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Show THE FRENCH ARMY. Under the Empire a man might escape military duty by furnishing a substitute, or by the payment of a certain sum annually fixed by decree of the Minister of War; but by the law of July, 27, 1872, it is declared that every Frenchman owes personal military service, the right of substitution being abolished. He is liable to such service from the age of twenty to that of the age of forty, and forms part of the active army for five years, of the reserve of such army for four years, of the territorial army for five years, and of the reserve thereof for six years, making twenty years in all. <br><br> Any Frenchman, moreover, between the ages of eighteen and twenty-four, who has not been already conscripted who is of sufficient height, able-bodied, unmarried, or a widower without children, and provided with a certificate of good conduct, may volunteer for five years' service in the army or navy. A soldier may also re enlist, upon the completion of his five years of active service, or a further term of two, three, four, or five years, during which period he is entitled to extra pay at the extravagant rate of eight centimes, or, if he be a non-commissioned officer, of ten centimes(two cents, a day! <br><br> As a further inducement to remain in active service, it is provided by the law of July 24, 1873, that certain civil and military employments are reserved exclusively for those who have been in the active Army for twelve years with the grade of non-commissioned office. The total effective force of the army in time of peace is 450,000 and in time of war 2,000,000. We may add, in passing, that by the terms of a law passed August 1, 1974, horses and mules are duly enrolled, and are liable to conscription for military purposes.-[George Merrill, in Harper's Magazine for March. |