Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/1174

 1052 MONTENEGRO

to read and write. There is a theological seminary and a gyinnasinm or college for boys at Cettinje, and a girls' high school with 98 resident pupils maintained at the charge of the Empress of Russia.

Justice. Crime, and Pauperism— A Penal Code based on the Servian Code came into force in 1906 ; a Civil Code has been in existence for some time.

There are district courts in five of the principal towns. In the 56 rural districts there are courts of first instance over which the heads of the districts preside. The local Kmets have only authority to settle trivial dis- putes and generally act as peace-makers. There are appeal Courts in the five principal towns. The 'Veliki Sud,' or supreme court at Cettinje, has jurisdiction, both appellate and concurrent, over the whole princi- pality, and from its decision in civil matters there is no appeal. In criminal cases" the Prince may pardon. Petitious against judges for undue delay may be lodged with the Minister of Justice. There are no judicial statistics, but crime in general is rare.

There is no regular provision for poor relief. The Government, however, annually undertakes a certain number of public works, such as roads, bridges, &c., at which the indigent are invited to labour. Russian charitv has also done much.

Finance.— The estimated revenue and expenditure in 1912 balanced at 4 021,000 perpers, the chief sources of revenue being land tax, customs and monopolies. Of the expenditure the chief branches are the civil list, 240,000 perpers; justice, 316,040 perpers; interior posts and teleo-raphs, 935,736 perpers; ministry for foreign affairs, 168,860 perpers; raintstry of finance and public works, 626,160 perpers; ministry of war, 260 000 perpers; ministry of worship and instruction, 612,840 perpers. Public debt 1912, 390,000/.

Defence —The establishment of a parliamentary regime in 1906 was followed in 'l910 by the first written law for the administration and

instruction of the army. -i-x- i •

The military forces of Montenegro are organised on a militia basis. According to the Law of 1910, every Montenegrin subject is liable to military service from the 18th to the 62nd year of his age, i.e., for a total period of 45 years. This period is divided into : 2 years m the recruits' class, 33 years in the active army and 10 years in the reserve. During their term' of service in the active army men are divided into two classes To the first class are allotted those who are considered fit for active service in any capacity, while to the second are posted men who are only suited for the less arduous duties in the field, such as the transport, supply nnd medical

services.

During the two years recruit service, the recruit is called up for two courses of recruits' training, limited by law to twelve months, but m practice each annual course lasts only three months in the artillery, or two months in the infantry and other services.

Men in the active army are liable to be called up annually for a period of training not exceeding ten days and may be called up in addition for any extensive manoeuvres or for an experimental mobilisation, subject, however, to the proviso that no man shall be called upon to perform more than fifteen days' service in any one year. Men belonging to the reserve are required to attend a muster parade once a year, and they may be called up for man^uvres or for an experimental mobilisation. Men who, through physical unfitness, or for any other reason, are unable to perform their military service pay a special military tax, the amount of which varies accordiug to their means.