Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/782

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levas) ; and 78,877,800 levas eonsolidated internal debt and 5,025,405,088 levas non-consolidated (total internal debt, 5,104,282,888 levas).

Defence.

Before the war (1914-18) service was universal and compulsory. Mahomedans were exempted (a privilege withdrawn during the war), but like all others exempted, paid a tax. Service in the ranks commenced at the age of 20, and was for 2 years in the infantry, and for 3 years in the other arms. Reserve service was for 18 years in the infantry, and 16 years in the other arms. The reservists were liable to be called out for 3 weeks training annually.

After completion of his reserve service, the Bulgarian soldier passed to the Opolchenie (Territorial Army), serving in the first bun for 4 years (infantry), or 5 years (all other arms). Finally the men of all arms passed for 2 years to the second ban, thus completing a total service of 26 years.

The pre-war peace strength of the Bulgarian army was about 3,900 officers and 56,000 other ranks. Its war strength was approximately 500,000 men.

Under the terms of the Treaty of Neuilly of November 27, 1919, the total military forces of Bulgaria must not in the future exceed 20,000 men. All measures of mobilisation are prohibited and, in order to prevent the formation of a reserve, service in the ranks is to be for a minimum period of 12 years. Officers serving at the time when the treaty was signed must undertake to serve at least till the age of 40 and newly appointed officers serve for at least 20 years.

A frontier guard of 3,000 men voluntarily enlisted is permitted, and in addition the number of armed gendarmes, police, customs officials and forest guards must not exceed 10,000.

The maximum authorised armaments and munition supplies are : —

Per 1000 Munitions

Rifles or carbines Machine guns Trench mortars, light

,, ,, heavy.

Guns or howitzers No military or naval aircraft are permitted.

The manufacture of arms, munitions and war material is only to be carried out at one factory under State control. The importation and export- ation of arms, and munitions is prohibited.

Bulgaria is required to surrender all warships and submarines, but is permitted to maintain on the Danube and along her coast 4 torpedo boats and 6 motor boats, all without torpedoes and torpedo apparatus, for police and fishing duties.

Production and Industry.

Agriculture is the chief occupation of the people. Land is held in abso- lute freehold by the owners and there is a land tax. The communes hold {>asture-land and wood-land in perpetuity and pay no rent, and over such ands the members of the communes have grazing and wood-cutting rights. About five-sevenths of the population are engaged in agriculture, most of them being small proprietors holding from one to six acres. The methods of cultivation are primitive, but machinery it being gradually introduced. The total area of Bulgaria is approximately 22,289,000 acres, 6,894,090

men.

per arm.

1,150

500 rounds

15

10,000

2

1,000

2

500

3

1,000