NATIONAL DEFENSE. All able-bodied men are liable to military service between the ages of seventeen and forty-five years. Three years' ac tive service is required of cavalrymen and artil lerymen and two years, of others, the enlistment generally being at the age of twenty. Students passing a State examination may have the term of active service reduced to one year. The Ger man military force is divided into four armies (Prussia, Bavaria, Saxony, and Wtirttemberg), but there is a uniform plan of organization and administration. In the three States last named each king has a limited power of appointment, and the King of Bavaria of administration. (For particulars concerning the organization of the army, see article on ARMIES.) In 1901 the rank and file of the German army, including special officers, amounted to 580,023 men; while the officers numbered 24,145. The greatest war strength of the army is estimated at over 3,000, 000 men. Service in the navy instead of the army may be made obligatory upon the maritime population. Numerous.additions have been made
to the German navy in recent years, giving Ger many great strength as a naval power. See NAVIES.
Germany is particularly well fortified on the side looking toward France. In this section are situated the strong fortresses of Metz, Strassburg, Ulm, Rastatt, Mainz, Cologne, and Coblenz, and the minor fortifications of Diedenhofen, Saar louis, New Breisach, Gennersheim, Ingolstadt, Hamm, and Wesel. The other large German fort resses are in Eastern or Central Prussia, namely Danzig, Konigsberg, Posen, Klistrin, Sandau, Magdeburg, and Neisse. The minor fortresses in the interior are Thorn, Dirschau, Glogau, Glatz, and KOnigstein. On the coast toward the north are the fortifications of \Vilhelmshafen. Kid, Friedsrichsort, Cuxhaven. Geesdemtlnde, Solider burg, Stralsund, Swineiniinde, Pillau, and Memel.