FRANCE’S WAR SECRET

Evening Star, Issue 19529, 9 April 1927, Page 9

FRANCE’S WAR SECRET

VICTORY IMPERILLED BY MUTINY THE FULL FACTS Hie disclosures of Mr Church it! COB* corning the grave mutinies in the French Army in 1917 have caused a sensation both in this country and > n France (says the ‘ Sunday Chronicle’). Now that the fact of this alarming crisis on the Western Front, carefully hushed up for so many years, has been revealed, the need for further secrecy is removed and the true story of whet very nearly became a mighty disaster, which would have altered the whole course of the war, may be told. The ‘ Sunday Chronicle ’ has obtained n graphic exclusive account of this sensational demoralisation which B®t in among sixteen separate Army Corps from a former French staff officer who served with one of tho divisions involved, and is now living in England. TWENTY-THREE EXECUTIONS. For several weeks a wide portion of tho French front was in the deadliest peril. Once .a dry rot of mutiny had set in it spread through tho ranks like an epidemic, and headquarters and unit staffs were at their wits’ end to know how to check it. Entire regiments revolted. Divisions elected councils, and there were throats to march to Paris to demand a Peace by negotiation. Only a firm hand, backed up by an order for twenty-three executions, averted what might have been tho crowning tragedy of the war. It began with the bloody business of the Russian troops incorporated with the French Army, This force of about 15,000 infantry had before tho Revolution been sent to be armed and equipped in Franco. RUSSIANS REVOLT.

After taking a vote whether they should take part in the battle of April 16, these troops went into the line and were thrown into the thick of the fight ing with a ruthless disregard of casualties, A few days later they emerged broken and battered, having lost nearly 6,000 killed and wounded. The survivors went into open revolt and refused to recognise any officers. To reduce the mutineers to submission the Russian General had eventually to use artillery. A number of shots were fired, and a number of men were wounded before the rebellion was quelled. I had been with the Divisional Staff nearly a year—writes the staff officer—and so had some opportunity of observing the factors winch contributed to the alarming French breakdown which followed. There was nothing sudden about it. Actually the storm had been brewing for months—discontent here, dissatisfaction there—but the signs went unrecognised until it was almost too late. GATHERING STORM. Long before the weakening discipline leapt into open mutiny there were indications that something was eriously wrong. It showed itself in the conductsheets of certain regiments—in the increase of crimes of insubordination—in complaints about food and leave, and a score of other ways. There was no doubt that widespread demoralisation existed. This is not to say that the Army was becoming a' nibble and that _ the will to fight was lacking. Discipline was still kept with an iron hand. But the offensive spirit among certain divisions was undoubtedly weakening at this period. One of the causes was war weariness following upon heavy losses and months of intense fighting. Another was ihe growing mistrust of the High Command, _ and a third was the difficulty of obtaining leave. REFUSED TO PARADE. Some time before events reached theif, climax one infantry battalion, I remember; which had just moved down from the front line to a rest camp, refused to turn out on parade. Theif grouse was that their breakfast bad been insufficient and that their hoots and clothing were still wet from theif tour of the trenches.

Their commanding officer and company officers expostulated with them, but to no purpose. Threat and cajolery alike had no affect. I remember dificussing the affair with a brother staff officer who was finally sent down to breathe fire and brimstone upon the malcontents. “There is no doubt,” he said, “ the men are getting fed up. They’re not really mutinous; they’re simply so dog-tired and stale that they're beginning to loathe tho army machine and the whocl paraphernalia of war.

VEIL OF SECRECY. “Unless they get a rest,” he added, “ we’re going to have trouble.” His prediction was fated to dramatic fulfilment. Within a few weeks several divisions were in a state of what can only be described as open revolt. What finally fanned tho growing insubordination into sudden flame it is impossible to say. Perhaps tho most potent factor was tho imminence of the summer offensives and tho lack of confidence in ihe High Command. The moment ihe revolt broke out down came ihe official veil of secrecy to prevent the nows leaking through to the hack areas and to the enemy. If the Germans had known the true state, of affairs behind the French lines at this period the situation would have been critical indeed. That they apparently never got an inkling was an piece of good fortune. Even Divisional Commanders did not know what _ was happening outside their own divisions. But tho rumors were alarming enough. There were graphic stories of men shooting their own officers who liad endeavored to stop the mutiny, of their own artillery shelling the rebels, of scores of the ringleaders being marched out to face the rifles of a firing party No one knew whether these reports wore true or not, but it was obvious that tho situation was serious. SOBBING COMMANDER, I had a good deal to do with the headquarters staffs of two of the mutinous divisions at this trying period. They went through an ordeal far worse than anything they suffered in the stress of the battle. Going into one mess late one evening, I found a grey-haired figure seated at a table with his head bowed on bis hands. It was the Divisional Commander and he had just received the news that two of his units were in revolt. He was sobbing like a child. Every day brought its fresh alarm*, its latest crop of rumors. In my own division wo worked night and day keeping in touch with the situation. In a way it was something like the General Strike in England last year, only thi» was a matter of life and death. ■ DEMAND FOR, LEAVE.

3\eariy all our units were affected, one or two being in open revolt, othefll remaining more or less passive but refusing to intimidate their comrades. When the trouble began the men were promptly ordered back to the ranks. Their replj; in the majority of instances was a point-blank refusal'. Some sort of council was formed bv the ringleaders and this had the task of formulating the men’s grievances. One of their demands was for more leave. But the spirit of the Army as a whole vns equal to this perilous trial. Loyal troops filled t!»3 gaps, the disorders were suppressed and the revolt was quelled. In five weeks discipline was completely restored. And the Germans had not learned a word about the trouble.