Reserves of non-commissioned officers of infantry, cavalry, artillery, sappers and commis sariat troops are as follows : (1) Soldiers of all 'arms in active service who apply for re newed service as non-commissioned officers, and those troops in the Tsushima Garrison who ap ply for permission to be with the colors until their term for active service expires and who are fit for such service. (2) Reserve first-class privates who while with the colors have dis charged the duties of corporal and who apply for the position of non-commissioned officer within one year after the expiratior of their term for active service. (3) Reserve first-class privates, who possess a certificate showing capa bility to discharge the duties of a non-commis sioned officer and who apply for such position in less than one year after the expiration of term for active service. (4) Reserve sergeants or corporals who apply for active service in less than one year after the expiration of their term for active service.
Artificers (N. C. O.) are obtained from among those persons who are not in the re serve of the navy or army or first year pri vates of all arms, who have passed an }nation for the service and gone through the necessary education at the artillery and engi neering school.
Non-commissioned officers of horseshoe makers are drafted from horseshoe-makers in the second or third years of active service in cavalry, artillery or commissariat troops, who apply for renewed service and who are fit. They are then given nine months' education at the veterinary school, in order to become chief horseshoe-makers.
Non-commissioned officers in the hygienic department are obtained from the following groups of men: (1) Ambulance hands or sol diers of any arm in active service, who apply for renewed service as non-commissioned offi cers in the hygienic department, or men in the Tsushima garrison who desire to remain with the colors until the expiration of their term of active service, and who are fit for the position of non-commissioned officers. (2) Ambulance men in reserve, who while in active service have been chief nurses, and who apply for in posi tion of non-commissioned officers n active service in less than one year after the expira tion of their term of active service. (3) Am bulance men in reserve who possess a certificate qualifying them for the position of non-com missioned officers and who apply for active service within one year after the expiration of their term for active service. (4) Second and third class chief nurses in reserve who apply to enter active service within one year after the expiration of their term for active service.
Non-commissioned officers in the comp troller's department are taken from the follow ing: (1) Non-commissioned officers attached to corps of all arms who apply to he such officers in the comptroller's department, and first-class privates who have been in active service for two years or more after joining the colors and who have applied for renewed service as non commissioned officers in the comptrollers' de partment and obtained the necessary knowledge for such position. (2) Reserve first-class pn
yates of all arms, who while in the active service have acted as accountants, and who apply for the position of non-commissioned officer in active service within one year after the expiration of their term of active service.(3) Reserve non-commissioned officers or first class privates of all arms who possess a certifi cate showing their fitness to be non-commis sioned officers in the comptrollers' department, and who apply for such position in active serv ice within one year after the expiration of their term for active service. (4) Second or third class accountants in reserve, who apply to enter active service within one year after the expira tion of their term of active service.
Non-commissioned officers in military bands are drafted from bandsmen who have been in active service for more than two years and who are sufficiently accomplished to be non commissioned officers.
Privates.— In the early period of the Meiji era soldiers were recruited from all clans according to the amount of revenue of their lord. In 1873 the Conscription Law was pro mulgated, and all men in the country were en tered in the army list on their reaching the age of 20. This laid the foundation of the present Japanese army. The law was amended several times, but its spirit remained the same. The present system provides: (1) All Japanese male subjects between 17 and 40 years of age are responsible for military service. (2) The army is classified into regulars, second-reserves, recruits and national army. (3) The regular service is divided into active and first reserve services. The active service is for three years beginning with the 20th year of age. The first reserve service is for four years and four months, for those who have finished the active service. (4) The second reserve service is for /0 years, and enlists those who have finished the regular service. (5) Recruit service is for 12 years and four months and enlists a required number of the surplus men over the required number of regulars each year. (6) The na tional army service is divided into first and second national army services. The first na tional army includes the second reserves and trained recruits who have finished their term of service. The second national army is consti tuted by those who are enlisted in either of the above services.