FRANCE'S ARMY.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 242, 9 October 1920, Page 17

FRANCE'S ARMY.

MANOEUVRES TO INCLUDE AEROPLANES. TANKS AND POISON GAS. I The wars of the future will not be . : less terrible than that one which was loosened by the Germans in 1914, if the ■ plans of the French manoeuvres which are to be held late this summer, are to be taken as an indication. Incidentally, these manoeuvres will add an interesting reflection on President Wilson's peace treaty, which was supposed to turn the' minds of mankind from military ' thoughts and to make for an eternal and wonderful peace. It must not be thoagbt that France is more military than any other nation ' of Europe, but the fact that she has continued to call classes to the colours 1 makes it necessary that they should get some idea of what war is like. Therefore, France's military chiefs have outlined a tentative scheme which , will teach the horrors of war without the students experiencing the dangers of actual conflict. The manoeuvres are to furnisn a per- • feet image of a real battle, with air- > planes, tanks, machine guns, trenches, 1 artillery, -bomb-throwers, hand grenades 1 smoke clouds and even poison gas pro--1 tection included in the list of subjects ' wiherein students must be proficient. The announcement that the manoeuvres will not be confined to marches, sleeping in fields and the carrying out of intricate drills, as in the past, is causing consternation among peace ; apostles, who are already suggesting that the teaching of French' youths how to kill by the most ghastly methods will .' havo only one logical effect—to induce •other nations to do likewise, with the result that France will some day find herself faced by some nation as highly 1 trained as were the Germans in 1914. ! Tactical problems have not been overlooked by France's military chiefs. In fact, France has wonderful facilities for these manoeuvres, and actual battles will be fought at Verdun and at Rheims, in Artois, on the Aisne and on the Marne where troops will use tho same trenches and the same dugouts that sheltered the allied heroes during the five years of the world war. Certain areas have been reserved for training purposes and the trenches there will be maintained in their present condition at the expense of the Government, an expenditure which undoubtedly will be recovered from tourists desirous say in the next decade, of seeing just what war trenches look like . and w«ho are willing to hand out francs j for the privilege of seeing them. Militaristic nations also should not overlook the fact that while the French army hereafter will be based on two ; years' service, youths, wnen demobilised, , will be transferred to the reserves from which they will not be released for thirty years. This will give France a total of between G. 000,000 and 7,000,000 fully trained men, wko will be available for duty at any time.