'Russia and India in 1903' [‎4r] (7/68)

THE RUSSIAN ARMY OF TO-DAY.
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second and the forty-fourth birthdays. The only
exemptions are in favour of the Cossacks of the
Caucasus, who have a special organisation ; the settlers
in Turkestan and the territories of the Amur; and
the non-Russian population of Astrakan, the Asiatic
provinces, and Archangel. A million of men have
every October ist attained the military age. But as
only 300,000 are required to bring the Standing Army
up to its peace establishment, conscription presses
less severely upon the young Russian than upon the
young Frenchman, German, or Austrian.
In every urban area or rural district there is a
Recruiting Board, which in each Government is super
vised by an Imperial Recruiting Council. Between
October 15th and November 15th selection is made of
those who are required to serve in the Standing Army
or Imperial Navy. Every board is informed of the
number of recruits it will be required to furnish to
each arm, and proceeds to eliminate those exempt or
non-eligible, usually 48 per cent, of the number of
conscript candidates. Exemptions are in four classes :
(1) Complete exemption on physical grounds (6 per
cent.), or because of family circumstances constituting
the conscript a necessary breadwinner. This category
numbers about 24 per cent, of the whole.
(2) Exemption in time of peace. This frees medical
men, veterinary surgeons, chemists, teachers, and
winners of learned scholarships. The category usually
numbers 20 per cent, of the year’s class.
(3) Deferred liability, on the ground of special
studies, special circumstances, employment abroad, etc.
This privilege extends to about 5 per cent.
(4) Lastly, there is the shortened liability. This
class includes members of learned professions, proficients
in technical studies, etc., and is very numerous.
Needless to say that the examination of these grounds
of exemption or privilege involves much labour. If,
after those in the four categories have been eliminated,