Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-13
BABIES NEEDED.
NOT SOLDIERS,
SAYS BERTILLON
Noted CHminOIogist Asserts That
frances Greatest Peril Is De-
crease in Birth Rate.
BY GEORGES DUFREsNE.
oeeisl Gable TO The American.

n
PARIS, July 12.-"what France
really wants in order not to become
a second-class power" says DR..
Jacques Bertillon, of fnger-print fame,
is not military law of three years,
which win really only be a palliative.
to be followed by demands for four
and hve years service, but more clfl-
dren, Just as other countries have
them"
The doctor shows that the years Of
1911 and 1912 have been the worst
ever registered in France. Before 1907
this country never had less than sO0,-
600 births; before 1887 she had never
less than 100000, and before 1857 the
figure was approximately 1000, 900.
This, or nearly so, was the number of
births in Germany at that period. But
to-day the number of births In Ger
many Is about 10000 while France
has to regard 100000 as the normal
figure.
Other Countries Show Increase.
Holland, with a population Of one
eighth Of that of France, has a great
er number In men to record each
year. 1t is often pretended that the
Increase IN the population is checked
in other countries as well as IN
France. The contrary Is the case.
During the period Of 1901 1908 Italy's
population increased 351, 900 inhablt-
ants, that Of Austria Hungary by
$4,000 and that Of Germany by S45, =
900. These figures, crushing as they
are for France, are lower than the
present figures.
DR.. Bertillon then points out that
the number Of marriages in Fran e
rose to 1929 IN 1912. Few countries
have so high a figure in comparison
with their population. Frenchmen
marry readily enough, but they lack
children in their homes. They have
at present two or three, but they
should have three or four. Dr. Ber-
ttllon says II would be necessary TO
protect honor. and especially to help
efficaciously those who render to the
country the valuable service of rear
ing families
Nun Points Out Duty.
The present condition of France r.
a fruitful topic for writer's. When
Germany announced her decision to
greatly strengthen her army, there
was no doubt in the minds of many
thinkers that she was making prepa-
. Tations for what they describe as the
decisive hour" 1t became necessary
for Frenchmen who think and write
to take stock Of the position of the
country and TO point out the dangers
which threatened It. They rose to the
occasion, and none more readily than
NJ. de Nun who was writing a book
which is being much discussed just
now.
The duty which Hes before France
is clearly indicated by NJ. de Nun
Reviewing the book in The Gaulois
NJ. Emile Faguet, the academician
dwells on one Of the questions which
the author discusses at length, and
which was the real reason for writing
the book-the necessity Of France re-
turning to the three-year military
system.
NJ. Jaures. the Socialist leader, as
an antagonist of militarism. has done
his best to oppose the Government.
One Of his arguments was that the
great Marshal Bugeaud attacked the
three-year system. II is true that the
great soldier attacked 1t, but his on
Elaught was made not because, as the
Socialist leader wanted to make ou:,
three years was too long a period for
a man to serve in the army but be.
cause Il was too short. He wanted
the period to be seven years.