The New York herald., 1921-04-10
FRANCE MUST GET
NEW ARMY PLANS,
VIEW OF EXPERT
Col. Mayer, Ousted for Pre-
dieting German Trench
Warfare, Tells Why.
DWELLs ON MOBILIZATION
Fears Berlin dream Of Re-
vcnge if a Formidable War
Invention is Perfected.

Special cabr. to THE New York HxnALD.
Copyright, 1921, by THE Nxw Yorx HEnALp.
New York Hernld Bnrcau.
Paris, April 0. J
France must discard her old army
system and inaugurate moro modern
s,rxanization which will in time Of
ssanger insure the mobilization OF the
S,hols nation, male and female. for
either actual military or Industrial
xervice, says L.cus-Coi Emile Mayer.
wf1o long before the great war propile-
sed that tho enemy would fight from
rrencies. His French military COL
leagues laughed then and succeeded IN
having him shelved as not in touch
with military progress. but they are
deserving all their comment now re-
Gsrding his latest book, Yesterdays
War and To-morrow's Army" wherein
the prophetic colonel, who is still OH
lbe retired list, tells France or any
uytler country how best to prepare for
future military needs.
While he considers that Trance would
commit q grave iTnprudencc should she
false OFF her armament as long as Euro
pean nations are found combating.
dol. Mayer is not fearful Of another
German attack.
"That Germany dreams OF revenge IS
only natural" he writes. In fact. it
~ not certain that the Allies have done
ell In their power to turn her from her
dreams. But it is apparent that at
least for a long period OF time she VIII
be extremely feeble IN SO far as the
carrying out OF any belligeront desires
are concerned. Although her industries
lnay be flourish ing. they have not pro-
duced any great quantity of war ma
ferials. and inasmuch as all other MAJ
tsrlals are lacking she would be power
sess TO supply in case OF mobilization,
an that would be necessary for an army
on a campaign"
sees German Danger Ahead.
Gernlany's revenge. Col Mayer con-
Sende, would be possible only IL new
invention, an unexpected CONGESTION OF
attack or an unexpected discovery en-
abled her to prepare secretly Win 2
minimum of man power sciuc means OF
var against which France would possess
no organized precaution. IN fact, ne
aces a greater danger from nations
other than Germany mot mentioning
our Allies, OF course. since 1t appears
that our union with them Is now tndis-
soluble, but there are nations whose mil
frary power Is still almost intact, inas-
much as they took no great active part
rn the war. ana some day they may turn
arainst France and try to intimidate US.
Therefore, we must have our sabre al
vsRys ready to extend"
no Col Mayer the chief lessons ad-
lduced from the last war may be sum-
NnAxiEed as follows:
4. The folly OF stressing too
sAshly the value OF modern war
auaferiais. For instance, he insists
tAat the German III" which was
merely q poor copy OF the French
~fB.~ ala not do better work than
xhe French gun, while in so far as
r4fIes ara concerned, the individu-
Atty of the soldier frequently over
balanced poor equipment. More
over, while the German "Berthaa'
Of long range caused some slight
panic. even impressing the arIny'
they rendered no notable ser
vice and what they did for German
arms was absolutely out of proper
sion TO their cost and the enormous
effort represented in them.
2. In future wars the nation must
remedy the industrial situation
which was found at the outbreak
OF the last war by mobilizing on the
same basis as the army but not
paying the high salaries to certain
categories of labor. which made il
impossible to obtain other workers
for lower remuneration. This, says
Col. Mayer, presented the strange
anomaly that the normal Junction
ing of the factories was disturbed
at the very moment the nations in
terests were in danger.
Early Training Is Advised.
Col. Mayors vision OF the new army
10 one wherein the training for duty
m time OF the nations need COM
rnences early in iifc preferably during
school days, so that when the youth
IL mobilized three months OF intensive
camp training makes a highly qualified
soldier Members of the militia would
DC encouraged 70 volunteer for the
permanent standing army OF profess
sicnal soldiers. which would serve in
military outposts.
But when war clouds appeared on
the horizon every youth and aduls able
70 carry arms ard every woman able to
rolp supply what the army needed
would know their places and would re-
rort Immediately. Even In moments OF
diplomatic tension. volunteers IN the
IEDUNlfT FtSltEo DF ELplAitu WIN
arms. while munit,on factories would
cease all other work and prepare for
en- intensive production OF war mate
rails, according TO a plan of coordina-
ton worked out by the General Stan.
Members OF tho classes would be
called to the colors ami would be as
signed TO units in accordance with their
proved efliciency--either with the In
tantry, the artillery or the aviation
arm az the service. or In conr.csion
V'ith the production and administrative
pcr~ tefir6 me lines.
.~yay duties would remain unchanged
for the present under Col. Mayors plan
for q trained militia. but they would no
longer be overburdcned by horde OF
officers with parasitic inclination such
~ we're known during the last war IN
stead, there would bo only two grades .ef
ufticers--generals and comman6ants--
who would be promoted because OF their
experience and technical ability. all the
rr