The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-04
IT,
SIAM IS AMAZING
FR0M|TSSLUMBER
People Are Evincing Keen In
tcrcst i'll All Military
Affairs.
----
CREDITABLE ARMY CREATED
Mild Tigers ana Boy Scouts
Enroll Over Half the Male
Population.
CREDITABLE ARMY CREATED
Especial 10 The Timcs. !

Especial TO The Times Dispateh.l
Washington, February 3.--Thc re-
scqucnt interest i'll military affairs has
had its effect upon Siam, according TO
aispatchcs Just received at the State
Department from Bangkok, telling ot
the formation of Il corps of trained
soldiers. recruited from the middle and
upper Glasses, and the establishment
OF number OF companies OF Boy scouts
-siIniiar in organisation ana training
10 IN. scouts of England. Sweden,
Canada tud the United states.
The Siatnese, long known as among
according 10 the state Department ad-
Vices. beginning 10 rouse from their
torpor AMI TO stretch their limbs in
the freedom "f military service. The
movement. which is expected To
have widespread effect throughout
Burna, Suntra. ANA the Malay PENN
OF siam then the Crown Prince, MADE
Il tour of a number of the leading
countries of the world examining their
military systems. The BOY Scout move
mont was one OF the striking features
of which he made note, with the inten-
ton Of putting il into effect upon his
return home.
Believing, however. that IL might lie
well to apply the principle TO older
men. he advocated ana finally passed
tho conScription law. amounting prac-
tcallv to compulsory military service
Tic effect Of this WAS not what had
been expected. the Siamcsc objccting
to Icing forced 10 serve In, the army
10 serve or not. IS they desired Also
the CONSUMPTION Laws failed to reach
official classes, in which Il great dcni
of the laNncss ana lack OF public unity
resided. Therefore the Grown Prince
orshri@.d the corps later named the
wild Tigers" designed to give Slam
81 nuclcuS for a mlita:; force in the
event Of sudden war.
at first /; was intcndcd merely tot
enroll those persons who did no, come
under the provisions Of the couScr!p
lion law, but later It was found Ncst
10 do away with the COMPULSORY mill
taFy service altogether, and to rely
army. The success OF this move was
so great that the Tigers soon COM
priseG over three times the number of
men formerly enrolled under the con-
scrption system. and. according TO
The state Department adviccs, the
military outlook III siam is highly
satisfactory ana the army is consid-
cred capable OF coping with any or its
strength in Asia.
Co!mcdem with the Wild Tigers
formed to train the lads who would
later become members OF the Tigers
Both organizations are social as We'll
ns military. Wild Tiger ana Boy Scout
camps dot tho country. particularly in
the regions more remote from towns,
where the natives would otherwise
have little opportunity Tor meeting and
discussing national affairs. Here the
men and boys confer at least once u
mouth, ana aye instructed In tho rudi
lncnts OF tn" military manual and drill
fur a specified time. The boys also
receive instruction from officers of the
Kings guards in guerrilla warfare, in
FeGonn 'dtTiiGE and IN wo o;,i
patriotic trainirg tho two movements
afford excellent character training.