New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-10-18
AUSTRALIAN CONSUMPTION.

The militant and military spirit which was
observed in the Australian Commonwealth in
the great official and popular welcome to the
American feet and in the Immediately cOnsa-
quent demand for the construction Of an Aus
traian navy is strkingly displayed in the
pending proposals for army legislation. Some
time ago, as we then observed, plans were
formulated for the organization of a national
army which should potentially include all able
bodied men. 1t at first preferred by the
government and the public to seek creation of
that army through purely voluntary enlistment,
instead of resorting TO any form of that con-
scription which is practised in Continental
Europe, but which has been commonly re
garded as repugnant to British ideas and 10 the
genius of the British race. That was found,
however, TO be impracticable, and SO the new
law provides for strict system OF compulsory
and universal service.
Briefly stated the law will declare that all
male inhabitants of the Commonwealth who
have lived there continuously for six months,
unless specially exempted, shall be regarded and
treated as British and Australian citizens and
from the age of twelve years to that OF twenty
six years shall be liable to military service.
From twelve to eighteen they are TO be en-
rolled cadets and are to be trained IN mill
tary duties at least one hour week, and also
in camp for four whole days in each year.
From the age of eighteen TO twenty-One they
will belong to the national defence force, and
must serve with the colors for not less than
eighteen days in each year, and thereafter until
they reach the age of twenty-siX, still in the
national defence force, they must serve for at
least seven days in q year. At the end of
these terms of service, if they are still inetfi-
cient they will be required to serve for time
each year until satisfactory degree Of eff
ficlency is attained. All persons who evade
compliance with the law will be disfranchiSed,
excluded from the civil service and denied the
benefits of the old age pension system. while
any employer who prevents his employees from
serving or dismsses them from their places
or reduces their pay because Of their military
service will be liable 10 q fine Of $500 for each
offence.
This system will not. Of course, be cOmpar
able with the military service systems of Ger
many and France and other European nations
in the thoroughness OF Its training or in the
length of tine for which it will take conscrlpts
away from their homes and occupations
though in beginning the service In bOyhood 1t
goes far beyond them. 1t contemplates the
creation not so much OF a great standing army
In the strict military sense OF q universal
militia, and II has been described by one Of
its advocates as development not Of "militar-
ISM" but OF "miltiaism.' 1t recognizes the
principle that all citizens of the state should
be prepared to do military service as well as
civil service, and contempates their unlver-
sal training for 1t. 1t is highly significant as
the first important adoption OF the compulsory
or conscript system into the British Empire,
and thus as the setting OF precedent which may
be followed elsewhere with momentous re-
suits. A general system OF conscrlption
throughout the British Empire would ma
terially affect the military balance OF the
world