Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1914-09-21
SIXTEEN MILLION MEN UNDER
ARMS.
(scientiflc American.l

l acter OF the War OF the Nations
which is now in full swing on the con-
tinent of Europe. we must bear in
mind two facts: First, that it is a
war to the death; second, that in the
full realization of the absolute final
ity of the result. every one of the con-
/ tending nations has already called
out, or has stated that it will do so,
the whole of its trained reserves. thus
putting some sixteen millions of men
under arms.
In the interests of humanity it is
better that the nations which go down
in absolute defeat should realize that
/ the verdict is one against which there
is no appeal. If the only possible
cure for this monstrous cancer of
militarism is the knife, it is better
to cut so deeply as to let out all the
rottenness, and so thoroughly remove
/ the very seeds of disease as to en-
sure the wholesome, unhindered
growth of the splendid civilization of
I this twentieth century.
The one mournful consolation to be
drawn from this nnspeakable calam-
ity is to be found in the belief that
the loss of life, the destruction of
/ property, the paralysis of trade and
/ industry, and the total setback OF civ
ilization, will be so stupendous as to
bring the nations of the earth to-
gether, when the war is over, in the
endeavor to substitute for the pres
ent brutal armaments, an interna-
tional tribunal backed by an interna-
tional military police.
In point of magnitude the present
conflict is absolutely withoue paral-
lei. Never, in all the hitsory 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 'front.'
iers of Germany and Austria Not in
the campaigns of Napoleon, nor the
great Franco-German struggle of
1901. nor yet the seven-day battle
of Mukden between Russia and
Japan. was there seen such a gather
ing of warning hosts. AS for the his
toric conflicts of ancient days, when
the hordes of the east poured in a
human flood over Europe, later his
torical criticism has thrown doubt
upon the reputed numbers engaged.
At the present writing it is not un-
likely that there are facing each 9TH
er on a 250-mile battle line, reach
ing from Antwerp, Belgium, to Baisle,
Switzerland, approximately 2,5OO,00O
men, about equally divided between
the allied French, British and Bel
gians, and the allied Germans and
Austrians. These represent the
standing armies. the flower of the ma
tional troops engaged.
To the east, along the borders of
Germany and Austria, Germany has
massed by this time some 10000 of
her second line of reserves, and Aus
tria is moving to her own northern
frontier and to the assistance of Ger
/ many in Alsace and Lorraine another
100000 men. Russia has announced
that her mobilization is complete,
which means that she is moving down
upon the German and Austrian 'front.'
iers her standing army of over $780,
900 men.
= And while these 5000, 900 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 TO-
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 SER
vice is compulsory. In England SER
vice is voluntary, the men enlisting
Tor seven years, at the close of which
they enter the reserve. The war
strength of the English army is 1885,
600 men, and of these, three army
Z corps. or 10000, have been landed
on the continent and form part of
the allied army. The whole of the
reserves, 476,OOO strong, have been
called to the colors. and will be sent
to strengthen the allies.
Compulsory service, or conscrip-
tion, as practised in the German
S army, where it was first fully devel-
oped, is broadly representative in it's
e operation of the practice in all Eu-
ropean armies.
Actual service in the German army
;. begins at the age of 20. The young
man joins the colors and remains
J, with them three years. He then pass
es to the reserve for four years, dur
4 ing which he is called out for train
ing with his corps twice for a period
: OF about six weeks. He is then draft
saA MS H..