Show CONSCRIPTIONS CONSCRIPTION'S PERIL THE dangerous violence now under way In China puts a new emphasis on the old question of ot the limitation of ot armaments Japan throwing a trained highly-trained and exceedingly exceedingly exceedingly ex ex- ex- ex capable conscript army into the fray proves once more that treaties to avert war are not of much use as long as no limits are put on the size of ot the armies which the signatory nations can maintain Furthermore the chief villain In the piece seems to be conscription conscription compulsory compulsory military mill mili tary service for all young men The device that the French invented after the fall of the Bastile when the levy en masse appeared the only possible way of preserving the revolution revolution revolution revo revo- lution from the armies of Jealous European monarchs has got entirely out of hand For militarists everywhere it provides an implement ment which no treaty can fully curb Japans Japan's time peace-time army strength Is rated at approximately men But to get an army many luany times that large ready for Instant Instant in instant In- In stant service Japan needs only call up her reserves The job can almost be done over over- night A young Frenchman serves with the colors for 18 months and months and remains in the reserve for 28 years A young Japanese serves for two years and remains in reserve for 23 years A young Italian serves for 18 months and stays in reserve for 19 years As long as such systems are retained armies cannot be materially materially materially mate mate- reduced There is the situation that is made to or order order or- or der tier for the militarist No saber-rattling saber government government gov gov- t will be ready to listen to reason as long as it possesses a large trained army reserve reserve re re- serve ready for instant service If such threats to world peace as the present turmoil in China are to be averted there must be world-wide world recognition of the fact that conscription is too dangerous an implement to be tolerated any longer |