Weekly Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1908-1909, 1908-10-09
BULGARIA'S ARMY
Little Nation Can Put $4,000 Men in
Field at Once, All of Whom Are
Fully Trained

I VIENNA. oct. S-Thc recent dcvcI-
qpmcnts IN the Balkan situation and the
probability Of war between Bulgaria
and Turkey have aroused universal in
Efrest in the military conditions and re
EQurres Of the small kingdom, bold
enough 10 challenge the mighty Turk.
Bulgaria was not always u small and
Comparatively insignificant country.
From the Seventh 10 the Fourteenth
century Bulgaria was one Of the strong
and prosperous kingdoms Of the Balkan
peninsula. 1t comprised a large area OF
fertile land ana was dcascly populated.
its borders touched the Black sea, the
Aegean, and the Adriatic. The rcmcm-
brancc Of the glory Of its cars, kroOm,
Ascu. and Simeon. still lives in every
Bulgarian and fills his heart with pride
1t was Czar Simeon who led his vic
f0riou- army to the very walls Of Con-
@tmntin"plc, and it was of his time that
Ffibbon SAYS 'Rulgara assumed Il
rank among the civilized powers Of th"
rarth :"
But Turkey was determined 20 obtain
possession of the Balkan peninsula.
after conqucring other nations the Turks
rsubjugated the Bulgarians, whom they
Kept under their despotic rule for 800
years. When the intolerable sufferings
'of this Christian nation under its Mos
Dem opPressors finally attracted the sym
pathy Of the world, Russia came to its
help in 1917 and forced Turkey. by the
treaty Of Berlin To grant autonomy to
Bulgaria. The latter country is now
only a small principality Of 1850
squire miles and Il popula ton of 1910,
900; yet its military organization is re
HmarkabIe considering the population and
its resources greater than one would eX
poet from SO small country.
! Nearly 10000 young men annually
reach the age Of p in Bulgaria, and
of these about $4,000 are taken by
cOnscriptiOn for the full period of peace
Rotor service nOmiuallY two years for
the infantry, and three years of the
cavalry and artillery After finishing
their color service the men are kept
for eighteen years in the reserve. This
unusually long service III the reserve gives
THE Bulgarian general staff 4 large eff
fcctivc Of trained men for mobilization
purposes. 1t is estimated that Bulgaria
mas in all about $4,000 men at its dis
posaI for immediate military use, all Of
whom are fully trained. After leaving
the reserve the men are passed into the
s'IandWehr' for six years. These men.
Zoo, would be available for military serv.
bee III case of q prolonged war. The
strength of the "Landwehr" is estimated
lat about 10000.
districts with headquarters in the fol
lowing strategical centers: Sofia. first
division; Philippopol, second division
Sliven, third division: Shnmla. fourth
division: RuStchuck, fifth division; Nral
ga sixth division: Dubnit2a. seventh di
F,yic Ncl- itrb
bPleVna. ninth division. Each of these
divisions. which have only six batteries
and one artillery regiment of nine bat
Eteries, except the second, sixth and nintl
divisions. which havconly six batteries
A cavalry regiment each is also allotted
TO the first six divisions and all have n
full complement of administrative and
technical forces. Every division is pre-,
Ipared To go to field and to begin often
siye operations on short notice. The
war strength of each of the nine divi
isions is estimated at about 10000 of
ficcrs and men, fully armed and wei
equipped. The total is estimated AT
l1SO.OOO officers and men, with 1000 sal
bcrs and 400 field guns. In addition
ITO these troops there is separate
Fcavalry division of about $500 SaberS
land certain troops and units for the line
lof communication. bringing the t0ta
lmobiEzed strength of the Bulgarian felC
army to 100000 officers and men, Will
1000 cavalry and 800 field guns. 1t is
believed that this entire force or an!
part of ii could be maSsed at fixed points
Iof concentration on the frontier within
item days of the order to mobilize. There
would still remain 10000 fully trained
ireServiSts available to fill vacancies anU
form supplementary units. besides some
100000 trained men of the "LandWehr.'
This is remarkable state Of affairs con
sidering that the population is less than
1000, 900 and the annual military budget
only about SJ.I5O,000.
The Bulgarian army is we'll provided
with capable officers. Many of then
have received their military training anc
education at the National Military acad
Jenny. which was founded in Sofia III 1919
land has for lis director 4 Russian, Majol
Robinkin. The number of cadets III at
Tendance in former years averaged 400
ibut during recent years it has increased
Ito 800 and even more. The course al
THE school covers four Years and the
cadetS. after graduating and serving fol
several years III the army. are free Il
coutinue their military education i'll an!
of the older European academies, select
led for this purpose by the Bulgarian gov
erument. In the thirty years of its eX
istcuce the academy has sent ont more
than $500 graduates. who are now hold
ling officers rank in the Bulgarian army
1T n IJAD,TT ~ To CDE kU