The Washington herald., 1914-09-11
Sixteen Million Men Under Arms.

So unparalleled is the present war ii Europe that
it Is difficult to realize its actual magnitude but an
article under the above title in special war issue
of the Scientific American of September S, which is
devoted entirely to the technical aspect of the great
struggle greatly assists in securing the proper per-
spective and contains the following valuable facts:
To appreciate the stupendous character of the war
of the nations, which is now in full swing on the
continent of Europe must bear in mind two facts
FIRST that it is to the DEATH second that in the
full realization of the absolute fnalty of the result
every one of the contending nations has already called
out has stated that it will do so, the whole of its
trained reserves thus putting sixteen millions
of men under arms.
In point of magnitude the present conflict is abso-
lutely without parallel Never, in all the history of
the world have there been marshaed on the field of
battle armies that even approached in numbers the
hosts which drawn up upon the frontiers of Ger
many and Austria. Not in the campaigns of Napo-
leon the great Franco-German struggle of 1870
H. nor yet the seven-day battle of Mukden between
Russia and Japan, was there such gathering of
warning hosts. As for the historic conflicts of an
cient days, when the hordes of the East poured in
human food over Europe, later historical criticism
has thrown doubt upon the reputed numbers engaged
At the present writing it is not unlikely that there
are facing each other 25omile battle line reach
ing from Antwerp, Belgium, to Basle Switzerland
approximately 100000 men, about equally divided
between the allied French British and Belgians and
the allied Germans and Austrians These represent
the standing armies the flower of the national troops
engaged.
To the east along the borders of Germany and
Austria, Germany has massed by this time some
100000 of her second line of reserves and Austria
is moving to her northern frontiers and TO the
assistance of Germany in Alsace and Lorraine an
other 10000 men. Russia has announced that her
mobilization is complete, which means that she is
moving down upon the German and Austrian from
tiers her standing army of over 100000 men.
And the while these 100000 troops are on the
fighting line, there are being gradually assembled at
the various camps and equipped for the field as they
may be needed the 100000 trained reserves-every
one having spent two three years with the coors
In all the countries engaged in this war. except
England military service is compulsory. In England
service is voluntary the men enlsting for seven
years, at the close of which they enter the reserve
The war strength of the English army is $4,000 men,
and of these, three army corps or 10000 have been
landed on the Continent and form part of the allied
army. The whole of the reserves, 10000 strong
have been called TO the colors, and will be sent to
strengthen the allies.
Compulsory service, conscripton, as practiced
in the German army, where it was first fully develop
ed is broadly representative in its operation of the
practice in all European armies.
Actual service in the German army begins at the
age of twenty The young man Joins the coors. and
remains with them three years. He then passes to
the reserve for four years, during which he is called
out for training with his corps twice for period of
1bout six weeks He is then drafted into the first
ban" of the Lsndwehr for five years, in which he is
given two trainings lasting from eight TO fourteen
lays At thirtytwo he passes into the second ban,'
where he remains till he is thrty-nne He now
1asses into the first ban of the Landsrum where he
remains until his forty-ffth year The second ban
IF the Landstrum consists Of men who have had no
military training.