carried out the conscription of skilled civilians. 178 In the period between 1871 and 1914 almost all continental powers, as well as the Japanese, adopted a form of conscription. 179 Most notably, Britain however did not adopt the policy of due to the nature and role of the British army as a force that largely garrisoned imperial holdings. 180 The Franco-Prussian War also seemed to highlight the necessity of a general staff as it was argued that it was one of the most important factors in German victory due to their extensive planning in preparation for war with France. During the 1860s in the years preluding the war, Helmuth von Moltke had sent members of the Prussian General staff to France in order to study France’s eastern forts, map Alsace and Lorraine, as well as the calculation of the food stocks of French cities. 181 The failures of the French General staff also come from lack of mapping undertaken, so much so that efforts to produce better maps were stopped as it was decided that it would be cheaper for officers to purchase road maps from book shops instead. Many nations saw the great advantage of having a Prussian style general staff and adopted similar systems. Japan, under the guidance of the Germans followed suit with the chief of staff being responsible to the Emperor rather than that of the Imperial Diet. 182 The French too adopted a German style general staff in 1874 in response to the perceived advantages that it lent the Prussians. 183
178 Brian Bond. P.23 179 Ibid. P.32 180 Ibid. P. 38 181 Geoffrey Wawro. P.47-48 182 Eugene O. Porter "The Evolution Of The General Staff". The Historian 8.1 (1945): 26-45 P.34 183 Ibid. P.35
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