CONSCRIPTION IN AUSTRIA

Southland Times, Issue 22856, 3 April 1936, Page 7

CONSCRIPTION IN AUSTRIA

Penalty For Evasion PRELIMINARY LABOUR SERVICE (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) Vienna, April 1. With the announcement by the Chancellor of Austria (Dr Kurt Schuschnigg) of the introduction of compulsory military service it is pointed out that offences against conscription are punishable by imprisonment for a year or a fine of £4OO. Dr Schuschnigg declared that all classes of the nation had for years passionately demanded the reintroduction of conscription. After the adoption of the Bill the members of the Diet sang the Austrian national anthem.

With the idea of keeping within the treaty of St. Germain, which limits the Austrian Army to 30,000 and prohibits the conscription of new man-power, the plan passed by the Federal Diet is described as compulsory Federal service. The Bill does not enact immediate service, but all men between the ages of 18 and 42 will be liable, according to their physical and mental fitness, for service “for certain periods with or without arms for public purposes.” The Austrian Budget is unable at present to withstand any increase in the Army strength and therefore the Government intends to follow the example of Herr Hitler and employ most of the recruits for the preliminary year on labour service, and to incorporate them in the Army thereafter as weapons become available.

Dr Schuschnigg, in expounding the measure, stressed that Austria’s intentions were peaceful. The new service might be used for various social tasks and perhaps also for defence. Political circles in Berlin regard the new Austrian law as a natural and logical development and as further evidence that the peace treaties are becoming a dead letter.