X INTKODUCTORV. 



The principal features of the law of July 27, 1872, by which the French anny was 

 re-organized, are as follows: 



Every Frenchman owes personal military service, and can be called upon from the 

 age of 20 to 40 years to' form part of the active army or of the reserve.^ No bounty is paid 

 in any shape. Only Frenchmen are admitted into the army; all convicts are excluded. 



In January of every year, the mayor of each canton prepares a list of the names 

 of those young men who attained their twentieth year during the year jireceding." 

 On a given day, this list is read aloud, and observations are pennitted from those inter- 

 ested. At the di-awing, those who have been guilty of fraudulent representations have 

 their numbers first extracted from the m-n, after which the general drawing takes place. 

 Persons are appointed to draw for those not present, and the result is unalterable, no 

 second drawing being allowed under any circumstances.^ 



Exemption obtains for those who are found to be physically unfit for either active 

 or auxiliary duty; also in certain cases of dependent relationship, confined, however, 

 to those of legitimate birth. Young men who at the period of their examination have 

 not attained the required minimum of height, viz, 154 centimetres, (G0.G31 inches 

 English,) or who are not robust enough for the service, are required to present them- 

 selves again the next year, and, if still incompetent, again the year following, for fur- 

 ther examination. They are described as '■^ajournes."* 



Each canton has its council of revision, consisting of a general ofiicer, a surgeon, 

 and one or more magistrates. After hearing all matters of appeal, the council divides 

 the list of conscripts into five classes: 



1. Young men found fit for service. 



2. Those exempt for dependent relationship. 



3. Those exempt as students, volunteers, &c. 



4. Those who from deficient height or other causes have been dispensed from 

 active service but are fit to take part in some auxiliary branch. 



5. Those "adjourned" to a future examination.^ 

 The French ai"my is classified under four heads : 



The Active Army : Tlais is composed of the young men found fit for active service be- 

 longing to the five latest classes drafted. It also includes volunteers and re-enlisted men. 



The Beserve of the Active Army: This is composed of the four classes prior in date 

 to the five active classes. 



The Territorial Army: This is composed of those who have served their full terms 

 in the two preceding. This force is locally distributed, and is analogous to the Landwehr 

 of the German nations. 



The Reserve of the Territorial Army: This is composed of those who have served 

 their full terms in the tlu'ee preceding. 



The term of service of the French soldier dates from July 1 of the year in wliicli 

 he is di'awu, and extends through twenty years. Pie serves liis first five years " luulcr 



' Lot siir le recntlenieut de Varmie, dn 27. juillct 1872. Bulletiu des lois <le la E<5publiqao Franfaiso : l-J" sdrio, t. v, 

 ]>.'.t7,Hvo, Paris, lS7:i. 



- As the couscii|>t iiuist )i.'ivc attained tlio ago of twenty ou or Ijel'ore the lUst December of the jear previous to the 

 (Irawiiij; of liis " class," it isevideut that luaiiy of them may be upward of tweuty-oue years old wheu scut to camp to 

 commence their military career. A competent authority has estimated the average age of the class at twenty and a 

 half years. {0» the mililarij cousi-ript'nm of France, by JIajor-General Bai.I'OUR, Journal of the Statintical Sociel;/. vol. 

 xx.\, p. 216, Londou, lciG7.) 



= Op.d/., pp. OS, 93. 1 Oj). ci(., p. 101. '■ Op. eil. , p. ^0G. 



