The citizen., 1914-08-14
Heavy Draft on Population in
Services 4


II the United States should call 10
colors as many men ia proportion TO the
population as Servia has. il would mean
an army vi upward of eight millions OF
men. saws a statement issued bv the
National Geographic Society. at Wash
ingion recently. and this does not take
into account the fact that the recent
wars in the little country have made such
fatal inroads into the percentage Of adult
male population Probably, If the United
States called as MANY men 10 the colors
in proportion 10 the adult male popula-
ton. il would mean an army OF twelve
million OF men,
These figures show what a heavy
hand Hungary laid upon the
little country whose army gave such a
a remarkable account OF itself during the
two wars it has just passed through be-
tore this third one descended upon it.
How terrible the ravages OF tn wars in
the Near East have been, IS indicated by
the census OF the conquered territory
taken by Bulgaria IN the early months Of
the present year. The count showed
that where, previous to the wars, there
had been population Of 10000. there
is now a population Of only 5oT 600. OF
course Servia did not suffer that much.
but these figures are indicative Of the
great wars that it had TO face.
Military critics everywhere admit
that in matters of discipline. leadership.
adamantine spirit, and elan, there is no
army of lis size in the world that can
make better showing than the Servian
army made during its wars with Turkey
and Bulgaria. II is fighting force that
is conceded TO have every quality Of
strength that a military machine may
possess.
Its plan of organization is distinctive
Compulsory service is personal for all
able bodied men and pecuniary for all
who are incapable OF personal service.
These latter must pay an indirect tax of
80 per cent. additional The military
forces are divided into national army
and the Landstrum, which forms the last
line of defence. Service in the national
armv begins at twenty one and ends
after forty five. In the Landstrum it be-
gins at seventeen. ends at twenty-one,
begins again 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
thirty-one; the second ban all between
thirty one and thirty-eight, and the third
those between thirty-eight and forty five
The first ban has its cadre. school
through which ever, abe-bodied man of
twenty-one must pass. No one is allowed
to change his nationality while belonging
to the first ban; nor can any member
thereof receive any outside appointment
or become 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 one
and half years in the other branches OF
the establishment There is a six
months service for those in the schools
of the country who can pass an examina-
ton for lieutenant of reserves. There is
also a six months enlistment for recruits
from whose homes at least two Others
have served the full time
"All those who possess cattle and
suitable carts are under obligations to
turn them over to the army when needed.
Those who do not possess cattle and
carts have five per cent. added to their
taxes for the remount fund.-