FRENCH RECRUITS

Southland Times, Issue 22203, 21 December 1933, Page 5

FRENCH RECRUITS

CALLING-UP DATE

BILL PROVIDING FOR ALTERATION SHARP EXCHANGES (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) Paris, December 19. Fiery exchanges between M. Daladier and M. Tardieu marked the passage of a Bill altering the date of calling up recruits in order to provide for lean years from 1936 to 1940, corresponding to the decreased war-time birth rate.

M. Fabry stated that unless something was done the number of recruits would be 116,000 instead of the present 250,000. The Bill would obtain 200,000 while 15,000 specialists would be enlisted in Moroccan units. It was recalled that M. Tardieu charged M. Fabry with reducing the army. Early in 1934 would be a critical period for France and Europe, said M. Fabry. France must not only be strong, but known to be strong. Her known weakness in 1914 contributed to the war.

M. Daladier retorted that France with 469,000 soldiers on the active list and 500,000 trained reservists had excellent modern war material, and an unexampled fortress system could assure her own security. Frontier fortifications, he said, would eventually be extended to the seacoast. What was this manoeuvre to spread unjustifiable panic? M. Tardieu, amid hoots and cheers, furiously sprang to his feet and protested, the tumult continuing for several minutes.