Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-11-21
BRAND LAYS
VIEWS BEFORE
CONFERENCE
COuntry's Peace Offer
ing Made in Pro-
pOsal.
PAINTS DANGERS
BY LAWRENCE MARTIN.


WASHINGTON, Nov. 21.-France
will cut in half her effective army by
reducing by so per cent the period of
French military service, Premier
BRAND told the arms limitation con-
ference today.
This, he said, is Frances offering
to peace.
Tomorrow, it is certain that by
action of the French government, the
period Of military service VIII be
cut in half" the Premier said.
"As a result of this Frances army
may be said to be reduced by half"
FIRST PAINTS
GLOOMY PICTURE.
NJ. Brands pledge that France will
cut her army, now the largest and most
effective fighting organization in the
world, came after he had painted
gloomy picture of the dangers facing
France.
The French period Of service. which
BRAND said would be. cut in half, is three
years.
The Premier made his declaration for
the big cut in the French army at the
close Of a long speech devoted mostly
to demonstrating Frances need for a
large army.
SO long as France stands alone, BRAND
said, real disarmaInent-"mor disar-
mament," he called twill not occur in
Germany. It was clearly an appeal to
America and Britain to put the seal Of
their approval on Frances position, and
perhaps TO go farther in support Of hers.
TO DO MORE WOULD
ENDANGER SAFETY.
Faced by a German and a Russian
menace" France can so no farther in
land disarmament than to cut the period
Of her military service in half
To do more, BRAND said, would en-
danger the safety of France.
The cut in the period of military serv-
fee will not affect Immediately Frances
standing army now estimated at 7S5,000
men.
This reduction is to be accomplished,
BRAND explained, through adoption by
the French parliament OF a bill that Will
In effect mean that one and one-half OF
the three classes of electives shall be
in service and that the enlistment period
be cut in half
PREMIER REPRESENTS
FRANCE AS ALONE.
In his closing words. BRAND over and
over repeated that when France is not
alone" it will be much easier to bring
about disarmament. To achieve that, he
said, France viii do all she dared--al-
ready has done much-but will do moth
ing imprudent.
France" he said, 'can not possibly
do anything else than what she has
done"
Germany, BRAND said, could put $780,
600 men in the field within a few weeks
She has an immense industry running
night and day which could produce rifles,
machine guns and cannon. Plans were
ready, chemicals were ready; material
was ct hand The German police were
all officers and noncoms. being trained
to lead others. One Of their duties was
to prepare to war.
BoLSHEVIST HORDE
HELD AS DANGER.
Turning to Russia, BRAND launched at
once into a brief but graphic picture Of
BOlshevist horde numbering perhaps
100000 men, ready to overrun Europe
Poland would have fallen beneath this
horde BRAND said, had it not been for
Frances preparedness.
And after Poland, France herself
would have gone down. said BRAND.
France. the premier said, has several
times prevented war, since the armistice
because Of the strength of her army.
Arthur Balfour, head Of the British
delegation. rose Immediately after
Brands speech. He praised the speech
and declared the conference had heard
BRAND with full sympathy"
I'VE have heard something more than
a great speech. We have heard a per
fectly candid and lucid exposition of the
Utmost thoughts of the prime minister OF
our great ally"
"Briand told us without reserve what
the French fear and why" said Balfour,
CONTINUED on Page Seven)