The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1914-08-12
NEARLY ALL MALE
SERV|ANS IN ARMY
IF UNCLE SAM CALLED proper
TloNATE NUMBER TO coLoRs,
1T WOULD BE IN MILLIONS.

ed States should call to the colors as
many men in proportion to the popula-
ton as Servia has, it would mean an
army of upwards of eight million
men, says a statement issued by the
National Geographical Society, at
Washington, d. c., today, "and this
does not take into account the fact
that the recent wars in the little coun-
try have made fatal inroads into the
percentage of adult male population
Probably, if the United States called
as many men to the colors in proper
ton to the adult male population, it
would mean an army of twelve million
men.
These figures show what a heavy
hand Austria-Hungary laid upon the
little country whose army gave such
a remarkable account of itself during
the tow wars it has Just passed
through before this third one descend
upon it. How terrible the ravages of
the wars in the Near East have been
is indicated by the census of conquered
territory taken by Bulgaria in the
early months of the present year. That
count showed that where, previous to
the wars, there had been a population
of 100000 there is now a population Of
only 301,0 900. OF course Servia did not
suffer that much, but these figures are
indicative of the great wars it had to
! face.
Military critics everywhere admit
that in matters of discipline, leader
ship, adamantine spirit, and elan,
there is no army it's size in the world
that can make a better showing than
the Servian army made during its
wars with Turkey and Bulgaria. 1t is
| a fighting force that is conceded to
have every quality of strength that a
military machine may possess.
Its plan of organization is distnc-
tive. Compulsory service is personal
| for all able bodied men and pecuniary
for all who are incapable of personal
service. These latter must pay an in
direct tax of 80 per cent additional.
The military forces are divided into
national army and the Landstrum,
. which forms the last line of defense.
Service in the national army begins
at twenty-one and ends after forty
five. In the Landstrum it begins at
seventeen, ends at twenty-one, begins
at forty-six, and ends at fifty.
"The national army consists of three
bans: the first ban including all able
bodied men between twenty-one and
thrity-one; the second ban all between
thirty-one and thirty-eight, and the
third those between thirty-eight and
| foty-five.
The first ban has it's cadre, a
school through which every able
bodied man of twenty-one must pass.
No one is allowed to change his ma
tionality while belonging to the first
ban; nor can any member thereof re-
ceive any outside appointment or be-
come even a monk until he has served
his term in the army
"The term of service in the standing
cadre is two years in the cavalry and
artillery and one and half years in
the other branches of the establish
ment. There is six-months' service
for those in the schools of the country
who can pass an examination for lieu
tenant of reserves. There is also six
months enlistment for recruits from
whose homes at least two others have
served the full time.
Cali those who possess cattle and
suitable carts are under obligation to
turn them over to the army when need
ed. Those who do not possess cat
tie and carts have five per cent added
to their taxes for the remount fund"