MILITIA

A body composed of citizens regularly enrolled, and trained to the exercises of war; but not permanently organized in time of peace, or, in general, liable to serve out of the country in time of war. Such an establishment exists in most European countries under different names. {See Guard, National.) In Austria and Pru ia it is called landwehr; and in the latter country receives full pay during a certain part of every year when it is in exercise. V^arious and unsucce ful efforts were made by German sovereigns, during the wars of the last century, to organize bodies of troops which should be as cheaply raised as militia, and yet be serviceable in foreign war. Frederick the Great used such troops for garrison service. The militia of England and Scotland now consists of a certain number of men in every county, drawn by lot to serve for five years, and liable to be called out and embodied, on danger of rebellion or invasion, by proclamation of the king in council, and with notification to parliament, if that body is sitting. During the late war, the militia was kept constantly on foot and might be sent to any part of the kingdom; so that it differed little from the regular army, except that it could not be sent abroad, and that it was recruited by ballot. But, in addition to the above, a militia called local, or fencibles, in many instances raised and supported entirely at the expense of some great landed proprietor, was established in every county. After the peace of 1815 the militia was disembodied; but, as we remarked above, it is still liable, if it be considered nece ary, to be called out. In Pru ia every man who has served his three years, or a single year in certain cases, of lawful service in the standing army, belongs to the first cla of the landwehr until his thirtieth year; and from that time until his fortieth to the second cla . [s. 755]