EUROPE’S PROBLEMS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3830, 6 November 1936, Page 3

EUROPE’S PROBLEMS

THE RACE FOR MAN POWER. “Europe is having a race in manpower. France, Germany, Russia, Rumania, and Greece are all taking a leading part in it,” says the “Evening News” of London. “Scarcely has the ink dried on a new decree by one nation before another makes known a decision which goes further. “On August 12 Russia decided to lower the military age from 21 to 19, In the next few years this greatly increases Russia’s armies. “On August 24 Germany introduced a two-year period of service and sc doubled her army strength. “Meanwhile Rumania has called up youths between 18 and 21 for compulsory labour service, and Greece means to have an army ‘equal to the best in Europe.’ “Russia’s service period is two years and two and a half years—the latter in special fighting forces, chiefly mechanised and motorised units “The doubling of Germany’s compulsory military service period from one to two years enables her, this year, to have all those, who, in the ordinary way, would have been discharged, together with the new conscript levy. “Poland, at the beginning of this year, increased the period of compulsory military service from 18 months to two years (actually 23 months). “Czechoslovakia has so far increased the period of service in her special fighting forces to two years, but the newly appointed Supreme Council of Defence is now considering making the general period of compulsory service two years. “Other nations are, of course, watching the French, German and Russian decrees and proposals closely. They may make new decisions accordingly. “Service periods in these other countries are: “Italy: Various periods, but the average is two years. “Rumania: Two years. “Yugoslavia: Two years and three months. “Switzerland: Eighteen months. “Belgium: Period increased to two years. “All the Baltic States have a service period of two years. Scandinavian countries are now reorganising their armies.” Recently it was announced by the French Cabinet that a huge new arms programme to cost £134,000,000 during the next four years is to be launched immediately. This is in addition to the £160,000,000 France already spends on armaments.