The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-03-16
RECRUITING THE ARMIES
RuSSia's Unlimited Supply Of
Trained Military Men.
JAPAN'S STANDING ARMY
Every Man In Russia is a Soldier
Japanese Considered by Experts
to Be the Better ighters--Jap-
ans Strong Point is in Caring for
Her Men.


Her Men.
Washington has an almost
unlimited supply of men with military
training. and the size of the army
which she can gather in wartime is
estimated at 4,500,000, including about
$4,000 officers.
Every man in Russia is soldier,
that Is, every man between the ages
of 81 and AZ. With the exception of
educated persons, those who have
been graduated from universities, col
leges and grammar schools, five
years with the colors or in active SER
vice is required. A graduate OF a uni
versity is required to serve actively
for a year only. Those in the active
service are, of course, receiving train
ing continually.
The reserves are trained for a fixed
number of weeks periodically. Regi-
mental barracks are scattered from
one end of the empire to the other,
and the mobilization of the troops, al.
though vast undertaking, is system
atically carried out. Besides the per-
iodical drill to which the reserves are
subjected, there are many companies
and regiments which are called out
for active duty in quelling riots.
In Japan the total OF available re-
serves falls far below that of Russia.
Some experts, however, believe the
Japanese are better fighters.
The Japanese standing army con-
sisted before the war of only 167 629
officers and men, while Russia's peace
quota was 100000 men and $4,000
officers, according to figures supplied
by each Government. The organiza-
ton of the Japanese army is rather
complicated, but its efficiency has
been fully tested in the mobilization
and transportation of the troops to
the field.
In Japan all men from II to 40 are
liable to military service. In addi-
serves; then what Is known by the
German term landwehr, and the first
and second depots.
The reserves consist Of those who
have quilted the active service. They
are enlisted in four years and four
months and are considered part of the
standing army.
The landwehr which is brought in
to service after all the reserves have
been called to the colors, is com
posed of those who have quilted the
standing army, active and reserve,
and the enlistment period is five
years. The first depot comprises all
those who have not enlisted in the
active army for term OF seven years
and four months. Those who had not
previously enlisted in the first depot
comprise the second depot, the term
Of service of which is only year and
four months.
These divisions are called out In
regular order. Training of three or
hose not in the active service, much
after the manner of our own State
militia organization.
In war times the reserves are put
into active training, and a depleted
regiment can easily and quickly be
illed with trained and experienced
men. There is also fifth division
called the landsturm, which consists
of those who have gone through the
landwehr or first depot but who have
not been in other service. In this
manner the ranks of the army are
quickly filled.
Aside from all these there are thou
sands in the empire who can be called
upon for active service and, counting
every man eligible for the service, the
total military strength of Japan woult
be upward of 100000 men.
On paper this number compares
poorly with the Russian figures. Tht
main problem which each natioI
must face is that of feeding her sol
diers and this is Japans stronges
point.