Military service in Chile is compulsory. It is not a crushing burden, however, for the regular army does not exceed fifteen thousand men. This proves that military service is not enforced very strongly, as that number would include only a small proportion of those subject to duty each year. One year is supposed to be spent with the colours, after which the conscript passes to the first reserve for nine years, and is then included in the second reserve until he attains the age of forty-five years. Any child born in Chile is subject to this service, so that foreigners sometimes grumble. The instructors in the army are often German officers, and the tactics are strictly Teutonic as well as the costumes. In every way the German influence is noticeable. The personnel of the army is good. The men are hardy, active and vigorous. Their courage has been proved on the field of battle many times. The country is divided into five military zones with headquarters at Santiago. [Illustration: THE BATTLESHIP “O’HIGGINS.”] Chile has always possessed a good navy. The naval fleet at the present time is composed of forty vessels, among which are nine ironclads and protected cruisers, five gunboats and torpedo cruisers, thirteen torpedo boats, four destroyers, etc. The finest ship is the _Esmeralda_, which is a boat of seven thousand and thirty tons and capable of a speed of twenty-one knots. She carries two 8-inch and sixteen 6-inch guns. Then come the _O’Higgins_, _Ministro Zentano_, _Chacabuco_, and _President Errázuriz_—all of them protected cruisers. The _Capitan Prat_ is a battleship of six thousand nine hundred and sixty-six tons and twelve thousand horse-power and a nominal speed of eighteen and three-tenths knots. This boat was built in 1890. The cruisers were mostly constructed from 1896 to 1898 in British and Italian shipyards. Chile has recently placed an order for a Dreadnaught of the latest design, which will still further add to the efficiency of the Chilean navy. In this respect she is following the lead of Brazil and Argentina.