THE FRENCH ARMY.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume X, Issue 243, 30 October 1920, Page 5

THE FRENCH ARMY.

NO GERMANY TO FEAR. — \ LENGTH OF SERVICE REDUCED. Paris, Oct. 28. The Council of National Defence has been discussing the question of the period of military service in France now that Germany is down and out from a military viewpoint. The Premier,- the War Minister, , Marshall Foch, General Jotfre, General Petain and other Ministers were present at the meeting. It is stated that whilst the War Minister and soldiers favoured biennial service, to which public opinion is opposed, other Ministers considered eighteen months sufficient. The final decision is kept secret, but newspapers understand the scheme submitted to the Chamber will be eighteen months’ service in lieu of three years at present, but the new scheme will not come into force till it is possible to reduce the army of effectives. In the meantime biennial service will be adopted.—(A. and N.Z.)

GERMANS FEAR FRENCH PREDOMINANCE. Berlin, Oct. 28. The Chancellor of the Reichstag in a speech drew attention to the growth of French militarism, which, he stated, with the support of Belgium and Hofland, was striving for predominance on the Continent. He strongly condemned the teachings of the Russian terrorists amid loud opposition from the Left and warned Germans professing faith in Moscow doctrines not to exceed the limits of the law.