The liability to rejoin the colours, in case of a national war, should
continue to the end of the 27th year, and be followed by a period of
liability in the second line, Landwehr or Territorial Army.
The first thing to be observed is the numerical strength of the army
thus raised and trained.
If we assume that any body of men loses each year, from death,
disablement, and emigration, five per cent. of its number, the annual
classes would be as follows:--
1st year, age 20-21 200,000 (At the end of the
2nd " " 21-22 170,000 first year 20,000
3rd " " 23-24 161,300 are to go abroad
4th " " 24-25 153,425 as explained below)
5th " " 25-26 145,754
6th " " 26-27 138,467
--------
Total on mobilisation 968,946
========
This gives an army of close upon a million men in first line in addition
to the British forces in India, Egypt, and the colonial stations.
If from the age of 27 to that of 31 the men were in the Landwehr, that
force would be composed of four annual classes as follows:--
7th year, age 27-28 131,544
8th " " 28-29 124,967
9th " " 29-30 118,719
10th " " 30-31 112,784
--------
Total of Landwehr 488,014
========
There is no need to consider the further strength that would be
available if the liability were prolonged to the age of 39, as it is in
Germany.
Pages:
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156