BIBLIOGRAPHY.-L. Arbusov, Geschichte Liv-, Est- and Kurlands (Riga, 1918) ; Dr. M. Valters, Lettland (Rome, 1922) ; J. Skujeniek, Latvija, Zeme un iedzivotiiji (Riga, 1924) ; J. Dombrovski, Latvju maksla (1925) ; A. Bihlmans, La Lettonie d'aujourd'hui (1925) ; A.
vabe, Latvijas Kulturas Vesture (1923) ; A. Zalts, Die politischen Parteien Lettlands (1926). (R. M. F.) Defence.—The Letts have a strong sense of nationality, which as early as the 13th century (Battle of Durbe, i26o) brought them in conflict with the Germans, who were followed by others in se curing dominance over what is now Latvia. From 1795 the coun try was under Russian rule, and its military history until the close of the World War belonged to that of Russia (q.v.). The present-day independent Latvian Army dates from the creation of the new Republic in November 1918, followed in September 1921 by admission to membership of the League of Nations.
Recruitment, Service and Organization. Military service ranging between the ages of 20 and so is compulsory for all male citizens of Latvia. Nominally 18 months, but in practice 15 months are spent with the colours. The next 18 years are spent in the reserve, followed by service in the territorial army up to the age of 5o years. According to latest information (1927) the budget effec tives in the Latvian army numbered about 20,000, which included 2,000 officers. The cost of the army increased from 34,500,000 lats in 1924-25 to 41,100,000 in 1927-28, the increase in expendi ture being explained by increase in the cost of living, new military construction and increase of military stores. The largest mili tary formation is the division, of which there are four, in addi tion to certain army troops. A division contains 3 infantry regi ments and a field artillery regiment, which contains 6 four-gun batteries. The army troops include I cavalry regiment of 4 squadrons, and I machine-gun squadron, I regiment of heavy artillery with 3 four-gun batteries, I regiment of two armoured trains, a battalion of sappers, electro-technical detachment, com pany of tanks (with 4 tanks and 3 armoured cars) and a small motor-transport company. In 1927 the chief naval forces of
Latvia consisted of two submarines and two mine-layers.
The President of the Republic is chief of the armed forces of the state. He appoints a commander-in-chief of the army in time of war, which can only be declared by Parliament (Saeima). There is a minister of war with the usual subordinates. There is a small military air force numbering 450, with 13 bombing ma chines, 7 reconnaissance and 6 fighting machines.
See also League of Nations Armaments Yearbook (Geneva, 1928).
Statesman's Yearbook (1927) . Europa, 1928. (G. G. A.) Latvia lost nearly 4o% of her population in the World War, mainly by emigration in consequence of the German invasion.
Hardly 300,00o have returned out of the refugee population of 1915-7. The greater part of the missing, near 65o,000, perished. Almost all the industries and the industrial population were evacuated to Russia; io,000 farms were utterly destroyed. Ma chinery and equipment of industries employing over 1 oo,000 factory hands were sent to Russia in 20,000 railway trucks. Of these the Bolsheviks have restored barely zoo trucks under the Peace Treaty of Aug. 13, 1920. In Courland the population and cultivated areas at the time of the German occupation, 1915 to 1918, had diminished to one-third. Over half of the farms were destroyed or stood empty.
handled ; not only has the foreign debt been considerably re duced, but loans to the value of 30,000,000 lats were made from current revenue. The budgets of 1925-8 provide for further loans amounting to 35,000,000 lats from current revenue for agricul tural purposes and for the construction of railways. The actual revenue for 1924-25 amounted to 215,680,000 lats and expendi ture to 214,000,00o. The budgets for 1925-26 and 1927-28 bal anced at 160,000,00o lats (excluding railway receipts and the expenses of the spirits monopoly).