Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-08-13

terial Is available for readers Of the
The French army consists of 72p,-
900 peace strength; this includes CO.
lonial troops to the number of about
$4,000. There are $3.50, 900 reserves.
There are available for duty, unor-
gained, about 100000.
Recruiting
Universal compulsory service was
adopted after the disasters OF 1901.
Compulsory service with tho colors
is, in Germany, no longer universal,
as there are twice as many able
bodied men presented by the recruit
ing commissions as the active army
can absorb. France, with greatly
inferior population now trains every
man who is physically capable. Even
breadwinners are required to serve.
the state fpensionfng their dependents
during their period Of service Every
Frenchman, therefore, Is member
of the army practically from the age
OF 20 to the age of As. Men physically
unfit are wholly excused; men who
are otherwise suitable but have
some slight fnfirmity are drafted into
the noncombatant branches. The law
of 1905 provides system whereby
there Is room with the colors for
every available man, and moreover
insures his services. The reserves Of
the active army are composed of
those who have served the legal Pc
riod in the active army. These are
recalled twice in the IL years during
xUhiah fhau 1aopahorC Of ha
serve for refresher courses. The ac-
tive army and its reserves are not
localized but drawn from and dis
trfbutd over the whole of France.
The advantages of a purely territorial
system have not been good owing to
the want of uniformity in the mill
tary qualities and the political sub
ordination OF the different districts
One Of the results of this is that the
mobilization and concentration are
much slower processes than they are
in Germany The territorial army
and its reserves, are, however, allo-
Gated to local service. The soldier
spends six years in the territorial
army and six years in the reserve of
the territorial army. The reserves of
IuC dCIlNC duQ JuC
army and its reserves can only be
recalled to active service in case of |
emergency. The total service rem
dered by the individual is thus rs
years.
Organization
The general organization of the
French army at home Is based on the
system of permanent army corps, the
headquarters of which are as follows:
|. Lille; 2, Amines; 8, RoVen; 4, Lel
Mans; 5. Orleans; 6, Chalons-surl
Marine; Z, Besancon; 8, Bourges; 9,
Tours; 10, Rennes; II, Nantes; 12, |
Limoges; Is, Clement -Ferrard; IA,
Lyons; 10, Marseilles; Is, Montpei-
iier;s IL, Toulouse; Is, Bordeaux; 19, /
Algiers: 20, Nancy.
Each army corps consists in prin-
ciple of two infantry divisions, one
cavalry brigade, one brigade Of horse
and field artillery, one engineer bat
talon and one squadron OF train. Ger
tain army cOrpsshave a special organ
ization. In addition to these corps,
there are eight permanent cavalry
divisions, with headquarters at Paris,
Luneyille, Meaux, Sedan, Reims, Ly-
ons, Melun and Dole. The military
government of Paris is independent
Of the army corps system and COM
prises besides a division of the colo
NAL army corps three and one-half /
others attached from the End, 3rd, 4th
and 9TH corps, as we'll as the 1st and
Bird cavalry divisions and many
smaller bodies Of troops The infan-
try division consists of two brigades,
each of two regiments of three bat
talions. with one squadron of cavalry
and IL batteries attached from the
corps troops. In war portion of the
artillery would be taken back and
form a corps of artillery. The cav
airy division consists of two or three
brigades, each of two regiments, or /
sight sduadrons, with two-horse artil- |,
Iery batteries attached. In war ali
group of heavy howiters will be at
Iached to an army corps. Ii
Colonial Troops
The colonial army corps, headuuar-
.ers at Paris, has three divisions, at
Paris, Toulon and Brest The native
.roops include IL regiments and eight
Independent battalions The strength
If the army corps fcoloniaD is $4,000
n France and 81 900 in the colonies.
Armament
The field artillery is armed with rs I |
nm. tS-inchl guns shielded quick /,
irers. The infantry Is armed with ]
he Lebel rife. It is believed. how {
.yer. that a satisfactory type of auto
natic rife has been evolved and is
low in the process of manufacture.
Details are kept strictly secret The
:avalry weapons are straight sword,
'amboo lances and the Lebel carbine.