Evening star., 1939-06-18
Great Britain's CONSUMPTION
ArOuses Economic Problem
Government Must Protect Civilian Interests of
Men, as Germany and Italy
Already Have Done
By Jack Culmer.


leges. The reservist naturally travels at
government expense to the barracks to
which he is assigned Once a year. If
his duty period is extended from the
normal three months to II months, he
gets free railroad pass to his home
town and back to the barracks
Most movie houses give a soldier in
uniform any seat in the house for so
| pfennigS GO cents. Prices for better
class movie seats range from 80 pfennigs
to 4 or marks.
Soldiers in uniform travel third clas
on railroads at pfennig per kilometer
(around two-ffths of cent, and quar-
ter the regular fare).
Franking Privilege Extended.
In barracks reservist pays postage
on his mail like any other German citi-
zen. When on war duty. however he
mails his letters free. as German troops
did when they marched into Czecho-
| Slovakia.
Calling of reservists in France slows
delivery Of some factory orders and tenn
porarily cripples few plants
Unless reservist is kept away from
his normal work for many months his
proficiency doesn't drop noticeably, ex-
perts say.
The governments small maintenance
grant to families of reservists called out
apparently isn't enough to keep them
very comfortably, judging from the
complaints frequently heard
Employers are not obliged to continue
paying reservist employees while they are
on national duty. Many employers,
however, pay such men voluntarily so
long as their period OF service lasts only
few weeks.
Jobs Open as In Germany.
Employers are required to hold jobs
open for men called up. Such jobs are
filled temporarily, usually by unem-
ployed workers.
The already low unemployment fig
ures in France are reduced when re-
servists are called out. since some of
the workess are called to the colors
or drafted to fill temporary vacancies.
In Poland. since most factories are
modified under the nations vast pre-
paredness scheme, calling reservists has
little effect on industry.
Skilled workmen are kept at their
posts Speed-up of work in national de-
fense industries and construction of
Notifications has greatly reduced Polish
unemployment which reached around
100000 at its peak.
A decree issued April H. 1889, ordered
farmers who remain on the land to work
for those called up. Since u per cent
of Poland's 100000 people live and
work on farms, this means that nearly
three-quarters of those called to the
colors have their interests protected.
Free Mail in Wartime.
Employers have to keep reservists' jobs
open for them, and the government
makes a small daily allowance to fam
lilies of those called. In wartime SOL
diers get free transportation and free
mailing facilities.
In Italy, Mussolini's decision to call up
more than 35O,OOO reservists is testing
Fascist organization for uninterrupted
economic -suf1iciency.
italian manpower for war officially is
estimated at 100000 in the standing
army and reserves The calling up of
35OOO0 reservists has not pinched the
nations industry, commerce or agricul-
ture, according to government spokes-
men.
Under the Italian system, exemptions
enable factories to keep most Of their
skilled workers. Most ordinary reserv-
lists, under Italys military consumption
service, are semi-skilled or unskilled
workmen Laborers for requirements
are plentiful.
City offices also are permitted to keep
men whose absence might dislocate their
business.
Families Tighten Belts.
Military service means belt-tlghtenlng
for many families. The government al
lots a few lire a day to families of re-
servists called to the colors. Families
able to support themselves receive moth
ing. Poor families get enough govern
ment aid to buy food and pay the rent.
Italians say calling of reservists de-
creases unemployment, the extent OF
which never is disclosed. When re-
servist class is called, first men to put
on uniform are those without jobs. Re-
servists who are taken from their jobs
are replaced by older unemployed men.
Employers are compelled by the gov
ernment to take back reservists released
for duty as soon as they are demobilized.
In Soviet Russia, where no reservists
have yet been called up, no dislocation
of economic or personal life has resulted
from the European crisis.
For many years, however, a prominent
feature of Soviet national life has been
employment of women on work which,
in the United States, they would be doing
only during a grave military emergency.
Women operate tractors, street-clean-
ing machines and trolley cars, repair
streets, dig bitches and tunnels, run loco
motives, operate railroad signal systems,
and also carry out the major portion
of medical and dental work for civilians.