Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-11
Frontier Being Strengthened
and Navy Increased to
Raise Republic to Second
Class Sea Power.
ARMS PROGRAM CALLED
GREATEST EVER STARTED
Fear of Germany Believed Back of
Defense System 10 Miles Deep
and 500 Miles Long, Stretching
From North Sea to the Medi-
terranean.
BY PAUL SCOTT MOWRER.
BY Radio to The Star and Chicago Daily
News. Copyright, 1880.

BY PAUL SCOTT MOWRER.
BY Radio to The Star and Chicaso Daily
News. Copyright, 1880.
PARIS, France, January IL
Why is France, on the eve OF the
London Naval Arms Conference,
continuing to spend large sums to
increase its navy and to fortify
its entire eastern frontier from
the Mediterranean to the North
Sea? Nations do not take steps
of such Importance lightly. The
deepest considerations Of nation
al policy are here involved.
When France thus spends pub
lie funds which might otherwise
be employed to reduce the nation
al debt, and launches enterprises
which are almost certain to
arouse hostile criticism abroad,
it can only be because the French
view Of the international sit
uation makes these enterprises
necessary.
It is probably not yet sufficiently real
ICED abroad that the effect Of the French
naval program will be to raise France
from third to second-rate naval power
"a power nearly comparable on seas TO
Japan. As for the plan for frontier for
tifcation just voted by the Legislature,
it is unique in every respect. The world
has never hitherto seen anything ike It.
Project Costs 100000.
Roughly speaking, IL provides system
of defense consisting OF belt OF grouno'
nearly 10 miles deep and 500 miles long,
protected not by old-fashioned forts, put
by q multiplicity Of small works care
fully adapted to the terrain whether
rivers, woods, hills or plains. Surveys
have already been completed. digging
has begun, and the pouring OF cement,
it is said, viii soon follow. 1t VIII take
100000 workmen four years to finish
the project at an estimated cost OF
Sl16,0o0,000. Workmen, II Necessary
will be imported from Italy and East
ern Europe.
Roads, underground passages, narrow
gauge railways, parks of barbed wire,
stakes, tools, wagons, mining equlpment
for destroying roads and bridges-all
will be prepared in advance and kept
in constant readiness.
In some areas, plains ana Valleys WIZ
be systematically flooded at the first
alarm. The zone which faces north be-
tween the Rhine and Luxembourg, ana
which is considered the most vulnerable,
will be covered with small hidden inter-
communicating and mutually support
ing gas-proof works, capable OF laying
down a continuous wall OF hre, while
heavy guns from emplacements are pre-
pared In advance to hamper enemys
approach at a considerable distance.
Additional Credit Voted.
Additional credit for sl6,000,000 has
been voted to provide gas defense CEN
tiers for the civilian and military popu-
lation throughout France.
Virtually every one who mas recently
studied this country agrees that 1t Is
thoroughly peaceful. meditates no ag-
erosion. wants no additional territory,
hence the only possible explanation OF
these measures is fear.
OF what is France afraid? Not OF the
United States; not Of Great Britain;
least of all Italy, as long as Italy Is
alone.
No. What France fears is Germany.
still Germany, renewed, revivifled, re-
,vengeful, expansive Germany, which,
unless France remains vigilant. might
first regain its lost territories in Eastern
Europe then turn with fresh strength
against France and invade it, as In 1915,
1870 and 1914. The French want to be-
lieve that the German spirit Is changed,
1Confinued On PAGE 8. Column ~