Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 162, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 July 1918 — TO REFIT ARMIES FOR INDUSTRY [ARTICLE]

TO REFIT ARMIES FOR INDUSTRY

British Cabinet Already Has Plan of Work for Soldiers After War. GERMANY ALSO PREPARING Colonization on Farms, Carefully Worked Out by an Expert, Liable to Be Upset by Revolt of 4 the Proletariat. London. —The British government is now at work considering how the great task of demobilizing the army and the resettlement of the soldiers into civil occupations at the conclusion of the war is to be accomplished. The plan drawn up by the minister of Ihbor is receiving careful attention, and it is understood considerable progress ha§ been made.

Germany also is giving this subject her attention and the series of articl.es by Herr Utsch in the Deutsche Landwirtschaftliche Presse considers the proposed settlement on the land of soK diers returning from the war. Herr Utsch begins by pointing out that it is a national duty to provide the disabled or Injured soldier not only with an adequate pension but with suitable employment which will enable him to support himself and his family in sufficient comfort. In providing such employment, he says, due regard must be paid to the wishes and the capacity of the Individual, and no better means for effecting this can be found than home colonization, for In no other domain are the possibilities so great, since vast tracts of waste land still exist in Germany waiting to be opened up and the returning soldier cherishes no dearer wish than to have a home of his own. - / Sees Added Wealth. At the same time, says Herr Utsch, the interests of the country will be served, since every fresh small colony increases the national wealth and makes It more independent qf foreign countries In the production ot food. He sees a further advantage in ati-’acting labor to rural districts. The writer divides the nature of the employment of the settlers as follows: Settlements for men employed in industries or factories. Holdings for agricultural laborers. - Holdings for independent artisans. .Small holdings with land attached up to 60 acres or more. Considering the first class named they necessarily will be only possible In the vicinity of towns or large industrial concerns. The question of the settlement of those coming under class two will be vt-

tai for agriculture after the war. These holdings, he says, should be large enough to enable the settler to grow sufficient cereals and potatoes for hlm.self and family and to keep one or two cows. As for the independent artisans in class three, it would be for the interests of every community to do its utmost to attract labor to the land in its immediate vicinity. Under class four, which would be providing for peasant holdings, the district authorities and the provincial settlement companies would have it to deal with. These settlers would be those who could command adequate agricultural knowledge, those who before the war were tenant farmers, farm agents, or belonged to the more efficient class of farm laborers. Herr Utsch believes that during the first period after the war it will be necessary to proceed mainly with the establishment of individual settlements near existing villages, for the settlers will find it easier to malW a diving and with the assistance of the communes, buildings will be cheaper. It will not be necessary to undertake road making and drainage operations on a large scale. This character of settlement, he believes, would Induce soldiers to settle near their old homes, where, as they are known, assistance will be more readily given to them. Funds From War Profits. As to the capital that will be necessary to establish such communal settlements, the writer suggests that about 10 per cent of all war profits which after the payment of taxes exceed 20,000 marks ought to be lent on mortgages on the settlements at the rate of 3 to 3% per cent. Another article dealing with condl tlons in Germany after the war, but on entirely different lines from the pen of C. D. Stelling, considers the extent in which revolutionary ideas permeate the German army and what may be the outcome. The writer says: “The fuel of revolt is being heaped up to await the torch that will set it aflame. Competent observers foretell that revolution will inevitably follow the conclusion of the war. The drugged and brutalized proletariat is waking from its trance. With organization and leadership the torpid German people will at last turn against the false gods it has been worshipping and dash them to the ground.”