Evening star., 1936-01-06
COnscriptiOn of Youth.

Just about the time President R0OSe-
velt was asSailing the evils of autocracy,
in his annual message to Congress, far
reaching steps were announced in Ger
many for assuring the permanence OF
the regime typif1ed by Hitlerism. 1t is
sought to accomplish that end by con-
Scription of the nations youth. All boys
and girls between ten and eighteen are
to be drafted into an organization esti-
mated at once to affect twelve million
persons The purpose is to drill them in
sport, discipline and pre-military exer-
ciseS, but, above all, in the National So
cialist "weltanschauung" world out
look. 1t is a gigantic plot to keep the
Reich safe for autocracy.
Periodically since Hitlers rise to might,
word has reached countries beyond Ger
many's borders that the Nazi structure
could not and would not last. Factors
were said to be at work destined sooner
or later to bring the authoritarian regime
crumbling and tumbling to ruin. Events
the contrary, they have conspired to
strengthen Hitler's influence both at
home and abroad, until today, in the
opinion of many observers, Germany is
headed toward her pre-war position as
the most formidable power in Europe.
She is by way of making herself i'm
hu in
the air. With the fluctuations in inter-
national relationships incidental to the
Leagues conflict with Italy over Ethi-
opia, even the Reich's diplomatic for
tunes seem likely to emerge as improved
and menacing as her military and naval
prospects.
1t is manifestly with view to guard
ing against any weakening of a strong
Nazi state, even in the remote future,
that Hitler has determined to catch the
Reich's coming citizens young and, in
their impressionable years, train them
intensively in the cult that now holds
Germany in abject sway. The plan is to
take complete charge of youths educa-
ton outside the school rooms. Children
from ten to fourteen years of age, except
those pronounced Jewish, are to be put
into the German Young Folk League"
That task is to be accomplished during
1896, officially designated German young
folk year." After fourteen. boys and girls
will be segregated according to merit
Those who have demonstrated the most
fervent devotion to Nazi ideals will be
admitted to the Hitler Youth" and the
League of German Girls" After the
eighteenth year these superior types
will become eligible for admission to
membership in the National Socialist
party and automatically to all careers
of of1icial preferment.
Probation throughout the preliminary
years will include compulsory labor serv-
ice and military training. Thus the Nazi
state, by one and the same rigorous oper-
alton, will assure itself of a regular
supply of both political and military re-
cruits. Incidentally, Hitlerism. by con-
scripting youth, hopes to solidify its
iron control Of German religious life.
The Nazis' quarrel with the Catholic
Church ranges largely around the at
tempt to curb Rome's traditional super
vision of the spiritual upbringing of its
youthful adherentS.
Hitler's latest regimentation plans,
which have no parallel in the history
of autocracies, may mean that he is not
entirely confident that he has the rock
ribbed support of the present German
generation and feels it necessary to resort
to longe-range schemes to preserve the
system he has forced upon the nation.