Army

in military affairs, a large body of men trained and armed for war. In most civilized countries, all able-bodied men, excluding youths under eighteen and men over forty-five or fifty, are due for military service in case of need. A comparatively small number of men resident in barracks constitute a standing army, to be increased in case of actual war. In a few nations, as among the ancient Egyptians and the people of India, the warriors constituted a distinct class. The Israelites also excused the Levites from military service. In Germany, France, Russia, and other European nations, every young man is required to serve an apprenticeship of several years in the army, and to hold himself in readiness there-after when called upon. England and the United States rely upon permanent standing armies composed of men enlisted for a term of years. In case of actual war, volunteers are called for. In case a sufficient number cannot be enlisted in this way, an enforced enlistment, or draft, is resorted to. For this purpose the names of the able-bodied are placed on slips of paper in a box, and those whose names are drawn at random are required to serve, or employ a substitute. The following table gives the approximate number of men in the principal armies of the world (1909):

If to the total footing of the foregoing table we add the military forces of the smaller nations, and take into consideration the number of men employed in providing ammunition, clothing, and food for these armies, it may be seen readily that war withdraws an enormous number of people from productive industries that might add to the welfare and comfort of the human race. It would cost no more to put all these men at work building roads and houses and providing food and clothing, than it does to keep them in a state of idleness preparing for war. It is said that if the nations were engaged in a world's war, a total force of 37,000,000 armed and equipped men could be placed in the field.