NEW MILITARISM
TIHROUGHOUT Europe a startling new phase of militarism is beginning, almost unnoticed by England, Avrites a special correspondent of the “ Daily Chronicle.” In France, Italy, Jugo-Slavia, and Hungary, a policy of “military modernism” has been officially adopted in order to organise the -vyhole wealth, • man-power and even womanpower, mental and moral force, and industrial resources of the nation, so that they may be instantly ready for Avar under new conditions. Some Aveeks ago, M. Painleve, the French. Minister of War, declared that the “national army” was out of date and of no use for future warfare; its place would be taken by “the army of the nation.” In the new circumstances, he added, even the children in the schools must be “trained body and soul for war.” Tremendous Avords from the lips of a pacifist! Noav, in the “Bill for the Organisation of the Nation in Time of War” (a Government measure), which recently passed the Chamber of Deputies, avc see the first big step toAvards the materialisation of the grim declaration of M. Painleve. This Bill, which went through the Chamber Avith amazing speed and ease, with practically no opposition oven from the Socialists, is undoubtedly one of the most formidable measures ever placed before Parliament in any country. Jt ensures, in the words of a Socialist, M. Paul-Boneour, that “all civil life will cease in the event of war”; it provides for the mobilisation of the entire population—men op to 10 years of age for the front line, and all. other people, men and women, for “the military needs of the. nation.” Under its clauses, everything can be commandeered, from factories to trade union funds, from cattle to consciences, from limited cormpanies to private goods and money. All contracts Avill be the affairs of the GoA'ernment and war profits will flow into its coffers. In short, everything and everybody, without any exception, will at once come, in case of Avar, under the sole and complete control of the Government of the day. Then there is Hungary, where, by the way; the martial laws of August, 1914, are still in force. This is another nation which is being systematically militarised. By the Trianon Treaty, Hungary is allowed a voluntary standino- army of 35.000 men, serAdcc being for 12 years. If there is a deficiency in enlistments “compulsory recruiting” may be resorted to. This ‘ ‘ privilege ' ' is taken advantage of by the Government to train intensively a large body of officers and N.C.O.'s. To do so the old
FRANCE SETS THE PACE
LATEST REORGANISATION
peace-time cadres have been preseiwed; still the skeleton of the pre-Avar system of universal service remains; on the pay-roll there are still officers Avho arc not actually serving Avith the “treaty army.” A force of specially picked men—called the Vitez (or hero) Force—also exists. The Vitez soldiers receive land, are distributed all over the country, retain their military arms, and in return for such privileges have to be ready instantly Avhen called upon. Then the Hungarian Government has made “Physical Drill Companies” compulsory all over the country. All able-bodied young men between the ages of 18 and 21 are compelled to join these thinly-disguised military formations. Every Sunday and bn two evenings a Aveck they are called up for military drill and exercises and for practice in the use of revolvers and rifles. These young men are called “levente,” and failure to attend on the stipulated days is punished with the utmost severity. The “levente” movement is strongly supported by the schools, the universities, and the Church, and its instructors and organisers are officers who still belong “unofficially” to their old regiments. France does not stand alone in adopting “the neAV militarism.” She is not, indeed, the first country to do so. In Italy, Fascism's “First Hundred Thousand” young men (from 16 to 20 years of age) ha\ r e enrolled for training under officers of the Fascist, or Black Shirt, Militia. After four years of this they will be handed on for service in the army. It is certain that Italy will not remain long behind France in adopting “the new militarism” in its entirety. Indeed, she is speedily strengthening and remodelling her na\ 7 al and air forces, as well as her army, to meet the neAv conditions of Avar, and she is feverishly at. work on big frontier fortifications. Jugo-Slavia has naturally been watching “the new militarism” in Italy with rapt attention and no little alarm, and the infectious policy has now “caught” that great Balkan kingdom. Military effort is being speeded up in all directions; the country is uoav turning out aeroplanes by the score monthly; a host of new arsenals are either hard at Avork or soon Avill be: those that Avere near the frontier have been moA r ed to a safe distance inland. Jugo-Slavia is being made militarily self-supporting. In addition, military roads and strategic railways are being rapidiy pushed forward, by means of army and forced labour, to facilitate the rapid movement of armies and the transport of Avar material in all directions.
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Bibliographic details
Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 21 May 1927, Page 11
Word Count
846NEW MILITARISM Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 21 May 1927, Page 11
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