The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-09-07
TRENCH ARMY A MATCH
 FOR CERMANYS IN WAR American Army Officers Think Armed Conflict Would be Any, thing But Repetition of 1870, While the French Might Wipe Out the Bitter Memories of Sedan, Metz, and Paris Germany in Rapidty of Mobilization is Far Ahead
a generation.

now generation.
 Paper figures on the strength of the German and French armies give the decided advantage to Germany tie of the real situation. The peace strength of the German army is up- wards of 600,000 men. The French peace strength Is but little below it. Germany however is credited with a total war strength of over 100000, while France is credited with only about half that number.
 1nasmuch, however, as neither na- ton is likely to draw forth anywhere near its total paper war strength these figures will nowhere be accept ed as decisive. The questions relat- ing to both armies that American ar my men are discussing appertain not to numbers so much as to ability to fight. to march, and to mobilize.
 Swift in Mobilization.
 Army men here say that if war comes between Germany and France it will be under full headway long before one might suppose heavy fight ing possible. They preface their dis cussions of the topic generally with the statement that they do not be- lieve there will really be war, that the losses and sufferings that neith- CT nation will permit itself to be dragged into a conflict in which mil lions of men will be hurled at each others throats and in which the death roll will mount up to heights per haps never before known in the his tory of civilized warfare. At the same time. it is recognized there are some ominous signs in the air and that, af- ter all, it is only step from peace to war between two great peoples who have traditional hatred of each oth- CT.
 Five days, it is estimated, would see armed forces in battle if France and Germany declared war or began 1t without taking time for conversa- tions and declara tions. Thirty days, perhaps. even less, might see a deci- sive battle. Distances are short. Mo- would bend all its energy toward striking the decisive blow first
 In mobilization, the view here is that the advantages are probably with Germany The capacity of France in this respect is not entirely clear All German forces could be concentrated in astonishingly swift time. A day would see the French border grave ly menaced by hundreds of thous- ands of the Kaiser's troops. At ev- cry railroad station in Germany, one may see a spur track built for the special purpose of entraining troops. At a word from Berlin flashed over the wires in every direction, troops would be started to concentrate in an hour in every part of the empire. How well can France meet this magnifi- cent mobilizing capacity of Germany This is a matter of doubt among arr my men on this side of the water and the general comment is that un- less France is prepared to equal Germany in this respect she would be put at great disadvantage
 French Field Artillery Best.
 There are other things to be con- sidered and American army opinion inclines to give the best of the sitd- ation to France in certain most inn portant respects. Chief of these is in field artillery. It is said by ex- perts who. have studied both armies, the German And the French, that in