Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-10-19
Why Denmark May Abolish Army and Navy

whose military expenditure is high
est. But it is the opinion OF the So
cial Democrats that our present mill
tary arrangement would not prevent
a violation of Denmarks neutrality
or keep us out of waTlike entansle-
ments.
Indeed. taught by experience from
the great war we have seen that Tor
our country, so weak from a military
point of view, a military arrangement
such as the present one eInoooles
only danger in critical situation,
without affording any security at all.
First Proposed i'm 1872.
On this consideration the Social
Democrats brought forward in 1917
disarmament proposal identical
with that prepared to submit to Rigs
dagen in this month, now that the
Social Democrats have taken over the
government.
Denmark is member of the League
of Nations, but the league does not
impose on it's members an obligation
to keep up a military defense. 1t let's
it's members decide the manner In
which they desire to preserve their
neutrality.
The only obligation imposed by the
league in this respect is contained in
section is, which is to the effect that
in case a member of the league might
violate it's obligations and proceed 10
war, contrary to the provisions OF
the pact, the other members or the
league bind themselves to break off
any commercial and financial con-
nection with such country.
Without violating our obligations We
might, therefore. entirely do away
with all kinds of military arrange
re IL W. afPCtIyeIv
guard our boundaries and coasts so
that no importation or expectation of
any kind should take place to or from
a boycotted country.
Would End Conception.
we propose the esta blishment of an
extraordinary boundary and coast
guard. which should be prepared to
assume it's functions when the situa-
tion might require il.
The disarmament proposal provides
that compulsory military service be
enjoined by statute: the conScriptiOn
service, the army and navy and the
ministry for gar would cease to ex-
iSt. All fortifleatious would be dis
armed and demolished. The material
buildings and areas Of land hitherto
used and occupied by the army and
navy would be used for other public
purposes or be sold. The factories
workshops, laboratories and the like
belonging to the army and navy
would be used for civil purposes
under the supervision of the state.
Private corps trained or organized
for military purposes must not be
established; those in existence must
disband in three months, their arms
being taken over by the state. Rife
n II &
practice but not military training
The manufacture and sale of firearms
and ammunition would be controlled
and regulated by the state.
Forced to Guard Coast.
The boundary and coast guard tc
replace the army would comprise
sta les somewhat like the presen,
frontier gendarmes. The frontier
gendarmes now form a civil corps
under the minister of finance, their
task being customs and police super
vision of the frontier between Den
mark and Germany. This task would
in all essentials be transferred to the
new corps. The corps would be filled
by voluntary enlistment and by call
ing up 500 men annually for training
There would be an available force of
1000 men. provided that the time in
which they bind themselves to be at
disposal IL fixed at twelve years.
Every person accepted for service
in this corps will be called up for
a period of four and a half months
for police training. during which
time they will receive, besides board
and lodging, about 200 kroner a
month. After the four and a half
months training the guard will be
disbanded, but will receive, during
the twelve years in which they are at
disposal, an annual salary of 900
kroner.
The aggregate annual expenses for
such corps will be at about five and
a half million kroner.
In place of the navy a coast guard
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