Evening star., 1923-07-11
ARMY. OF $4,000
! URGED ON FRANCE
Power to Strike First Blow
in War Sought in Reor-
ganization Plan.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
PARIS, July 1.-THE plan for the
reorganization of Frances army of
$4,000 men was distributed among
the members of parliament by Col
Jean Fabry, reporter for the chamber
army commission. 1t contemplates a
modernzed force based on the lessons
OF the great war, gith serious atten-
tion to new developments in aviation
and war materials.
Aviation and gas, the report says.
are menaces of the future. Germany
by force of circumstances, must seek
her field of action in the air, therefore
France must be strong there.
We are preparing the army for
war, which we are resolved to pre-
vent" continues the report. but be
ready TO strike the first blow. France
Is now superior to other nations in
aviation, except perhaps bombing
and must not be content with machine
guns in the air. for perhaps the time
Is near when aerial cannon Will ap-
pear"
Argues for Strong Army.
M. Fabry presents three conclu-
sions; First--"France, so long as she
bases her existence and respect for
her rights upon the prestige of her
strength, must, because of her will
for peace, maintain a strong army"
Sccond-"That the army solidly
constructed upon the lessons of the
war, ought to be definitely guided
toward the utilization of and search
for more perfected armaments than
those with which the enemy can be
equipped, so that the army may re-
tain that preponderance of force we
are going to give it,"
Third. The time may come when
those who must decide whether to
refuse or accept, or even anticipate
war will have to bear a heavy re-
brutality and effacacy of the first
blows struck, it is important to give
them instead of receiving them
Many Technical Units.
The plan which is the third and
hnal stage of the reorganization of
national land and air defense, pro-
FideS Tor thirty-two divisions of in
fantry. each with four regiments and
detachment of cavalry, engineers and
artillery, the cavalry being reduced
to five divisions. Reserves would
be formed by thirty regiments of
cavalry and forty-eight regiments of
artillery. The army would include
also great number of technical
units.
The aviation force would be COM
poScu Vi lOs COUlDdI 20
observation squadrons and 81 aux
iliary service sQuadrons, with a per-
sonnel of about $4,000.
The plan is based on eighteen
months service, each class OF con-
scripts furnishing about 100000 men,
with 100000 professional soldiers con-
stantly in the army.
Number of Officers Cut.
The officers would be reduced about
one-ffth from the period before the
war, there remaining 107 generals of
divisions and total of about 10000
officers.
A table, comparing the proposed or
ganization with the army at the end
OF the war shows a slightly less per-
centage in the infantry, hospital serv-
Ice and administrative employees and
greater percentage of tanks, artil-
lery and aviation. The cavalry num-
bers more than at the time of the
armistice, but is reduced from what
had been originally intended
The total army Will number $50, 900,
and will be composed of 46i,0O
French troops, $4,000 colonials and
10000 foreign legionaries. 1t Is pro-
posed TO have these colonial forces
more. closely interviewer with the
French troops. l.