New-York tribune., 1905-01-15
Pefffcoof Recruits.
Emperor williams Remarkable Scheme OF Compulsory Military
Service Momen-His Mounted Bodyeuard of Amazons.

Sore years Gso The French government. seTi-
ously concerned by the increase in the number
of nier exempted by physical conditions from
compulsory service in The army. condition oI
affairs which, taken in conjunction with the
absence If any increase in the population
threatened to impair The military strength of the
ma tion took steps TO repeal these immun!ties
in sucn a fashion that men medically unit Tor
resimental duty are no longer able TO cvade
their military obligations or allowed TO go
FIRE Int are assigned to work in connection
with the non-conlbatent branches Of the army
Emperor William, although suicide is un-
known ia Germany. where each year shows
phenomenal augmentation Of the births of future
soiCiers Of tie Fatherland, has now gone step
frrtaer than France in the direction Of secur-
ing fresh military resources; for he has devised
a gaost remarkable scheme Of profound inter-
est 30 women throughout the civilized world,
Tie ultimate aim Of which is nothing more nor
less than rendering the fair liable TO COM
pliso4y service in the army. True, he does not
propose that they should swell the ranks of his
mounted bodyguard OF amazons. which he
alcne among European sovereigns has, nor does
ne intend that they should be called upon to
shoulder the rife, to WELD the sabre or to serve
the guns. but he has ia view their fulhlment Of
those particular duties in connection with the
non-combaIan departments OF the army, such
as. for instance. hospital and clerical work. the
preparation Of supplies. etc. for all Of which
q training furnished by the government is re-
CURED
Women already hgure in the strength Of the
English and other European armies nursing
sisters and hospital superintendents. But they
are now drawn exclusively from the well-to-do
and educated classos by means of voluntary en-
gagement, and are so few IN number compared
70 the necessities of the situation that, espe-
cially in time of war, it has always been neces-
esry TO call in irom the outside assistance
neither skilled nor organized. In fact in South
Africa the women who volunteered their SER
vices TO reinforce the overworked nursing sis
tiers Of the regular army staT became source
OF so much trouble and confusion as to excite
scething denunciation on the part of the princi-
pal medical officers In the field.
What Emperor William has in view is that, in
asrnuch as women are as patriotic as men and
Just as anxious TO be of service to their coun-
try when the latter is in danger, they should re-
oeive such training in time Of peace as to rem
der their assistance Of real value in war and that
enrolled in the army. they should constitute COM
ponent parts of its organization. with thorough
knowledge as TO where and in what manner to
respond 10 the call Of duty when the order is
given for mobilization There are many women
Of birth and breeding on both sides of the At
that hangs heavily their hands TO taking
g sort of elementary course in ambulance train
ing, but il has usually been of too desultory a
nature to endow them with anything like eff
cheney, while lack Of system and Ignorance of
the necessities of military discipline. for which
not even good will ana enthusiasm can atone, rem
der them in time of often worse than use
less. Properly organized, possessed of a thor
oCgh knowledge Of the work required Of them,
as well of appreciation Of the value of order
and of military obedience, these members of
lne fair sex might become. nevertheless, inval-
liable in the event of hostilities
But these women Of the af1uent classes consti-
tCte after eli only small minority. The scope
Of the Kaiser's project takes in the women OF
the masses, who every whit as patriotic as
those OF their sisters who happen to be in easier
circumstances. To them the training in times
OF peace fo- service to their country when war is
raging would prove Of still greater advantage
Even the most bitter opponents OF the present
system Of compulsory military service in Ger
many are compelled TO recognize the value from
educational point of view Of the years spent
with the colors. They serve to endow the Ger
man citizen with sentiments of discipline order
respect for the nationally constituted authori-
ties and with feeling of moral responsibility
which n the majority of cases he would have