Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-21
CRIME ON INCREASE
Great Anxiety Is Caused
Among People of France.
CHIEF is HELPLESS
NJ, Lepine Admits Force Is made.
quate to Check Criminals.
By GEORGE DUFREsNE.

Specia, Cablegram to The Star.
PARIS. April 20.-While at the present
moment syndicalism does not brighten
law-abiding Frenchmen, there is another
danger which is causing them a great
deal Of anxiety. Crime is on the increase
in the big cities. In Paris the authorities
are apparently at a loss to know how to
deal with it. Scarcely a week elapses
without a policeman being shot by
apaches, who are increasing in numbers.
M. Lepine, the project of police. con-
fesses that his force Is totally inadequate
to cope with the increasing army of crimi-
nails. Further, he suggests that there
should be an end to the leniency with
which CT: finals are treated by judges.
The subject Of the increase Of crime is
occupying the attention Of writers and
politicians, and this week one Of the
newspapers has organized conference,
at which magistrates. deputies. municipal
councillors, barristers and others have
aired their views. There Is q consensus
Of opinion that the streets Of Paris are
becoming more and more unsafe.
Works in Daylight.
A holder sort Of criminal is operating
now. He works not only at night. He
is making a speciality of daylight rob-
berries by means Of motor cars. In most
cases the robberies are accompanied by
bloodshed.- The revolver Is used.
The army Of apaches is increasing SO
RAPIDLY that the suggestion has been put
forward that all Parisians should arm
themselves with revolvers for self-de-
Tense. If the law was altered to admit
IA
would be Of daily occurrence.
NJ Lepine probably knows the situation
better than any criminologist, and 1t may
be that in the end his suggestions, that
the police force be largely increased and
that hardened criminals be transported to
penal settlements instead OF being sent
to comfortable prisons for a few months.
will be adopted.
Work Of Humbert.
Whatever his errors may have been.
Gen. Boulanger had at least one merit
He was the soldiers friend, fact which
explains the wonderful popularity which
he enjoyed with the rank and file. In this
respect Senator Humbert is a worthy sue
cessor of 'le brave general" He is per-
sistent in his efforts to alleviate the hard
lot Of the conscript, and he is being well
supported by M. Millerand. the minister
of war, who is taking his mission very
seriously.
NJ. Humbert today initiates the public
into several things that are well worth
noting He shows how the rations OF
bread have been reduced, and how, in
spite Of the increasing cost of provisions.
no more allowance has been made to the
regiments. Taking rifle battalion OF
500 men as an example, he points out
that If the soldiers are to be fed this year
as they were last, more than 1900 would
be needed to make up the required sum.
But 1t is not only food that Is deficient.
Barracks are not properly warmed. The
commander Of the battalion writes:
'Our men are cold from morning to
night six months out of twelve. To heat
our immense rooms, which accommodate
from twenty-four to twenty-eight, the
coal per day. II our men buy bread. they
also purchase COAL"
Disease Is Explained.
M. Humbert, in conclusion. remarks that
this explains why every month detach-
mehts Of pale, emaciated soldiers In from
tier garrisons wend their way sadly to
the railroad stations, sent back to their
homes with the sinister diagnosis that
they are cousumptive. This Is why GER
tain corps which do not include more
than q thousand or eleven. hundred men
yearly eliminate nearly hundred SUI
ferers from tuberculosis"
NJ. Millerand intends to ask for an adj
ditional grant Of 100000 francs. which
| is a step in the right direction. but more
will certainly be needed if the soldier is
to have q fair chance.
found among the furniture which be-
lonUaA IN the CROWN The first a the