FRENCH ARMY STRENGTH

Taranaki Daily News, 21 December 1933, Page 5

FRENCH ARMY STRENGTH

PROVISION FOR LEAN YEARS

FIERY PASSAGE IN CHAMBER 1

SCAREMONGERING ALLEGED

ASSURANCE OF SECURITY

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright

Rec. 5.5 p.m. Paris, Dec. 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 the lean years 1936 to 1940 corresponding ,with the decreased wartime birthrate.

M. Fabry pointed out that unless something was done the recruits would be 116,000 instead of the present 250,000. The Bill would obtain 200,000, while 15,000 specialists would be enlisted for the Moroccan units it recalled. M. Tardieu charged M. Fabry with reducing the army early in 1934, a critical period for France in Europe. France must be not only strong but also known to be strong. The known French weakness in 1914 contributed to the war. M. Daladier retorted that France, with 468,000 soldiers on the active list and half a million trained reservists, excellent modern war material and an unexampled fortress system, could assure its own security. Frontier fortifications would eventually be extended to the sea coast. He asked what this manoeuvre to spread unjustifiable panic was. Amid hoots and cheers M. Tardieu furiously sprang to his feet to protest. The tumult continued for several minutes.