization of the field army or any parts
OF it. by his majesty the Emperor ana KING reg
uate the organization of command ana auin'iiis''a
ton for the whole campaign. and only be al
tered by ar order from his majesty ACCORDING TO
this system the field army is composed OF arniles ~
an army of corps cavalry divisions ana reserve
divisions These several branches are maze up OF
men and their equipments
The duties of A soldier in Germany, as In other
countries are not intricate. for they are not ex-
nected 70 comprehend more than to be able TO
march to their weapons ana 10 exist on
coarse fare. but such as gallant knights neen
There Is no doubt that the soldier can learh oS
nractice TO march and to his weapon II ne
I,ee,e himself awake and his moral and physical
powers can also be developed and strengthened
OF course is to be expected OF the oTlcer TOT
he IS detailed TO command and execute. DelhS the
soldiers instructor and leader. He must also be
the sl,peror in knowledge experience and strength
Of character The personal bearing OF the ofhcer
IS necessarily, of the greatest consequence. since
his GOODNESS and determination are reproduced IN
the ranks 1t is only about year ago that the
peace establishment of the German army was raised
to 495,5OO excluding officers. non-commissloned or
fcers above the rank of lance corporal and one
year volunteers. There was. also. formation OF
three new army corps. in addition to the new In
crease of forces; reorganization OF the aruHeFy'
the formation for the first time of special telegraph
units and the withdrawal of the telegraph work
from the pioneers; also the issue Of an improved
rife and new equipments for the infantry. Every
German except he be member of one of the ru-
ing or princey families, is liable to military ser
vice; nor is he allowed to perform this service
through p substitute. The liability begins at the
close his seventeenth year. and lasts until the end
of his forty-ffth year. Men who have completed
their seventeenth year, and VINO desire ~ make
the army their profession or wish TO serve IN
particular regiment permitted 10 volunteer for
A period Of two three four years, after which
they may enlist. 1t Is from this class that the
bulk of the non-comnissioned officers selected
A certain number of non-commissioned officers are
also received annually by the infantry. artillery ana
pioneer corps from the under officers schools.
The following table IS compiled from the recruit
ing statistics 1899, and shows how the available
were disposed Of:
Unworthy Criminals l2lo
Iands45n hardly ~ ., ,.,.- i94 o. ~ ~
C0nsSTipe9 c9nsSrpfed for for the the $40
Noiuh'eelS Ioi Sef''-e'' '''-'-'-''''
Total Joined the army 40
The Ersatz Reserve. mentioned in the table above
composed of the supernumeraries not taken
for the annual contingent. excused for family
with minor bodily defects or tenn
porarily unfit. but likely 10 become quallheo iater.
About eighty thousand have been taken IN an
nually. and service in this division lasts twelve
years This reserve was intended fill up the first
understood it has practicay ceased to exist owing
the large annual contingent now taken and the
of the standing army. The I-andsturm is intended
IGg b em6oved ed fnr ng m nS the ranks Of
the 1t is composed of all males liable TO ser
In war the army win comprise field troops Geld
truppen} field troops Geld reserve tuppen).
depot trupPen) and Landsturm troops l1andsturm
truppenl. The peace strength in 1909. was as toI-
lows: officers, % ,S44. nOn-commiSsonec officers.
sO556; prvates. lance corporals and bomba riders.
The total strength of trained availabes excluding
Landsturm) is calculated to be about 100000. The
number of unframed available men In the Ersatz a
Reserve and Iandsturm probably numbers 100000.
In addition there belong to the Landsturm six
classes of men who have passed through the army;
total of about 100000 hence the total number of
& of Whom m @ aHe been trained
The German Emperor is the supreme a head of the
States comprising the empire can put into the fed.
pire menaced he cannot declare war without
the consent of the Bundesrath (FeGeral CounciD.
In of his authority is restricted in any
The German Empire is divided into twenty-five
army corps districts. in each of which d complete
army corps is stationed in time of peace. In 1902
the German Army Will consist of 625 battalions of
infantry 4S2 squadrons OF cavalry. 54 batteries Of
field and horse artillery 80 battaIons of foot arti
ery, 26 batLalions of pioneers battalions of rail
way troops and batJaons of telegraph troops. In
was authorized to be completed before the close Of
the year 1901 and redistribution was carried out.