The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-09-28
Is Every German a Soldier?

Is Every German a Soldier?
LONDON. September IA British
military expert. discussing the relH-
tive merits Of the contcndng armies
now in the field. has this unbiased
opinion of the German army:
In the discussions which arc talk
ing place on all sides in these stirring
. iilu"S OF war. tho remark ia frcOucntly
heard that every German is a soldier
Now this Is not strictly true. There
~. of course, a certain amount of truth
in tho statement, but tho ideas TO
which IL gives rise arc frequently mis-
leading. and perhaps rather dishcart-
ening TO us. We think OF our own
picked and highly trained soldiers.
and NC Imagine perhaps tina, all the
German mon arc Hike this. and that
when their numbers are tali"u into
account they may we'll claim that
they have an invinciblc army.
Il am far from being ON. OF those
jinguists who believes that :. Triton
. is as good as hail "a dozen Germans o.
Italians or Turks amy day. but think
that some of our scarcmongorS 90 a
I little too far In tn" opposite direction.
anu sometimes give our opponents all
( the credit witch they claim for them
selvcs--aud the Germans claim II good
deal
There arc three ways or raisin. and
maintaining an army. TIA" nrsi IL by
voluntary enlistment. the second bS-
conscription, and the third by univor-
sal compulsory service. MANY people
seem TO think thai CONSUMPTION ana
universal compulsory service. are alike
They are not SO. however.
Where UNIVERSAL. service is tho rule
every ono who IL physically ii, to bear
! arms, with few special exemptions
such as clcrgym"n or the only sons OF
widows. must serve In tho army for {,
certain term. This is the rule in Cor
many. Austria, France. russia scrvin
Turkey. Switzerland. Italy. japan.
Australia and many other countries
In those countries where conscrip-
non prevails. certain number OF men
OF definite age ar" taken annually for
me army by lot. Every man between
the specified limits al aEc - Liable To-
serve, but only those are taken upon
whom the lots fall the number OF lots
being regulated hy the requirements
Of the army, and as all the in-n OF
suitable age are not taken. IT is open
10 those who are selected 10 nnd or
pay for substitutes. This system OF
CONSUMPTION Is followed by Belgium.
Holland and Spain.
Tho method OF voluntar, enlist
ment in which il is open TO every man
10 enter the army or not, according
~ ms own Tree choice. * adopted by
.ne o"'teo hinedoin, the United States.
INC lhu'"h Empire and China tn"
man who enters our army makes as
IT were, Il contract OF service for a Ger
tain number OF years and may be said
~ e"ooSe var as mas trade or protcs-
sion during that time
|o""c' 'p'i"" " now Mite out Of
60 anu 'hosc people VINO think that
o'"n'af! chiiStn"ht Is not sufficient
! for nations defense alwovs advo-
80 ''a"hc 10 universal! service
" mm,e,i mas ra ,n' t'V;,ntase Of being
equally tair TO all. Every one who is
Ill must serve and the wealthy man
cannot get off by buvinr a substitute
Let MS now take nm nXnn,nia nc
universal comnulsnr,. snr,.;,.s % W
| whnt !, i iii,n E,:o,,. '''" SEQ
"". !. - Hhe. EVER German when
ne reaches the age OF twenty must
enter the army ii he Is fit for service
lie serves for Il period OF one. two or
Tho rcnsor for ,hoso ,.,;
reouircs c~nianotin, .r,,a 90, inns
NJ .arvi,n =; 80 c iuiI 'eri'i
OF service IN infantry regiments is
Two years, IN cavalry regiments. three
years But II the young German can
! produce a certificate testifvin., ,hat
scientinc tnnw.,.Goe n ,'; -, a,ni,iaiu OF
$500, Ni."w icust, OF III o'ner WORDS
n.aI s.ni eN"ihlhhtIon' he is al.
active service. This brings the caval
ry term down 10 two years ana the
infantry term down To one vcorN IN,
holders OF these certificates however
LII "" , noou' io"S "'s
49, "," me'pon'' iheE are de
,, 90 car iu,""'eers ana
.'cS nave various privileges during
their term of service which are not al
lowed 10 tho less successful recruits.
The latter are clothed. armed and sun
ported AT the expense Of the stntc and