Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-14
FRANCE TO FORT|FY
ALPS AND RHINE.
Five-Year Program Designed
by War Minister to Cost
About $100,ooO,0OO.
b the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
PARIS, October 14-France will
spend $500, 900, 900 francs (about $780,
900, 000) during the next Ave years on
defensive forticstions Of her postwar
frontiers-north, east and the Alps"
This was brought out during the
course of a recent meeting of the bud
get finance committee of the Chamber at
that meeting. Incidentally. Paul Pain
leve, minister of war, was scored by
Nationalist members as pacifist be-
cause the work Of Notifications along
the frontiers, they claimed, was lag
ging.
1t also developed that. for the first
time in its history. France is devoting
nearly as much time and money to
strengthening the Alps where to the
south lies Italy. her former ally. as
the line of the Rhine, across which
thrives Germany. regarded here as
Frances traditional enemy.
War Budget Increased.
The war budget of France for 1880
will amount to 1905. 992, 900 francs
tabouC STA, 900 ,000), an increase of So
000, 900 over the expenditures ror 1929.
These figures cover the expenses in
France only. and another appropriation
of 1852, 954, 070 francs Tor, roughly,
$72. 900, 000) is provided for mainte-
nance Of troops In Algeria Tunisia,
Syria and China, bringing the total eX-
penditures for the French army in 1880
to- S242, 100000
Impatience with what they termed
the dilatorinesS of the ministry of war
inj getting French frontiers secure
against aggression marked the inter-
ruptions Of the Nationalist.
parliament voted you 1858, 0O0. 900
francs as the 1929 slice of expenditures
in fortifying the frontiers" said Dep
uty Georges Mandel former chief of
the cabinet of Georges Clemenceau.
why have you only spent $4,000 ,OO0?"
Encounters Labor Difficulties.
Painleve, somewhat taken aback, per-
haps because of the unprecedented re-
proach addressed to a French minister
OF not spending enough money. ex-
planned that 1929 had been employed
in drawing up the entire plans for the
hve-year job. They had also found
difhculties in obtaining labor-stone-
maSonS, drillers, laborerS. Now, how
ever, the plans had been completed and
the work from now on will proceed on
schedule.
How about the frontier of the Alps?"
another deputy queried. adding that,
in his opinion. that line of defense
needed just now as much attention as
the Rhine.
We are looking after that" replied
the minister of war. when our plans
are completely finished the Alps will be
safe"
The deepest secrecy is maintained
concerning this work, which is one of
national defense, but it was learned
from military engineers that the late
war has completely changed the old
time methods Of erecting defensive for
ttflcations. As matter of fact, erect
Ing" Is the wrong word to describe the
present-day forts. Digging would be
more appropriate.
Old Forts Found ObsoIete.
1t appears that the. famous forts at
Waehlem defending Antwerp, Loncin
before Liege, VasIx and DOuaunort,
the StrongholdS of FerduIl, have been
found to be obsQiete and are being re-
placed by Shbtfffanean ttenches, COW
cred and as Tar as possible made in
visible to airplanes Guns lifted by
mechanical apparatus can be made to
disappear under the ground when the
enemy has found the range or planes
are dropping 200 to 500 pound torpedoes
Especial attention Is being paid to ma
chine gun defense.
Along the range of the Alps over
looking Piedmont, drilieIs and dyna-
miters are mostly needed. Cut into
the mountains from Modane to Vinti-
mile. holes drilled I'm the solid rock will
command the various and not too nu-
merous passes.
No work of any account is being done
along the northern frontier separating
Belgium from France The feeling is
now deeply engraved in the French
military mind that should Germany
ever attack again 1t will not be through
Belgium.
Utmost Speed Urged.
There Is very strong party within
the finance committee urging the ut
most speed in the laying out of protec-
tive lines Of defense, both to the east
and southeast.
Meanwhile, Aristide BRAND, premier
Of France, whose following may be said
to outnumber the military minded ad-
vocates OF security to /, is busy
working on the outline of a plan to
present to the Assembly of the League
Of Nations, September, 1880, and which
he believes will prove safer defensive
weapon against aggression than rows
Of guns and bayonets: The Confedera-
ton Of the United States of Europe.