The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1914-08-31
KAISER ENLISTS
LIMIT OF RESERVES
IN GERMAN ARMY

(The following mail story supple
ments earlier dispatches on the same
subject that were sent by wire.)
Berlin-As a result of Germanys
rigid compulsory military service laws,
there is not now an able bodied man
in the city of Berlin. The mobilization
orders of the kaiser called out every
male in Berlin except those too old.
cripples and boys. Even these now are
doing police duty and guarding roads
and bridges At all the approaches to
the city and around the bridges and
public buildings boys IL and IA years
of age may be seen, wearing uniforms
and standing guard with fixed bayo-
nets.
Since the war began, much has been
heard of Germany's military regula-
tions and much miSinfOrmatlon has
been disseminated. Military service
in Germany is compulsory. Liability
begins at the age Of II, and ends at
the age of As, but actual service be-
gins at 20. There are no exceptions
to the rule; no ways to dodge duty
except by leaving the country. The
rigorous law applies to all, rich and
poor, aristocrat and laborer.
The term of compulsory service in
the first line or active army; two OF
these in the ranks and five in the re-
serves, except in the cavalry and
horse artillery, where the periods are
three and four years. During this
reserve service the soldier is regard
ed as belonging to his corps and joins
it twice in the five Cor fOur) year
period of six weeks of training.
After being in the first line army.
the German soldiers passes into the
Landwehr. or second line army. He
serves five years in the infantry, OF
three years for caValryman and horse
artilleryman, in the first ban Of the
Landwehr. Infantrymen are Callel
out for training twice in this period,
each time for 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 40th year. There is no
training during this period of service.
At 40 the German soldier is not
through. He goes then into the Land
sturm, or third body, in which he is
liable for military duty until he is As
years old. In ordinary times the
Landsturm is strictly a home defense,
but in this war the kaiser finally call
ed out the LandSIOrm Tor acllNe QuIy.
After As the German soldier is eX
empt from mobilization, but it is said
that many Germans past As have join
ed the colors.
The German army in normal times
consist Of twenty-siX army corps Of
about $4,000 men each, as we'll as indie
pendent cavalry, total Of about l.
250,000 combatants. Besides this vast
array is the Landwehr of 100000,
bringing the total mobile force Of
Germany in peace times up to 1867
600. In addition there are, according
to some computation, about 100000
men, wholly or partially trained. to
supply the waste of war. These
figures do not include garrison units
nor any part of the Landsturm. Esti-
mates of the total possible German
hosts, men who will take the field III
the greatest of all wars, range from
100000 and 5,5O0,000 The German
peace establishment last year consist
ed of 36,304 officers, 754,3S1 non-c"m-
missioned officers and men and 157,S16
horses.
The German navy is manned by the
obligatory service of the maritime
population. these men being EXEMPT
from military duty. In normal times
the navy personnel is about $4,000
men, supplemented by reserve Of
about 10000