- Author:
- Wright, Arnold
- Publication Info:
-
London:
Lloyd's Greater Britain Pub. Co.,
1908,
pg 105
Text on page 105
64 TWENTIETH CENTIJRV IMPRESSIONS OF SIAM
105
army generally, the recruiting was not spread uniformly over all classes of the people ; moreover, men coming from most distant parts often found it impossible to reach headquarters in time. A solution of the difficulty was found recently in the adoption of a system of recruiting similar to that of a militia or cantonal one, with the underlying principle that all able-
bodied citizens are expected to serve a term with the colours. For purposes of military organisation the country has been divided into " Monthons," or military districts, and here the men are recruited and drilled, so that the least possible inconvenience is caused ; the men are able to perform their military duties near to their own homes, and when their presence
under arms is no longer required are able to return at once to their previous occupations. This system was first put into practice in Korat, and the result was so satisfactory that it was extended to all parts of the kingdom, with the exception of Monthons Phayap and Isarn, where the system in force is purely a voluntary one.
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THE NAVY.
THE Siamese Navy, though small, is efficient, and while its actual fighting strength may be insignificant if the power of European nations is taken as a basis of comparison, there has been a thorough re-organisation during recent years and reforms effected in every department have made the service a vastly different thing to what it was a decade ago.
The first step towards building up the modern navy of Siam may be said to have taken place when the first royal yacht was built for his present Majesty's father, but the proper organisation and equipment of the fleet date only
THE ROYAL YACHT.
MAJOR-GENERAL H.R.H. PRINCE NAKONSAWAN.
(Vice-Admiral of the Navy.)
from the time when Captain, afterwards Sir, John Bush, K.C.B., entered the service of the Siamese Government. He was placed in command of all vessels. A number of European officers, most of whom were of British nationality, were employed to act as instructors, and from this time onward progress, although at times slow, has been continuous. When Admiral Bush retired, his place was taken by Lieutenant Richelieu, a Dane, and gradually British officers were superseded by fellow-countrymen of the new commander, and up to the present day European officers in the Siamese Navy are mostly drawn from Denmark. At the time when Lieutenant Richelieu came into prominence as an officer of high
THE NAVAL DOCKYARD.THE NAVAL DOCKYARD.
