The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1914-09-23
WAR
Sixteen Million Men Are Now
Under Arms In Europe.
lScientific Americanl


To appreciate the stupendous charac-
acter of the war of the nations, which is
now in full swing on the continent of
Europe, we must bear in mind two facts:
First, that it is war to the death; Sec
ond, that in the full realization of the
absolute finality of the result, every one
of the contending nations has already
called out, or has stated that it will do
so, the whole of its trained reserves,
thus putting 10000, 900 of men under
arms
In point of magnitude the present con-
fiict is absolutely without parallel.
Never, in all the history of the world,
have there been marshaled on the field
of battle armies that even approached in
numbers the hosts which are drawn up
upon the frontiers of Germany and Aus
tria. Not in the campaigns of Napoleon,
nor the great Franco German struggle of
1S70-7l, 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 ancient
days, when the hordes of the East pour
ed in human flood over Europe, later
historical criticism has thrown doubt
upon the reputed numbers engaged.
AT the present writing it is not I'M
likely that there are facing each other
on 0-mile battle line, reaching from
Antwerp, Belgium TO Basic, Switzerland,
approximately 100000 men, about
equally divided between the allied Brit
ish. French and Belgians, and the allied
Germans and Austrians. These repre-
sent the standing armies, the flower of
the national troops engaged.
To the east. along the borders of Ger
many and Austria. Germany has massed
by this time some 600, 900 of her second
line of reserves, and Austria is moving
to her own northern frontiers, and to as
sistance of Germany in Alsace and Lor-
raine another 400 600 men. Russia has
announced that her mobilization is COM
plete, which means that she is moving
down upon the German and Austrian
frontiers her standing army of over l.
25O, 600 men.
And while these 5000, 600 troops are
on the fighting line, there being gradu-
ally assembled at the various camps and
equipped for the field as they may be
needed, the 10000, 00o trained reserves
every one having spent two or three
years with the colors.
In all the countries engaged in this
war, except England, military service is
compulsory. In England service is vol
untary, the men enlisting for years, at
the close of which they enter the reserve
The war strength of the English army is
| I56, 600 men, and of these, three army
corps OF 100, 900, have been landed on
the continent and form part Of the allied
army. The whole of the reserves, 49,
600 strong. have been called the colors,
and will be sent to strengthen the allies.
| Compulsory service or CONSUMPTION,
as practiced in the German army where
it was first fully developed, is broadly
representative Of its operation OF the
practice in all European armies.
/ Actual service in the German army
begins at the age of 30. The young nan
| Joins the colors and remains with them
three years. He then passes to the re-
serve for four years, during which he is
called out for training with his corps
twice for a period Of about six weeks.
He is then drafted into the first BAN
OF the Landwehr for five years, in which
he is given two trainings lasting from
eight to fourteen days. At SO he passes
into the second BAN" where he re-
mains until he is 80. He now passes in
Ito the first ban of the Landsturm, where
The remains until his forty fifth year
The second ban of the Landsturm con-
sists of men who have had no military
training.