FRENCH ARMY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8441, 29 May 1913, Page 7

FRENCH ARMY

THREE YEARS' SERVICE GRANT PASSED IN THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES. By Itelegraph—Press Association—Oopyn*b% (Received May 28, 9.30 pan,) PARIS, May 23, Tho Chamber of Deputies, by 38G votes to 163, has passed the grant in connection with the Throe dears’ Service Bill, Notice now been given of some 70 amendment© to the Three Years’ Service Bill* and there are, in addition, tho elaborate counter-proposal© of tho Socialists and of -n, Keinach and M, do Montebello to be disposed of by the Chamber of Deputies, whose labours seem likely for a considerable time to come to bo devoted to discussion of measure© dealing with the national defence. said the Paris correspondent of '"The Times" on April Bth. The extraordinary credit of J£20,000.000 for the army )va© to come before Parliament, and further Bills, dealing with supply and the pay of army officers and non-commissioned officers, are to bo introduced. There is at the present moment a great dearth of officers, and statistics show a falling off in the number of candidates at the two military schools of Saint Cyr and Saint Maixent amounting to close upon 50 per cent. There is a deficiency of 1600 lieutenants in line regiments and a serious lack of artillery and engineer officers, who are resigning from the army in growing numbers every year to accept posts in private industrial establishments. To remedy thi© state of affairs M. Btienne intends to introduce a Bill providing for a general increase in officer©' pay. At < present a lieutenant with 15 years' service is paid approximately £ll 8s a month, A captain receives .813 16s, a battalion commander ,£lB 7s. a Ikyotenant-colonel £2l 19s, a colonel .£27 3s, a brigadiergeneral <£42, a general of division .£62 a month. Tho scale of officers' pensions is roughly 50 per cent, lower than it is in the German army. An increase of pay of £3 a month for all officers would involve an expenditure of ,£3,200.000,