§ 56. Mr. W. THORNEasked the Prime Minister at what age compulsory military service commences and terminates in the following countries: Germany, Austria, Turkey, France, Belgium, Russia, Italy, Japan, Serbia, Montenegro, and Great Britain?
§ Mr. TENNANTMy right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has asked me to answer this question. The particulars asked for by my hon. Friend are too voluminous to be suitable to be given in an oral reply, but I will send my hon. Friend a statement. When he receives it he will be good enough to discriminate between time of peace and time of war. I am informed that no claim for discharge holds good in wartime in the case of Germany, Austria, and France, even if the upper age limit specified for those countries has been reached. In war-time Austrian and German conscripts are called up for active service at any time after their seventeenth birthday.
§ Mr. THORNEWill the reply be printed in the OFFICIAL REPORT?
§ Mr. TENNANTYes, if my hon. Friend desires it. [See Written Answers, 16th May.]