FRANCE'S ARMY

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 57, 8 March 1913, Page 5

FRANCE'S ARMY

» "... SERVICE BILL INTRODUCED NECESSITATED BY DECREASED BIRTH. RATE GOVERNMENT DENOUNCED AS SCOUNDRELS. By Telegraph. --Prceg Association.—Copyrlght, (Received March 8, 8.5 a.m.) PARIS, 7th March. The Military Service Bill has been introduced in the Chamber of Deputies. The preamble attributes its necessity to the decrease iti the birthrate. The only exception is in favour of soldiers belonging to families of five or six children, ! who are reduced to six months' service. | The Socialists immediately commenced obstructing, , «nd greeted the measure with shouts of "Down with reaction!" | "This is madnoas!" and denounced the Government ns i\ gang of scoundrels. A great majority of the Republicans approve tli2 Bill. A recent cable message stated : " The demand by a large Section of the prpss for three years' army service is growing. It ta stated Uiat Germany's plan Fu war time would be to throw 500,000 melt upon the French coverihg line, breaking it ftt three points. At present Fiance has only 178.000 coverihg troops, and on the fifth day of war she would find the enemy enter the French concentration, which would scarcely have begun.'' The French Government intends to immediately expend £3,000,000 on ammunition and aitillery. and £20,000.000 later on the building ot fortresses, heavy artillery, and aviation. This action is interpreted as a sequel to Germany's raising her army to 850.000 at peace strength. Already the 1915 standard has been reached, giving Germany 725,000 effectives, compared with 550,000 in the French army. It has been repotted" that the Government is unanimous that it is necessary to increase tho army, as the total population is insufficient to consider the raising of the tet'm of service to thirty months or three years for all arms, or three years for cavalry. Personal service Was introduced in 1872, and under the law of IDOS. which reduced thei colour service from three years, the men servo two years in tho active army, eleven years in its reserve, six years m the territorial army, and six years in its reserve. Reservists and territorial soldiers Me called out for practical training.