Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-18
EUROPEAN WAR HAS
NO PRECEDENT IN
NUMBERS OF MEN
Struggle Is On to Death, So
That Contending Countries
Have Summoned Their
Entire Strength.

So unparalleled is the present war IN
Europe that 1t is difficult to realize its
actual magnitude. An article under the
above title in special war issue of the
Scientific American of September ., which
Is devoted entirely to the technical aspect
Of the great struggle, greatly assists in
securing the proper perspective, and con-
tains the following valuable facts:
To appreciate the stupendous character
of the war we must bear in mind two
facts: First that it is war to the
death: second that, in the fun realization
of the absolute hnality OF the result,
every one of the contcbding nations has
already called out. or has stated that
1t will do so. the whole of it's trained
reserves, thus putting some sixteen mil
lions of men under arms.
GREATEST IN HISTORY.
III point oc magnitude the present con-
flict e absolutely without a parallel.
Never in all the history OF the world
havc there been rarshaled on the field
Of battle armies that even approached
in numbers the hosts which are drawn
up upon the frontiers of Germany and
Austria Not in the campaigns of Ma
poleou nor the great Franco German
struggle OF 1SI0-Il, nor yet the scvcn-day
battle OF Mukdeu between Russia aud
Japan. was there seen such n gathering
Of warning hosts As for the historic
conflicts .Cf ancient days, when the
hordcs of the East poured in = human
food over Europe, later historical crit
cism has thrown doubt upon tho rcputed
numbers engaged.
While approximately 500o.OOO troops are
now on the fighting line, there are being
assembled at the various camps and
equipped for the field as they may be
needed the 100000 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 mon enlstiug for seven Years,
at the clos, of which they enter the re-
serve. The war strength of the English
army is $4,000 men, The whole of the
reserves. i76,000 strong. has been called to
the colors, and will oe sen to strengthen
the allies.
Compulsory service. Or conscriptlon, as
practiccd IN the German army, where
II was first fully developed, is broadly
representative In its operation OF the
practice in ali European armies
GERMAN ARMY SERVICE.
Actual service in the German army be-
gins at the age of 20. The young man
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 perod OF about six weeks.
He is then drafted into the first ban
of the LandWehr for flvc years, in which
hc Is given two trainings, lasting from
eight TO fourteen days. At ~ he passes
Into the second BAN" whero he remains
till he is 80 lIc now passes into the first
ban of the Landsturm. where he remains
until his 45th year. The second ban of
the Landsturm consists of men who have
had no military training.
The European regiment in full war
strength numbers about 300 men, under
the command Of a colonel. Three rcg-
mcnts form = brigade OF 1000 men, COM
mandcd hy a major general. Two brig
ddcs form a division OF 2OOO0 men, under
tho command of Il lieutenant general.
Two divisions constitute an army corps OF
10000 meu commanded by a general, and
three army corps form All independent
field army fully equipped with cavalry
artillery, commissary. engineers and med
ical Department. of a total strength OF
10000 men. There are variations from