The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-05-06
Copuright. 1927. United Press

gARlS, May o.-AL the present
time, France has nothing TO fear
from Italy. either on land or sea,
according to serious investigation
of the comparative strengths Of the
two armies and navies.
With her total military strength
at the beginning Of this year Of
31,02S officers and 647,434 men,
France, not so much from the stand
point Of numbers, but taking into
consideration the recognized general
ly high standard of her units, prob
ably still has the strongest army in
the world The great bulk of the
above stated total of troops is
stationed in the interior of France,
the Rhineland. Algeria and Tunisia,
but large numbers also are found
in Morocco. the Levant, China, the
Sarre and other colonies.
Navies Nearly Equal
The navies Of France and Italy
are more nearly equal, and so far
as capital ships are concerned
seem to be in a process Of equaliza-
ton in conformity with the pro-
visions Of the Washington limitation
Of ornaments treaty.
Generally speaking the armed
orces Of France and Italy are
organized in an identical manner.
In each country the principle of
obligatory military service is the
basis of military organization, and
at the present time the length of
military service is eighteen months
in each country. The territories
Of both countries are divided into
regions Of army corps, with the
principal unit in time of peace being
the division, composed Of three
regiments of infantry and one regi-
ment of artillery, On paper the
analogy Of the two armies is further
indicated by the fact that each is at
present composed of thirty divisions,
with an advantage on the side of
Italy, however, when there is taken
into consideration the presence in the
Alps of twenty-seven Italian alpine
battalions not incorporated into any
division.
On paper, at least. italy has SUI
periority on her side. if there is taken
into account the present tendency in
Italy to give a military role to the
voluntary militia or national securi-
ty." the origin of which was po-
litical The strength Of this mil
tia is variously estimated. The
participation of units Of the militia
in the great Italian maneuvers. the
pre-military instruction which is as
sured by the militia, are character
istics of the tendency to lend a mil
itary role to this organization.
Military experts here also fear
that in the future Italy will con-
tinue to mark an advantage over
France. The application in France
Of the new military laws, which are
considered here as an absolute proof
that France is not militaristic, will
reduce the length of military service
in France to one year and the num-
Der of divisions of her army in
France proper to twenty.
FavOrs Larger Army
On the other hand, Mussolini, on
March 8. 1926, in presenting to the
Senate his project for the organiza-
tion of 'Italy's army-an organiza-
ton which now has been virtually
realized-said:
"This organization is not definite,
and would be extremely happy If
tomorrow the state Of our finances
would permit me to increase the num-
Der of divisions"
The following is the disposition of
forces Of the two armies on each side
of the Franco-Italian frontier:
In Italy, of the thirty divisions
which constitute the italian army.
there are seventeen divisions in
stalled on the plain Of Pc, with, in
addition. the twenty-seven battalions
of Alpine troops. OF these forces,
six divisions and twelve battalions of
Alpine troops are stationed between
the French frontier and the line of
Milan.
On the French side of the thirty
divisions which constitute the French
army in France proper, and in the
Rhineland. only four divisions are
stationed between the frontier, the
Rhone and the Mediterranean, and
of these four divisions there are
bonly two composed of Alpine troops,
the two other divisions being consti-
tuted almost entirely Of colonial and
north African units subject to call
elsewhere than the Alps.
7 Therefore, it is seen that Italy