THE MILITARY SITUATION IN FRANCE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume L, Issue 9001, 25 January 1906, Page 6

THE MILITARY SITUATION IN FRANCE.

ACTIVITY DUE TO CHANGE OF

MINISTERS

[PBBSS ASSOCIATION.] (Per Mail Steamer ab Auckland.)

PARIS, January 3.

An Ambassador of one of the Powers said to-day that caTeful enquiry had convinced him that the -recent revival of French military activity, -which has given rico to alarmists reports/ was due mainly to the change from the military methods of M. Berteaux, late Minister of War, to those of M. Etienne, the present Minister of War. M. Berbflaux belonged to the socialists, whose cardinal principal is opposition to war and reduction of military expenditure. This naturally resulted in inactivity in military preparation. M. Etienne on the" contrary, is not affiiliated with the .-»ooialists, but represents the energetic element which maintains that the country should be prepared to meet every eventuality. M. Berteaux's precipitate resignation, has brought M. Etienne in control of the military admisistration, and he immediately adopted a vigorous policy, not for belligerent purposes, but in execution of the general desire to have the army in a perfect state of efficiency. He appealed to the Budget Committee of the Chamber of Deputies for exceptional military credits, details of which were discussed behind closed doors, and he also instituted a careful enquiry into the requirements of the frontier defences, which the la6t inspection of General Negrier disclosed to be in a lamentable state of inefficiency. M. Etienne proceeded systematically to remedy these and other defacts, thus placing the army and all equipments and defensive works in a proper state of efficiency. This coming coincident with the Franco-German issue over Morocco led to a widespread impression that ths military preparations were de-

signed to meet evctntualities arising from

the Moroccan controversy. While Morocco may hare accentuated the need for mili-

tary alertness, yet the. chief catise of the/ recent military activity is the adoption

of M. Etienne's energetic policy of having the army ready to fulfil its functions whenever required.