New Britain herald., 1915-12-01
FRANCE CALLS CLASS
 OF 1917 TO COL0RS
French Chamber Passes Bill After
 Stormy Debate

1 Paris, Dec. 1.-The bill providing l for the calling to the colors of the young conscripts of the class of 1917, 1 measure recently sanctioned by the army committee of the chamber of deputies, provoked a stormy debate in the chamber yesterday. Premier Briand participating in the discus sion. The bill provides for ringing g into the service approximately 4OO,. 900 young men, who in times of peace would begin military service in 1917, it's members being eighteen and nine teen years old. The proposal is to call them on December 15, when they would be sent to garrisons and then tralned and incorporated in various regiments and services.
 Deputy Turmel, the first speaker, demanded that the shirkers of mili- tary duty, of whom he said there were no less than A5,O0O in Paris, be taken from their hiding places and sent to the front before these young men were called His words were ap- plauded by socialists and "booed" by others.
 Wanted Motion Defeated.
 Premier Briand asked the chamber to defeat the motion of M Turme1, saying that the government could be counted on to do it's. duty; that the minister of war, as soon as he was appointed, took all necessary meas ures to secure the complete utilization of all forces.
 We need not be concerned about our strength" said Premier Briand. We are certain it is sufficient to car- ry us to the end and we are sure of SuccesS.''
 Applause Follows Declaration,
 This declaration was followed bv applause from the center and left.
 The premier, continuing, said that the chamber today was called upon only to fix the conditions under which the class should be called and the hygienic measures to be taken.
 M. Turmel insisted on maintaining ms motion. Colonel Driant urged the chamber to vote down the motion. His remarks were continually inter- rupted by socialists. Deputy Auriol demanded that the anti-shirker law. voted some months ago, be completely applied and that the government tell the chamber what it has done in this respect.
 The premier said he could reply to M. Auriol only as he had to M. Tur- mel that if the government asked the calling of the class it had serious rea- sons for so doing.
 Must Vote Bill.
 "The chamber" said the premier must unanimously vote the bill which we ask as it has done since the beginning of the war;.
 Deputy Bracke protested against the premier's words. M. Turmel sup ported M. Auriol's motion, which, put to vote was defeated, 405 to l15.
 After several speakers had criti- cized some conditions in the army, Gen. Gallieni, the minister of war, ad- dressing the chamber said that he was in perfect accord with Gen. Joffre, of the French forces, and demanded the calling of the class of 1917.
 Measure of Prudence. q This was a simple measure of pru- dence, he said. The class would not necessarily be sent immediately to the front, he added, but it must be thor oughly instructed and care taken that all eventualities be provided against. He insisted that the class be put at his disposition at the earliest possible moment in order that it may be ready in the spring of 1916, the time when said he, "in concert with our allies, our endorsements and our arma- ments will permit us to make the de- cisive effort"
 By rising vote the chamber passed the bill authorizing the minister of war to call to the cOlors the 1917 class without specifying any date.
 Deputy Rafin-Hugedens, while ex- plaining his vote, asserted that sever al of the chiefs had disregard for hu- man life. He was called to order and his remarks were formally noted. M. Deschanel, the president, said that he could not allow the army to be in suited in the chamber.