MOBILISATION OF BULGARIAN ARMY COMPLETE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16040, 5 October 1915, Page 7

MOBILISATION OF BULGARIAN ARMY COMPLETE.

LARGE FORCE SENT TO THE SERVIAN FRONT. THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND MEN WITH GUNS. (Received October 4, 9 p.m.) Sofia, October 3- * The Bulgarian mobilisation is complete. Three hundred and fifty thousand men. with artillery, have been sent to the Servian frontier. Bulgaria is to-day in military respects said to be the least formidable of all the peninsular States, with the sole exception of Montenegro. It .'.has-been computed that she lost, in round numbers. 100,000 men in the Balkan campaigns, and, with a population at that time of only 4,329,108, this represents a consider-. able percentage of the fighting men hi the country. In the Balkan campaign the Greeks 'alone captured 150 guns from Bulgaria's total of 600. . ..The Servians also took a considerable number. Service in Bulgaria is universal and compulsory. ilahommedans are exempted, but, like alll others exempted, pay a tax. Service, in the ranks commences at the age of 20, and is for two years in the infantry and for three years in the other arms. Reserve service is for 18 years in the infantry, and 16 years in the other arms. The reservists are liable to be called out for three weeks' training annually. After completion of his reserve service the Bulgarian soldier passes to the Opolchenie (territorial army), serving in the first ban for four years (infantry) or five years (all other arms). Finally the men of all arms pass for two years to the second ban, thus completing a total service of 26 years. . . , .._ ~*>->*". The Bulgarian infantry is normally organised in 36 regiments "Ibf^ two battalions, each of four companies and the artillery in nine.regiments of two divisions, each of three batteries of four guns, 12 mountain v batteries, and three battalions of fortress artillery. On mobilisation each infantry regiment expands to four battalions, and each artillery regiment forms a third division of three batteries. Further, from the largo number of reservists, of each regiment is formed a. reserve regiment of four battalions, and a depot battalion.- •• .--_V There is one guard cavalry regiment of three squadrons, four" line ; regiments of four squadrons, and six of three squadrons. On mobilisation, all regiments are raised to four squadrons and a depot squadron. There further are.-Fthree battalions of pioneers, one railway battalion, one pontoon,battalion, one telegraph; battalion. The Opolchenie forms on mobilisation 36 battalions of the first ban, and 36 half battalions of the second ban. The reservists not required to complete the field units join the depots and are. available to make good the.waste of war. • '- . :- s; >':"•' ■<-' v : ■':*'- V •'.'.:*; V-. r_:' ;: : "'V- '?" ■ '.