von ROON to The exchange of ratifications took place at Berlin, November 21, 1870

Appendix No. 13.

Military convention between the North German Union and Würtemberg, dated Versailles, Berlin, November 21st, 25th, 1870.

His Majesty the King of Prussia, in the name of the North German Union, and His Majesty the King of Würtemberg, with a view to adapting to the peculiar conditions of the Kingdom of Würtemberg the provisions of the constitution of the German Union, by them adopted, concerning the military affairs of the Union, have caused negotiations to be commenced, and have appointed plenipotentiaries as follows:

His Majesty the King of Prussia; his minister of state, war, and marine, General Albrecht von Roon; and His Majesty the King of Würtemberg; his minister of war, Lieu ten ant-General Albert von Suckow:—by which plenipotentiaries, their respective full powers having been found to be in good and due form, the following military convention has been adopted:

Article 1.

The troops of Würtemberg, as a part of the army of the German Union, shall form an independent army corps, according to the annexed schedule, together with the proper number of relief and garrison troops, according to Prussian rules, in case of mobilization or preparation for war.

Article 2.

The new organization of the troops of Würtemberg herein provided for shall be finished on a footing of peace in three years after the order for the return from the present state of war.

Article 3.

From the time of this return, beginning on a day to be hereafter appointed, the troops of Würtemberg shall form the fourteenth army corps of the German Union, with their own flags and standards, and the divisions, brigades, regiments, and independent battalions of the army corps shall receive their proper current number in the army of the German Union in addition to their Würtemberg number.

Article 4.

The placing of the royal troops of Würtemberg under the command of His Majesty the King of Prussia, as commander-in-chief of the armies of the Union, shall also begin on a day to be fixed hereafter, and the military oath of allegiance shall, when it refers to this, read as follows: “That I will faithfully serve His Majesty the King during my time of service, will obey the commander-in-chief of the armies of the Union and the military laws, and will always demean myself as a brave and honorable soldier: So help me God.”

Article 5.

The appointment, promotion, transfer, &c., of the officers and employés of the royal array corps of Würtemberg shall be done by his Majesty the King of Würtemberg, that of the chief officer of the army corps with the sanction of his Majesty the King of Prussia as commander-in-chief of the armies of the Union. His Majesty the King of Würtemberg shall enjoy, as commander of his troops, the honors and rights which belong to him, and shall exercise the corresponding judicial functions, together with the right of ratification and pardon in the case of officers and soldiers against whom sentence has been pronounced, and this right shall take precedence of the privileges of the commander of the army corps and of those of the royal ministry of war of Würtemberg.

Article 6.

Without prejudice to the rights to dispose of all troops of the Union, and their distribution, which belong to the commander-in-chief of the armies of the Union according to the constitution, tire army corps of Würtemberg shall be maintained in its organization in time of peace and shall be distributed in its own country; an order of the commander-in-chief of the armies of the Union and the distribution of other German bodies of troops in the kingdom of Würtemberg shall take place, in time of peace, only with the sanction of his Majesty the King of Würtemberg, provided the object is not to garrison South German or West German forts.

Article 7.

With regard to the appointment of commandants for forts situated in the kingdom of Würtemberg, which, according to article 64 of the constitution, is to be made by the commander-in-chief of the armies of the Union, and also with regard to the privilege which likewise belongs to him, of establishing new forts in the kingdom, the commander-in-chief of the armies of the Union will first come to an understanding with the King of Würtemberg; likewise when the said commander-in-chief desires to select for appointment an officer from the army corps of Würtemberg.

As a basis for these appointments, reports of the conduct ad qualifications of the officers of the army corps of Würtemberg, from the staff officer upward, shall be annually prepared, according to the Prussian system, and laid before His Majesty the commander-in-chief of the armies of the Union.

Article 8.

For the promotion of uniformity in the training and service of the troops, certain officers of Würtemberg shall, by mutual agreement, be transferred for from one to two years to the Prussian army, and Prussian officers shall, in like manner, be transferred to the army corps of Würtemberg,

With regard to the transfer of individual officers from the service of Würtemberg to that of Prussia, or vice versa, a special arrangement shall in each case be made.

Article 9.

The commander-in-chief of the armies of the Union, who, according to article 63, has at all times the right to convince himself, by inspection, of the condition of the several contingents, will inspect the troops of Würtemberg at least once a year in person, or cause them to be inspected, in garrison or on maneuvers, by persons of whose appointment as inspectors His Majesty the King of Würtemberg shall be previously notified.

Information of any abuses that may be observed at such inspections shall be communicated by the commander-in-chief of the armies of the Union to the King of Würtemberg, who will take measures to remedy them and report the measures adopted to the commander-in-chief aforesaid.

Article 10.

For the organization of the army corps of Würtemberg, so long as there is no law of the Union to the contrary, the now-existing Prussian regulations shall be observed.

In accordance herewith, in the kingdom of Würtemberg, besides the North German law of November 9, 1867, concerning the obligation to perform military service, together with the supplementary military instruction of March 26, 1868, belonging thereto, all Prussian regulations concerning drill and other matters, instructions and rescripts shall be enforced, especially the ordinance concerning courts of honor, which bears date of July 20, 1843, the provisions, both for war and peace, concerning drafting, time of service, care of the sick and wounded, mobilization, &c., concerning the filling of vacant officers’ positions, and concerning the system of military education and training.

The following are excepted, in the arrangements of the array corps of Würtemberg, from community with those of the Prussian army: The military liturgy, the military penal code, and military judicial proceedings in penal cases, as well as the provisions concerning the quartering of troops and payment for damage done to landed property, with regard to which the laws and regulations now in force shall remain so until the enactment of others by the legislative body of the Union.

The marks distinguishing rank and the denominations and mode of administration are the same in the army corps of Würtemberg as in the Prussian army. Directions for the clothing of the army corps of Würtemberg shall be given by his Majesty the King of Würtemberg, and the condition of the army of the Union shall be considered, so far as possible, when this is done.

Article 11.

In case of a war, the control of the telegraphs, so far as they are adapted to military purposes, shall, throughout its entire duration, be under the control of the commander-in-chief of the armies of the Union.

The royal government of Würtemberg will make proper arrangements in time of peace in conformity with those of the North German Union; and especially during the construction of telegraphic lines, will take care to organize a field-telegraphic service corresponding to the military strength of its army corps.

Article 12.

From the sum to be placed by Würtemberg, according to article 62, at the disposal of the Union (Bundesverfassung), the Government of Würtemberg shall pay, according to the budget of the Union, the expense of the maintenance of the royal army corps of Würtemberg, including new purchases, buildings, establishments, &c., to be managed by itself, and likewise Würteinberg’s part of the expenses for the requirements of the army of the Union, such as central management, fortifications, support of the military educational establishments, including military schools and establishments for the education and training of surgeons, commissions for examination, scientific and technical institutions for the benefit, of the army, the battalion of instruction, the school of rifle and artillery practice, the military riding-school, the central gymnastic establishment, and the grand staff. Such amounts as, with a full performance of the required duties toward the Union, it may be possible to save shall be at the disposal of Würtemberg.

The army corps of Würtemberg shall participate in the general arrangements, and shall be proportionably represented on the general staff.

Article 13.

The payment of the quota which is to be contributed by Würtemberg, according to article 62 of the constitution of the Union, shall begin on the first day of the month following the order for the return of the troops of Würtemberg from a war footing. The army corps of Würtemberg, however, shall not appear in the budget until January 1, 1872.

During the period of transition (three years) provided for in article 2, the consideration of the new organization to be made within this period shall be authoritative, both as regards the amounts to be brought into juxtaposition and the admissibility of the reciprocal transfer of specific expenditures and the transfer of items of expenditure under the same general head from one year to the other.

Article 14.

Re-enforcements of the troops of Würtemberg by recall of men on furlough, and also the arrangement of the same upon a war footing, and finally their mobilization, shall be dependent upon the orders of the commander-in-chief of the armies of the Union. Such orders must be strictly obeyed at all times. The expense occasioned hereby shall be borne by the treasury of the Union, but the treasury of Würtemberg shall advance the necessary money, so far as the funds which it may have on hand will permit.

Article 15.

For the definition of the relations, as regards service, of the army corps of Würtemberg to the army of the German Union, there shall be a direct correspondence between the Prussian ministry and that of Würtemberg, and the latter shall thus receive all the regulations, provisions, &c., in force at the time, or which may subsequently be issued, that it may duly execute them.

The royal government of Würtemberg shall also be constantly represented in tne committee of the Bundesrath for the army and the fortresses.

Article 16.

The present convention shall, after approval, be ratified by the legislative bodies, and the ratifications shall be exchanged simultaneously with the declarations concerning the ratification of the constitution of the German Union, which has this day been adopted.

In testimony whereof the plenipotentiaries have executed and sealed this convention in duplicate.