Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1909-12-16
OLD WORLD ARMIES
Drafting Methods by Which Their
Strength Is Maintained.
TRICKS OF THE coNscRIPTs.

lTIONS W bue SSNSS"' vs.
All Manner Of Dodsss Are Adopted BY
the Eligible Young Men to Avoid the
Enforced Military Service That 10 So
Hateful to Thorn.
We hear a good deal about conscrip-
ton, but few people know what It ac-
tually means. In no country Is every
person who is able to fight drafted
into the army. All males who are liza
BILE to serve undergo physical exam
nation. resulting In only certain
number being passed as at for service.
No government has sufficient funds
to draft the whole Of these men into
the regular army. SO a selection Is
made by ballot, the number of men en-
rolled varying according to the funds
I'm the hands Of the authorities.
The pay provided sfor the conscript
is necessarily very trifiing indeed and
will not compare with that paid to vol
unteer soldiers. In fact, II IL generally
true that the conscript must fall back
upon his private means.
The methods vary in each country
But take the case Of one European
power. Every male subject not phys
ically incapacirated Is liable to enter
the army at the age Of twenty, al
though those who care to enlist may
do so at eighteen.
A register Is kept of all the youths
who reach the age of twenty In the
particular year. Men under Eve feet
two inches in height are exempt from
service. rs we'll. of course. as those
who suffer from natural infrmities
which render them unsuitable for &C.
tive service.
Other men are also exempt II they
have helpless dependents - thus the
only son Of widow or Of disabled
father. the latter category also includ-
ing the only son Of father who 10
above seventy years Of age. Then the
eldest of a family Of orphans is ex-
empt, and In the case Of two sons only
one is liable, there being various other
exemptions.
The term served by the conscript Is
one Of twenty-five years. three years
being spent In the regular army. six
and one-half in the army reserve. six
in the territorial army and the re-
naming nine and a half years In the
territorial reserve. all liability to serv-
ice ceasing at forty-6ve.
The service is frequently so hated
that all manner Of methods are adopt
ed In order to avoid 1t. In many
cases substitutes are provided by the
wealthy. though there are stringent
vision Of the substitutes.
In most European countries military
malingering in order to avoid compul-
sorry military service has reached the
stage of q fine art. In fact. formida-
BILE list of new crimes has been added
to the statutes as result. and medical
men frequently have to suffer for their
assistance in this particular kind Of
fraud.
Thus some time ago q number OF
Cologne doctors were arrested upon
charge of having administered pills to
young conscripts. These pills consist
ed Of drugs which produced the symp-
toms of heart disease so effectively as |
completely to deceive the military au. |
thorities, With the result that the con- |
scripts were declared unit for service.
ln this case the fraud was brought to
light by one of the conscripts dying as
q result of an overdose of the medi-
cine.
In Germany. where the conscript IL
frequently treated with the greatest
harshness. there are very few towns
where there are not specialists whose
living depends solely In inducing such
q condition of affairs as will render
young men exempt by reason of unfit
pess.
In the French army 1t is quite COM
mon for youths IS feign all manner of
Ills. deafness being the usual ailment
trusted to IN order to escape the serv.
Ice. As result the military doctors
have made an especial study of meth
DDS D. detecting feigned deafness and
TO trap the cunning youth who acts |
the part Of deaf man.
Another common practice In France |
is to tamper with the eyesight. though |
this frequently results in permanent
injury. For instance. short sight Is
produced by wearing powerful con
cave glasses for considerable time |
despite the risk of bringing about per
nanpnt blindness 1t IL no uncom. !
mon occurrence for men to commit sui |
eide rather than submit to forced serv |
ice in the army.
In eastern Europe most brutal meth |
DDS are adopted by parents in order
that their sons may be able to work |
for them instead Of serving In thu
army. The boys are frequently Ill
treated. and II is not ut all uncommon |
even for their limbs to be broken OF
their sight to be destroyed In order Il
prevent any likelihood Of their having |
to become soldiers.
Switzerland probably has the cheap
est army and the least burdensome |
methods of conscription. the service |
being much lighter than 10 the other
continental armies. Indeed. the con |
script in the infantry army has to IN |
dergo actual training for only 1875 days
during the entire period Of his service. |
philadelphia Ledger.
A Travellers Tale.
The passengers were beguiling the
journey with pleasant conversation. |
One man In particular, who had the
lool, ~ a IRA Weller told Of long sOiOurns