The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-05-21
FRENCH DEPUTIES TO PROBE ERRORS
 OF SPRING DRIVE
Painleve, Minister of War, Will Face Inquiry WheE
 Parliament Meets.

Paris, May 21-The conduct of the French offensive on the Aisne and Champagne fronts, both under the di rection of General Niville and since General Petain has held the chief command, will be the subject of Par liamentary investigation when the ses- sion is resumed Tuesday after the long Easter vacation. Twelve deputies have announced interpellations on this subject, and four more demand infor- nation on the defensive measures against German submarines. So M. Pain1eve, Minister of War. has some busy days of explanation ahead.
 The Chamber will probably meet in secret session and consider every phase of the military operations in a single debate. There may also be another secret session of the Senate for the same purpose. Senator De- pierre has announced an interpella- tion on the question of the French drive between Soissons and Rheims on April 16.
 M. Painleve already has been grilled once on this phase of the operations. AS a result, General Nivelle is no longer in control of the French armies on the west front, but Is merely an executive officer to General Petain. There was some talk at that time of recalling Ma-shal Joffre an placing him once more in active charge of the troops, but the opposition to this pro- ject develope6 all the old bitterness which led to Joffres retirement.
 It is known now that there was friction between the French and Brit ish commands. The relations between Nive1le and Haig were far from pleas ant, and when Lloyd George was in France month ago the real purpose of his visit was to smooth out these difficulties. Of course. he went on to the Riviera for g. conference with the French and Italian premieres, but this session, although important. is said ito have been only blind to the main sue-Franco-British military har- mony.
 The fortune of battle. however, solved the issue. Sir Douglas Haig won a great victory. General Niyelle won a Pyrrhic victory. in which the ground gained did not compensate for the losses suffered. With the prompt ness which distinguishes the French people, Nivelle's authority was cur tailed.
 4he fTenCn pupnCb InTCuEn us Fep- resentatives, has shown much dissat- isfaction with the offensive operations this year, ever since General Petain assumd control. Why have they ap- parently ended? Why WIS no more ground gained7 Why were the losses so heavy for such small results? What is going to be done about it7 These are some of the questions M. Pain1eve will have to answer. There are some who say he cannot. In former times he objected severely to the concentration of power in the high commands. He was stickler for parliamentary control and for the Minister of War holding the general issimo in his place.
 Today M. Painleve's friends are sad. They announce sorrowful1y that they were deceived in him. They say he has less control over his depart men than any war minister France has had to date. They insist that he has to ask permission of some bureau chief before he can put his feet under his own. desk. As for his control of the army. 1t simply does not exist.