NOT IMPREGNABLE

Evening Star, Issue 21881, 19 November 1934, Page 7

NOT IMPREGNABLE

■ FORTIFICATIONS OF FRANCE In an interesting article in tho ‘ Revue des Deux Mondes,’ General Debeney, who is a member of the French High; Military Council, discusses tho nature and the purpose of the line of fortifications which France has built on her eastern frontier since 1929. - Assuming that Germany will attempt to invade Franc© once again, she will,as in 1914, be faced with the alternative of either breaking through) the French defences on the Franco-Gcpnan frontier or of entering France through Belgium or possibly Switzerland (says the ‘.Manchester Guardian ’). Her invasion of either Belgium or Switzerland,General Debeney argues, will inevitably, result, in the formation of another vast anti-German coalition, and the German will think twice before repeating the error of 1915. Besides neither Belgium nor Switzerland will be a “ walk over.”The French frontier of 1914 was nob only geographically less favourable for; defence purposes than the present frontier, 100 miles of which are protected by the Rhine and the Mountains, but the fortifications were also less adequate than to-day. Yet rather than grapple with whatever fortifications there were, Germany preferred even then to march through Belgium. General Debeney does not claim time the. present fortifications are “ impregliable. 1 J Wbab ho says is "that it will take Germany “ several weeks and possibly several months !5 to break through, them; for to achieve this she will have to bring before tho fortifications num-s erous tanks and very heavy artillery, all of which will take time : and in meantime the French will not remain inactive. “ WAR <)F EXHAUSTION.” By the time the armies enter into lin» the French will be in a more favourable , position than the Germans, for they will have an elaborate railway system behind them, while the Germans will have to transport all their material across the line bridges, Dyen if the Germans eventually break through tho fortifications, this process will bo only the first stage in a “war of exhaustion.” • „ , Aware of this, the Germans, and par. ticularly General Von Seecjct, have been seriously thinking of storming the tortifications by surprise. To this General Debeney replies that although tho alarm garrisons of the fortification* must exercise the utmost vigilance, it is doubtful whether the Germans would be able in time of peace to transport all the necessary heavy material without such movements becoming known. There is. of course, the air weapon, against - which fortifications provide little or no defence; but General Dpbeney seems to hold that a war cannot bo won with aeroplanes alone. He hold* nevertheless that France must now concentrate her attention on the modernisation of her Air Force, and urges that in view of the close interdependence, of the air, sea, and land forces in modem warfare the three French .Defence Mm» isters should be united into one. General Weygand, the vice-president of the High Military Council and virtually the head 'of the French army, will reach the age limit next January, when lie will be sixty-eight. But, although ho has announced liis intention to retire it is considered probable that, a Bill will be presented to Parliament; -enabling , him to stay at his post.