DEFENCE

955

For the, year 1912 tl

e total revenue and expenditure were

as follows : —

Sources

Revenue

Branches

Expenditure

Drachmai

Drachmai

Direct taxes

24,100,001

Public debt

36,026.048

Duties and excise

56,023,001

Pensions ....

9,130,998

Stamps and dues

18,991,100

Civil list ....

1,325,000

Monopolies.

13,041,000

Chamber of Deputies .

701,340

State property, revenue

8,105,201

Ministries:

State property, sales .

772,100

Fore-gn Affairs

4,457,740

Post and Telegraph .

5,889,095

Justice ....

6,703,002

Various

13,076,046

Interior ....

17,754,648

Worsliip and Instruction War

6,133,795 21,530,947

Total ordinary

139,997,544

Extraordinary

4,121,101

Marine .... Commerce and Agricul-

8,801,339

ture ....

3,849,784

Finance ....

25,731,273

Various .... Total ....

563,606

Total ....

144,118,645

143,326,520

The outstanding external debt of Greece amounted on December 31, 1912, to 32,493, 360Z. The currency debt in December, 1911, stood at 160,225,845 paper drachmai. The estimated charge for the whole Greek debt in 1911 was 33,570,811 paper drachmai.

Defence.

Military service in Greece is compulsory and universal, with very few exemptions. It commences in the 21st year, and lasts for the long period of 36 years. The term of service in the active army, or first line, is 2 years, followed by 11 in the first reserve, and 9 years in the second reserve. The soldier then passes to the National Guard (^territorial army) for 7 years, and completes his service with 7 years in the reserve of ihis force Postpone- ments and reductions of service are permitted in certain cases, but are con- ditional on the payment of a tax. Men in excess of the annual con- tingent of recruits receive 6 months' training in the ranks, and are then transferred to the ' Liability ' reserve, which corresponds to the supplemen- tary reserve of other armies. To counterbalance the extra expense, a large proportion of the men in their 2nd year are regularly released before their full term has expired.

The field army is to consist of 4 divisions, each containing 3 regiments of 3 battalions, and 1 or 2 battalions of evzones (light infantry). There are four field artillery regiments of 26 batteries all told, and 2 regiments of mountain artillery of 8 batteries ; also 3 heavy batteries. There are 3 cavalry regiments of 16 squadrons all told, and two engineer regiments of 17 companies all told. Batteries have 4 guns. The total strength of the army in the field would be something over 80,000 men. The peace strength of the army was fixed at 1,888 officers and 22,0f)0 other ranks, for 1912,

On mobilisation the reserve is to form divisions corresponding to those of first line ; but at the present time all the reservists of the active army would apparently be required to bring units to war strength. The 'liability ' reserve, if not also absorbed by the first line, would be available to make good losses on Held service.

The territorial army is, of course, primarily intended for home defence, but it is understood that certain classes are liable to be drafted to the field

army in time of war. The territorial army has no definite organisation at