Belgium's Great Army.

New York Times 100 years ago today, June 1, 1913:
Every Man of 20 to be Trained to Bear Arms.
    BRUSSELS, May 23.— Belgium, with a population of scarcely 7,000,000, will shortly have the greatest army in proportion to the number of inhabitants of any European country, with the exception of Montenegro. According to a bill that has just passed the Belgian Parliament, every man of 20 is to be trained to bear arms, which will raise the war footing of the army to 340,000. The main provisions of the new act are:
    First— Every Belgian will be called to the colors in his twentieth year. Half of the number will, however, be subject to exemption in certain circumstances.
    Second— In time of peace the period of military service will be fifteen months for the infantry, twenty-one months for siege artillery, and twenty-four months for the cavalry and field artillery.
    Third— There will be 55,000 men with the colors in time of peace and 340,000 men in time of war. Of the latter 180,000 represent the field army and 160,000 to defend Antwerp, Liege, and Namur.