Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-08-29

New York, Aug. 2S.-As a result of
Germany's rigid compulsory military
service laws, there is not now an able
bodied man in the city of Berlin, &C.
.cordinga to tourists arriving from the
German capital, The mobilization or
ders of the kaiser called out every
male in Berlin except those too old,
cripples and boys. These are now do
ing police duty and guarding roads
and bridges. RAt all the approaches
to the city and around the bridges
and public buildings boys of II and
IA yearsscf age may be seen, wearing
uniforms and, standing guard with
fixed bay0nets. n @
III Since this war began, much has
been heard of Germany's military reg
ulations and much misinformation
has been disseminated. Military SER
ice in Germany is compulsory. Lila
bility begins at the age of II and ends
at the age of As, but actual service
begins at 20.
There are noi exceptions to the
rule; no ways. to dodge duty except
by leaving the country. The rigor-
GUS law applies to all, rich and poor,
aristocrat and labOrer.
n Term Of Service.
The term of compulsory service in
the German army is seven years in
the first line or active army; two of
these in the ranks and five in the
reserves, except ina the cavalry and
horse artillery, where the periods are
three and four years. During this re-
serve service, the soldier is regarded
as belonging to his corps and joins it
twice in the five (or FOUR year per-
iod for six weeks of training.
After being in the first line army,
the German solder passes into the
Landwehr, or second line army. He
serves five years in the infantry. or
three years for cavalrymen and horse
artillerymen, in the first ban of the
yLandwehr. Infantrymen are called
out for training twice in this period,
each time for eight or IA days. Land
wehr cavalry and horse artillery are
not called out in time Of peace.
The soldier then is passed into the
second ban Of the Landwehr, until
he reaches his 10th year. There is
no training" during this period of ser
vice.
At 40 the German soldier is not
through. He goes then into the Land
sturm, or third reserve body, in which
he is liable for military duty until he
is As years old. In ordinary times
the Landsturm is strictly a home de-
Tense, but in this war the kaiser fin
ally called out the Landsturm for &C
tive duty. After IS the German SOL
der is exempt from mobilization, but
it is said that many Germans past As
Joined the colors at the beginning Of
the great conflagration.
The German army, in normal times,
consists of 26 army corps of about
men each, al well as independ-
ent cavalry, a total Of about 1,250,00O
complaints. Besides this vast array
is the Landwehr of 100000, bringing
the total mobile force of Germany in
peace times up to 100000 men, Who'll
ly or partially trained, to supply the
waste Of war. These figures do not
include garrison units 0 any part Of
the Landsturm. Estimates of the to-
tai possible German hosts, men who
will take the field in this greatest Of
all range from 100000 to 5,5O0,0O
The German peace establishment last
year consisted of 36.3O4 officers, 1884,
3S1 non-ccmmissioner officers and
men, and 1886 horses.
The German navy is manned by
the obligatory service of the mara
time population. These men being
exempt from military duty. In nor
NAL times the navy personnel Is
about $4,000 men, supplemented by a
reserve of about 100000.