The sun., 1914-08-16
d, 4 ~ ROPEt> MILITARY
OFFICER.

Under the present extraordinary cir
eumslanccs nearly every country in Eu-
'1pr is d country at war and every one
OF those nations now lighting is under
ordinary conditions Of peace still IA peo-
pie IN arms. In al! except England
military service - obligatory and every
man is a dcfende" of the home and
country which he and his ancestors
nave carefully built up, and Of the COM
mon national interests and prosperity.
~" mc"s"rts -: general defence pre-
pared and Kept ala readiness at all times
are closely connected with a consider
abe la'i Of tn" nations aCtivities. 1t
s unlikely that many I'ersous in ccun-
uIes ike AmesiCa nave any detiuite
D! adequate idea of the magnitude and
character In detail Of that preparation.
Although the words mobilization"
ana concentration seem sunNenly to
nave become familiar part of the
Words vocabulary. they are terms
whose meaning in the lands now under
arms IS % active and potent M peace
as IN times Ike the present.
Ine war machine uf "A nation is still
IN tnis year of modern civilization the
against wdr..lse aggression, and the only
securely effective weapon for protecting
oe interests Of its citizens abroad and
enforcing It's foreign policy; that Is,
me ultimp ratio, when every other
method Of reaching mutual agreement
"l"'en nations fails.
"he power Of that wa. machine, its
tad'Aess and the rapidity with which
u can or got into position for dealing a
dtdu'N hipN constitute il Is evident, the
measure OF Il Country's defensive or co..
ercivc authority
II Is N" work Of tho General STAFF to
stuHY organize and determine the use
oi country's armed forces. on land
ana sea; the General stan is in con-
hlaht contact with the Foreign Office
>oh .erning tho foreign political re'a-
.'"a Nl'l other countries, ana the Sec
NItrN or Minister for Foreign Affairs in
european state takes constant coun-
eu win the chief of the General STAFF
VI inc army who Is always informed
az 10 the course Of the foreign policy
ana ah." To judge of possible eventual
UhpH'at!ons apt 10 require the use OF
"ir military forces of the nation.
Nh'N as yet there Is no enemy on
one horizon the work of the General
H'ai' goes ceaselessly on, preparing the
war machine and maintaining its efli-
cencv.
lhe duties of the War once concern
,he purely administrative functions re-
la''hc to finance, military Justice, the
"'Vidng of armament and all equip
m"ht' recruiting, and all material provi-
sums Tor the feeding. clothing and hous-
.ns oi the men and the care of the ami
mas belonging to the army
Toe duties Of the General STAFF are
uI''1od into several sections and cover
W. collection of all available data in
'"'.fn countries concerning the or
N'|'''l.'n. equipment, armament and
'a''i'S or iorcign armies, also concern
n- me capacity of railroad and other
UaH'p"r' facilities, such as for the load
."- ana landing Of troops, Wharfage,
i.."'y stations rollins stock, bridges
'n' 'H p,lrr Typographical conditions
u' details uf the food resources Of
,h">' countries. and, in faC, the work
w s' FAR as can be learned OF every
o'mor cpmtryS General staff
IN" same data are collected and re-
corded concerning the home country
ou' with different object in view,
namely, that all these elements Of con.
'ehtra'lon and resource shall be de-