Evening star., 1948-04-11

up their defenses or at least slowing
for their armed forces.
Nearly every able-bodied youth
being taught to handle the weapons
of war.
With the exception of occupied
Germany and Austria they are
every where subject to call for
soldering at ages ranging from
l8 to %.
How 1t Works by Nations
To most Nations of Europe, uni
versal military training is an old
established institution. The inter
national tension of recent months
merely has given it new Importance.
In France, for instance. the Min
istry of Armed Forces decioed re-
Gently without explanation to hold
up discharge of navy men who had
completed normal terms of service
Denmark postponed demobilizing
2,400 army regulars; Norway began
reorganizing its home guard; Poland
launched a five-year plan for giving
infantry training to 4,500,00 boy
volunteers in the 16-to-2l-age
bracket.
Russia has announced demobiliz-
ing of older men and said its army
soon will consist Gin the main" of
21-and-22-year-olds. No figures were
given on how this will affect the
overall size of the forces. Informa-
ton was equally sparse from most
Nations in the Soviet orbit.
Britain is going ahead with plans
to reduce its army, navy and air
force from a present 0,000 to 716,-
600 one year from now. Boys will
continue to register for the draft
just before their 18th birthday.
They are exempt if they enter the
essential coal mining industry be-
fore the draft reaches them.
Nation by nation, compulsory
military training in Europe works
like this:
FRANCE-Men are conscripted
for one year at the age of 20. Ap-
proximately 100000 of Frances
armed force of 100000 is conscript.
There is talk in government circles
of increasing compulsory service to
IS months.
British Plan One-Year Limit
GREAT BRITAIN - Boys are
channeled into service by the Min
istry Of Labor. Under present regu-
lations they serve 18 months to two
years, then become part of the
organized reserve. Beginning next
year the term of service will be cut
to one year.
sSPAIN-At the age of 81, Span
iards are required to serve two years
in the army. which now has about
300, 1000 conscripts. Military train
ing is also given by the Falange,
the totalitarian state party. 1t is
training undisclosed numbers of re-
serve officers and has a youth
branch organized along military
lines like the Hitler Youth.
POLAND-Youths are subject to
a year of pre-military training at
20 and to conscription for two years
when they are 81. The regular
army is being held to 10000 and
some men whose two years will not
be up until May Is are being dis
charged now. A new organization,
Service to Poland" is recruiting
boys of is to 81 to prepare them
to defend their country if needed y
In addition to infantry training they
will work on reconstruction pro-
grams. The six months they serve
will be deducted from their regular
army period.
ROMANIA-Men are drafted al
81 for not more than 18 months
The peace treaty limits the army
and police forces to 10000. The
nation has been calling up half OF
each years eligibles at time and
keeping them for six to nine months
There are youth groups training tc
march and sing, and sometimes
carry shovels. on their shoulders
who are employed in voluntary labor
brigades on railroads, pipelines and
irrigation projects.
Czechs Call Oldsters, Too
CZECHOSLOvAKIA-Groups are
called for two years of military serv-
ice as they reach ages 10, 20 and
81. Because CONSUMPTION was aban-
doned during six years of German
occupation, older men who missed
service are being called up for short
periods. After leaving the army
Czechs 60 into the reserve and may
be called for maneuvers. There
have been no maneuvers since the
war, but some reservists recently
received orders on what to do in
case Of an emergency. The gov
ernment called the step routine.
There has been talk In Prague OF
conscripting women, but Parlia-
ment has taken no action. A youth
organization called "Svaz Brannosti'
gives premilitary training to boys
and girls beginning at age IA.
YUGOSLAVIA - Universal ma
tional conscription takes every man
at 81 II he is fit and has no special
exemption such as wartime partisan
service. The minimum service is
one year for graduates of secondary
schools; others serve two years, II
assigned to the ground forces; three
years in the tank or air corps, and
four years in the navy.
The conscription law permits the
Minister of National Defense, Mar
shall Tito, to call up 20-year-olds,
but there has been no indication