Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-12-25
Relations Between France
and England Cordial.
French Government May Reduce
Its Force Of Cavalry
For Sake Of Strengthening the Ar
tillery Arm Of the Service.

Paris, Dec. 24.-The Associated Press
has obtained some interesting Informal
ton regarding the progress of Anglo
French relations which led to the re-
cent erroneous reports that the entente
of 1901 had been supplemented by a
military or naval convention. Mutual
corporation on sea and land in the
face Of an aggressive move against
each other is regarded as assured
both at the Quai D'Orsay and in Down
ing street. The machinery of diplO-
macy has, however, been scrupulOuSly
avoided in the accomplishment of this
result. No notes or drafts Of conven-
tons have been exchanged. Nothing
has passed through the only channels
recognized by governments as qualified
to bind countries which could be chal-
lengcd by Germany as aimed at her
Isolation" Nevertheless, in the subt-
Ter and quite as effective fashion the
combination against Germany, 50 far
as France and England are concerned
| can be considered a fat accompli."
| The other raniiications of the
diplomacy which is called in England
the policy of binding Germany over
to keep the peace" (Which includes the
Russian English entente. the cement
| ing of closer relation between Spain and
Spain and England. and the weaving
away Of Italy from the triplice also
making progress.
II was regarded as preferable to lay
| the basis Of mutual support primarily
| IN a broad and deep friendship between
/ the two peoples. The entente cor
dale" adjusting outstanding differ
/ cncrs had no sooner been signed than
the campaign OF friendship was inauS-
urated. All kinds of visits were ex-
changed. furnishing occasions for cele-
Ibrating the new found friendship ana
now . great AnglO-French exposition
| in London has been planned for 1908.
Matters had reached such a stage dur
| ing the Morocco crisis that England's
physical rs wei as diplomatic sup
port was certain had the sword been
unsheathed Al that tim" the military
and naval authorities of the two coun-
| trin, We're in communication and af-
ter the crisis had PASSED they pro-
rpeded to work our lin purely techTi-
| cal f. ihion." plans of cooperation by
land and sea to meet certain eventu-
| alitiei So intimate had the relations
between the military departments Of
| the two countries lecom" last summer
that General French the chief Of the
mission detailed to attend the French
maneuvrc@ was admitted to TIL" con-
ferenrcs 81 thc French general staff
during the naneuVrcS and listened II
he diu not plrtipHte in the discussions
| a proposition 90 reduce tn" size oil
the cavalry arm of the French army
the arm of the service which has stead
lily decreased in Importance with the
with the perfection and increasing
range of small arms-iS attracting
much attention in ar" army, in Parlia-
ment ami in the press. The discussion
revolvtS about the necessity OF
STRENGTHENING the artillery, upon which
the fate of modern battles depends.
AZ Parliament with constant growing
budgets and a deficit for the present
wear Of about 2,o,0oo.oOO francs will
not listen tn an increas' of military
expenses. the only possibility of
strengthening the artillery is at the cX-
pense of another arm of the service
and all are agreed that cavalry can
be sacrificed with least danger. AS ii
nov stands. Francs field artillery COM
pared with Grrmany's. with which
French standards Of strength are ma
turally measured is less than two
|
sary. Although the number of bat
terics is about equal. namely 500. the
disparity of strength is due to the fact
that eight years ago when France
possessed the ONLY cfrcctiv" quick firing
gun. the number of guns pr battery
was reduced tn three and that was
was reduced from six tn four on The
theory that four quick -fr"rS We're su-
! | naripr % six a. ll,. SlaIE,r pattern in
) use by the other powers. since then.
; however. Germany has equipped her
artillery with a field gun az good as
that of the French and is now able 10
. fire three shots to Frances two. Many
officers believe the strengthening Of
the artillery can be accomplished with
. out increasing the war budget or ma
terially decreasing the effectiveness by
the complete suppression of l. of the
Is regiments of cuirasSierS and turn
ing over the mon and horses to the
artillery. The argument of course is
| that in modern warfare the role of
cavalry has entirely changed Battles
which formerly hung in the balance
until the cavalry was launched are now
! desired by artillery and the long range
fire of the modern rifle.
| General Bonnal the most famous
of French military writer's, proposes
that a third of the men Of Frances
mounted gendarmerie, who number
$4,000 and practically all the horses
be turned over to the artillery The
: remaining 5000. with the exception of
the few needed for service in the
mountainous districts, he would equip
with bicycles