Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-24
PLANS FOR PEACE LAID
Ang|o-French Friendship is
Made More Binding.
IN A VERY SUBTLE FASHION
Combination Against Germany Now
an Accomplished Fact.
MAY REDUCE CAVALRY ARM
Germany Being Stronger in Artillery
= Service, France is Preparing to
Make a Change.

PARIS. December 2I.-The Associated
Press has obtained some interesting in
formation regarding the progress of Anglo
French relations which led to the recent
erroneous reports that the entente of 1901
had been supplemented by a military or
naval convention Mutual cooperation on
sea and land in the face of an aggressive
move against either is regarded as assured
both at the DUAL DOrsay and in Down
ing street. The machinery of diplomacy
has, however. been scrupulously avoided In
the accomplishment of this result.
Notes or drafts of conventions have been
exchanged. Nothing has passed through
the only channels recognized by govern
ments as qualified to bind countries, which
could be challenged by Germany as aimed
at her Isolation" Nevertheless, in a
subtler and quite as effective fashion the
combination against Germany. SO far as
France and England are concerned, can
be considered an accomplished fact The
other ramifications of the diplomacy which
is called in England the policy of binding
Germany over to keep the peace" (Which
includes the Russian England entente the
cementing of closer relations between Spain
and England. and the weaving away of
Italy from the triplice) are, also making
progress.
oIOdu anu Occp
1t was regarded as preferable to lay the
basis of mutual support primarily in
broad and deep friendship between the two
peoples. The entente cordiale adjusting
outstanding differences had no sooner been
signed than the campaign Of friendship was
naugurated All kinds of visits were
exchanged for celebrating the new-found
friendship and now a great Anglo French
exposition in London has been planned for
1908. Matters had reached SUCH a stage
during the Morocco crisis that Engand's
physical as well as diplomatic support was
certain had the, sword been .unsIieathed.
At that time the military and naval author
tiles of the two countries were in communi-
cation, and after the crisis had passed they
proceeded to work out, I'm purely tech
nical fashion" plans for cooperation by
land and sea to meet certain eventualities
So intimate had the relations between the
military departments of the two countries
become last summer that General French,
the chief of the English mission detailed to
attend the French maneuvers, was admit
ted to the conferences of the French general
staff during the maneuvers, and listened, IL
he did not participate in, the discussions.
May Reduce Cavalry.
A proposition to reduce the size of the
cavalry arm of the French army-the arm
of the service which has steadily decreased
In Importance with the perfection and in
creasing range of small arms-is attracting
much attention in the army, in parliament
and in the press. The discussion revolves
about the necessity of strengthening the ar
tillery, upon which the fate of modern bat
ties depends As parliament with constant
ly growing budgets and a deficit for the
present year of about 2oO,O0o,O00 francs,
will not listen to an increase of military
expenses the only possibility of strengthen
ing the artillery is at the expense of another
arm of the service and all are agreed that
cavalry can be sacrificed with least danger.
AS it now stands Frances field artillery,
compared with Germany's, with which
French standards of strength are naturally
measured, is less than two-thirds of that
of her possible adversary. Although the
number of batteries is about equal, namely
500 the disperity of strength is due to the
fact that eight years ago, when France pos
sessed the only effective quick firing gun
the number of guns per battery was re-
duced from six to four guns on the theory
that four quick firers were superior to six
of the slower patterns in use by the other
powers.
n1~