The daily worker., 1929-07-26

| NASS ASoS oSSp
Concrete demands for the reduc-
ton of period of military service;
Introduction of the territorial sys-
tenn of military service;
Abolition of compulsory residence
in barracks; soldiers committees;
The right of labor organizations
to train their members in the use
of arms, with the right to the free
selection of instructors.
The fact that the reduction of the
period of military service in some
countries is being planned and car
ried out by the capitalist govern
ments themselves, has given rise to
doubts as to whether we should put
forward such demand. But the
reduction of the period of military
service, taken by itself, under GER
tain circumstances, means not the
strengthening but the weakening of
the military system. Consequently,
this demand can be put forward as
general partial demand in rela-
tion to conscript armies under the
following circumstances:
~ That distinct defeatist line
is maintained; (2) complete disso-
citation from analogous partial de-
mands advanced by the Social Demo-
Gratis; ~ that the illusion that this
is a step towards the abolition of
militarism is combatted. 1t goes
without saying that partial demands
must always be concrete, i.e., that
they must be put forward in such a
form and at such a time that the
masses will "Iderstand them and
support them, and that they will
help to revolutionize the masses. In
those cases where a reduction of the
period of military service is being
planned by the capitalist govern
ments, or is demanded by the Social
Democrats, fight must be put up
against the measures that are usu-
ally adopted simultaneously with this
for the purpose of strengthening
the bourgeois system (militarization
of the whole population, the organi-
zation of strong cadres of profess
sional soldiers, etc.. The pseudo
democratic programme of reducing
the period of military service must
be countered by defeatist program
of partial demands.
In the case of volunteer, mercen-
ary armies, the demand should not
be for the reduction of the period
of military service, but for the right
to leave the service whenever the
soldier desires.
2. Demands in Connection with the
Legal Rights and Economic Po-
sition of the Soldiers.
Increased pay for soldiers;
improved maintenance;
The establishment of stores COM
mittees composed of soldiers repre-
sentatives;
Abolition of disciplinary punish
ments;
& Abolition of compulsory saluting;
Severe penalties for officers and
non-commissioned officers inflicting
corporal punishment on private sol
diers;
The right to wear mufti when off
duty;
The right to be absent from bar
racks every day;
Furlough, and extra pay while on
furlough;
The right to marry;
Maintenance for soldiers, families;
The right to subscribe to newspa-
pers;
The right to organize in trade
unions;
The right to vote; the right to
attend political meetings.
The fact that in numerous imperi-
alist countries a considerable per-
centage of the armies are recruited
from among oppressed national mi
norities, whereas the officers either
entirely or for the greater part be-
long to the depressing nation, pro-
vides very favorable ground for rev.
olutionary work in the army. Con-
sequently, among the partial de-
mands we advance in the interests
of the masses of the soldiers should
be included demands corresponding
to the needs of these oppressed ma
tionalities (for example: military
service in their home district; the
use of the native language in drill
ing and instruction, etc.,.
AT. The demands of both the
aforementioned categories (only a
few of which have been enumerated)
must not only be put forward in the
army but also outside of tin Par
lament, at mass meetings, etc. Pro-
paganda in support of these demands
will be successful on'y if they bear
concrete character. In order that
they may do so it is necessary:
/. To have a close acquaintance
with the army, with the conditions
of service, with the needs and de-
mands of the sol1iers, ETC., which can