Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XI.djvu/558

— The militia system of the German empire is the most complete and effective in the world. Every subject becomes liable to military duty on reaching the age of 20, and he must serve three years in the regular army, and afterward four years in the army of the reserve. After this, at 27, he enters the landwehr or militia, where he remains for five years, liable to be called upon for regular drill, and in case of war to be incorporated in the regular army. Finally, at the age of 32, he is enrolled in the landsturm, where he is subject to military duty within the realm in case of invasion. The reserve, when necessary, are capable of being mobilized for service in two weeks' time. On a war footing the army, according to the latest returns, falls a little short of 1,300,000.—In the Austro-Hungarian monarchy the standing army is formed by conscription of those who have reached the age of 20, and those drawn serve three years in the regular army and seven years in the army of the reserve. The obligation to serve in the landwehr is general, and the period of service is 12 years, but is limited to the respective divisions of the empire from which the body is drawn. There is also the landsturm, corresponding to that of Germany, but enrollment in it is not compulsory except in Tyrol and on the exposed frontier. The army in 1873 numbered on a peace footing 278,470, and on a war footing 838,700.—In Russia all who have reached the age of 21 are liable to conscription for seven years' service in the regular army, and eight years in the reserve. The regular army in 1872 consisted of 765,872 on a peace footing, and 1,213,259 on a war footing. In peace only so many are kept embodied as are necessary to keep the army on the proper peace footing, and the remainder are on furlough. Besides these, the militia is organized whenever emergencies render it necessary. The Cossacks perform military service in lieu of the payment of taxes, and in case of necessity every man from 15 to 60 is liable to serve.—In Italy the regular army is kept up by conscription of those of the age of 21, and those not drawn pass into the army of the reserve, where they practise annually for 40 days, and then are on furlough, subject to be called upon in the event of war. The strength of the army is about 200,000 on a peace footing and 450,000 on a war footing.—In Turkey every man is liable to serve four years in the regular army, and then for two years longer to remain subject to summons for like service; afterward he enters the first reserve for three years, and then the second reserve for three years, after which he passes into the sedentary army, liable to be called out only in time of war. The total available force in time of war is estimated at 700,000.—The militia system of the United States, like that of Great Britain, had its origin in jealousy of standing armies, and the purpose of its establishment was to provide a military force that should be ready and effective for all sudden emergencies, but only required to serve when the emergency should arise. The constitution of the United States confers upon congress authority to provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the Union, suppress insurrection, and repel invasion, and also to provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the militia, and for governing such part of them as may be employed in the service of the United States, reserving to the states respectively the appointment of the officers and the authority of training the militia according to the discipline prescribed by congress. It also makes the president commander-in-chief of the militia of the several states when called into the service of the United States. Acting under the provisions of the constitution, the congress of 1792 passed an act for the enrollment in the militia of all able-bodied white male citizens of the age of 18 and under 45, excepting the judicial and executive officers of the federal government, members and officers of congress, custom-house officers and clerks, persons employed in the postal service, inspectors of exports, pilots and mariners, and such persons as should be exempted by state laws. Each person was to be provided with suitable arms and accoutrements, which were made exempt from taxation, and from all process for the collection of debts. The organization was to be effected within one year, under state laws and under officers of state appointment. The act provided that in the organization there should be infantry, cavalry, and artillery in suitable proportions, and designated the number and grade of officers for each division, brigade, regiment, battalion, and company. Another act, passed Feb. 28, 1795, empowered the president, in case of invasion or imminent danger thereof, to call forth the militia of the state or states most convenient to the place of danger or scene of action, as he might judge necessary, and in case of insurrection in any state against the government thereof, on the application of its legislature or of its executive when the legislature could not be convened, to call forth such militia of any other state or states as he might deem necessary to suppress such insurrection. The president was also empowered by the same act, whenever the laws of the United States should be opposed or the execution thereof obstructed in any state by combinations too powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings, or by the marshals, to call forth the militia of such state, or of any other state or states, as might be necessary, to suppress such combinations and cause the laws to be duly executed; and while in service the militia were to be subject to the rules and articles of war, as in case of regular troops. These provisions still remain in force, except that in providing who shall be enrolled the word “white” was stricken out by act of March 2, 1867. The act of 1795 limited the