Evening star., 1939-10-10
French Deputies Join
Army, Participating in
War They Declared
Traditional Exemption
Voluntarily Waived to
Help End HitIerism
BY THOMAS r. HENRY,
Star Stad Correspondent.

Star Stan Correspondent.
PARIS, Oct. l0.-In France, the
men who declare wars also fight
them-at the front.
1t is almost bromide in the
United States that Nation never
would 60 to war if its rulers had to
do the fighting themselves instead
of sitting in comfortable Offices,
uttering platitudes and cheering on
the population.
Out of approximately 900 men,
bers of the Chamber of Deputies,
more than $50, all under 20 years Of
age, have put on their uniforms and
are with their regiments, many of
them actually at the front.
It is quite different today than
in 1914. Then Deputy. regardless
OF age, only joined the fighting
forces voluntarily. He was protected
by his official position Many ac-
tually did volunteer and rendered
valiant service.
Waived Privilege in 1887.
Today, the Deputy has really no
more choice in the matter than the
humblest farmer. In passing the
act of June II. 1887. for the organi-
zation of the nation in time of war,
the Chamber voluntarily gave up
any privileges in the matter. Only
the age limit was of any signifl-
cance.
The rank and stations of the legis-
lators are. of course, military secrets.
The majority of the $50, it is sur
missed. are officers or non-commis-
stoned officers, but some have un-
doubtedly gone into the war as pri-
Yates
From time to time, Paris news
papers publish a few names. For
example. in the early days of the
mobilization. there disappeared from
their accustomed haunts Deputy
Mrane. civil engineer and Republi-
independent member of the
chamber from Cotesdu-Nord, a
lieutenant of Alpine riflemen, and
Deputy Charles Vallin, representing
district in Paris, a lieutenant of
infantry. These were among the
first to 60, but their fellows of diverse
political parties have followed them
one after another as the mobilizat ton
has progressed.
Among those known to have been
mobilized are Deputy Paul Cam
pargue, Socialist deputy and promi-
nent journalist; Rene Colin, Com
munist deputy from Paris; Ernest
Esparbes. Socialist deputy from the
Haute- Garonne; Max Lejeune, COL
lege professor and Socialist deputy.
The list becomes longer each day.
They put on their uniforms, hard
ly taking time to bid farewell to
their colleagues. They consider it
as a matter of course they should
serve in the ranks, or wherever else
the army assigns them.
Attitude Rare in Past.
Perhaps this is the first time in
history that the men who make the
laws of a nation have taken such an
attitude. In the past, especially in
France, some have entered the ranks
as a matter of individual devotion to
the cause. but never so utterly with
out ostentation or publicity. This
can be considered only as another
manifestation of the changed atti-
tude with which the peoples both of
France and Great Britain have en-
tered upon this struggle-not with
the concept OF fighting another peo-
pie like themselves. but of putting
an end to a scourge.
With the Senators it is different.
In order to fill a seat in the upper
house they must be over 40, and
hence exempt from the first call for
military service. The exemption,
however, is automatic and not spe-
ciflc for Senators. A French Sen
ator. has no more privilege in this
respect than a bricklayer. Never
theless. it is believed. a number Of
Senators have joined their old regi-
ments or are preparing to do so.