cannot be regardless of individuality like military
conscription. He suggests a subdivision of the State into
territorial productive districts which should coincide with the
territorial districts of the militia system which shall replace
the regular army. Registration of labor necessary.
Necessary also to coordinate military and industrial
registration. At demobilization the cadres of regiments,
divisions, etc., should form the fundamental cadres of the
militia. Instruction to this end should be included in the
courses for workers and peasants who are training to
become officers in every district. Transition to the militia
system must be carefully and gradually accomplished so as
not for a moment to leave the Republic defenseless. While
not losing sight of these ultimate aims, it is necessary to
decide on immediate needs and to ascertain exactly what
amount of labor is necessary for their limited
realization. He suggests the registration of skilled labor in the
army. He suggests that a Commission under general
direction of the Council of Public Economy should work out
a preliminary plan and then hand it over to the War
Department, so that means should be worked out for using
the military apparatus for this new industrial purpose.


Trotsky's twenty-four theses or notes must have been written
in odd moments, now here now there, on the way from one
front to another. They do not form a connected whole.
Contradictions jostle each other, and it is quite clear that
Trotsky himself had no very definite plan in his head. But