The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-03-04
THE GERMAN ARMY.
Largest and Most Efficient Fighting
Organization In World.

The German army of today Is the
largest and most efficient fighting or
ganization that the world has ever seen,
and it has served as a model for the
armies of most other countries. says the
Worlds Work The Austrian army has
been organized on methods copied ex-
actly from the German system. The ia
panese army also took its methods in
organization as well as in strategy and
tactics from Germany and German Off
GERS. The Chinese army has now adopted
German methods. Nearly all the smaller
countries of Europe with aspirations to
military efficiency have borrowed officers
from the German army to instruct their
troops. The Turkish army was so ar
ganized
In the recent war, the largest forces met
which had ever opposed one another in
any conflict The German army, how
ever, could put in the field a perfectly
equipped military force eight times larger
than the victorious Japanese army which
gained the battle of MuSden. 1t consists
of more than four million soldiers. But
In addition to four million trained SOL
diers Germany could enroll six million
more men who, although not trained for
service In the fighting line, would never
theless form a valuable reserve for the
DTOLecllOH Oh llltS OF
and such duties. very large number
of these reserves have had at least some
military training, and in case of necessity
could also be employed in active service
after a brief period of drill and military
exercise. Thus the stupendous number of
ten million able-bodied men could be mus
tered under the imperial banner of tAe
German empire, so that the statement
that all Germany is armed camp Is
literally true.
The German emperor, who in times of
sists approximately OF 100000 men, Nearly
with his fellow German soverelgns, the
kings of Bavaria, Saxony and Wurttem-
berg, becomes in time of war supreme
commander-in-chiefo or war lord" of the
entire military forces of the empire.
The standing army of Germany con-
sists approximately of 100000 men. Naerly
half Of this number pass out of the stand
ing army every year and are replaced by
an equal number of fresh recruits. Ger
many thus produces year by year more
than a quarter of million trained SOL
dlers. The first reserve consists approx
mately of 100000 men, and the Land
wehr'' consists of 100000 men, of whom
100000 are in the first class and 100000 are
In the second class The 'Landsturm'
consists OF 100000 men, making a grand
total of four millions.
The organization of the army Is as
simple as 1t Is efficient The unit of
organization In the infantry Is the sec
tion," consisting of twenty men under the
command of corporal Two sections form
a "semi-detachment," or forty men under
the command of a sergeant. Two semi
detachments form a detachment" of
eighty men under the command of lieu
tenant Three detachments form a COM
pany Of 240 men under a captain. Four
companies make battalion of $50 men
under a major Three battalions form a
regiment under a colonel: and two regf-
ments form a brigade under the command
of a major general. The "army CORPS"
which Is the largest military unit, con-
sits of two or three divislnos.