The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-08-14
AN IMMENSE ARMY.

IF the United States should call to
the colOrs as many men in proportion
to the population as Servia has. 1t
would mean an army of upward OF
eight million men," says a statement
issued by the National Geographical
society, at Washington, D. c., today,
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 to
the colors in proportion to the adult
male population. it would mean an
army OF twelve million men.
These figures show what heavy
hand Austria-Hungary laid upon the
little country whose army gave such
remarkable account of itself during
the two wars it has just passed
through before this third one de-
scended upon it. How terrible the raw
ages Of the wars in TIE near east
have been is indicated by the census
OF conquered territory taken by Bull
garia in the early months of the pres
ent year. That count showed that
where, previous to the wars. there had
been a population of 100000 there il
now a population of 301. 900. or course
Servia did not suffer that much. but
these figures are indicative Of the
great wars it had to face
Military critics everywhere admit
that in matters of discipline, leader
ship. admantine spirit. and elan. there
is no army its size in the world that
can make a better showing than the
Servian army made during its wars
with Turkey and Bulgaria. 1t is a
fighting force that is conceded to have
every quality of strength that mill
tary machine may possess.
Its plan Of organization its distinc-
tive 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 q
national army and the Landstrum.
which forms the last line of defense.
Service in the national army begins
at twenty-one and ends after forty-five.
In the Ladstrum it begins at seventeen
and 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 be-
tween thirty-one and thirty.eight, and
the third those between thirty-eight
and forty-five.
| The first ban has its cadre. a
school through which every able
! bodied man of twenty-one must pass.
tionalty while belonging to the first
ban; nor can any member thereof re-
ceive any outside appointment or be-
come even a monk until he has served
his term in the army.
! The term OF service in the stand
/ ing cadre is two years in the cavalry
and artillery, and one and half
years in the other branches Of the
esta blishment. There is a six months
service for those in the sch ools of the
country who can pass an examination
for lieutenant of reserves Tere IS al.
SO a six months enlistment for re-
cruits from whose homes at least two
others have served the full time.
"All those who possess cattle and
suitable carts are under obligation to
turn them over to the army when
needed. Those who do not possess
cattle and carts have five per cent
or hot nt
fund"