Evening star., 1939-10-29
France 10 Send Home
100000 Men Despite
Signs Of Nazi Drive
More Troops MobiIized
Than Needed to Hold
F Fortified Lines
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
PARIS, Oct. 2s-Despite indica-
tlons of an imminent German Of
fensive on the western front the
French government published an
order today which was expected to
release 100000 men from war serv-
ice
The order provided that many
older men and those of any age who
have four or more children may re-
turn to their homes.
1t followed an unofficial report
that the French had sunk a German
submarine, apparently in the North
Sea although the location was not
specified. The report was given
some support by a semi official an
nouncement that French vessels and
seaplanes had carried out several
direct attacks and it appears
one Of these at least has been sue
cesSful.'
Military sources said the report
was strengthened further by the
finding Of six bodies off the coast,
establishing proof, they said, of de-
structlon OF the submarine which
apparently had been literally torn
apart by the explosion of a depth
bomb
The bodies were those of five Ger
man sailors and an officer. Four of
the bodies were picked up off Dun
kerque Well by a fishing vessel; the
other two were washed ashore.
They appeared to have been in
water only a short time Military
commentators said the French de-
stroyed an enemy submarine Thurs
day.
Z. 5. Senate Action Hailed.
The United States Senates vote
TO repeal the arms embargo was de-
cIared unofflcially here to be a
step toward correcting what was
called an international wrong caused
by Soviet Russia's economic aid to
Germany.
Seml-official circles maintained
that II one neutral country could
act as provisloner for Germany it
was only Justice" that another
could agree to sell needed supplies to
the allies.
Although strong German advance
units were described in military dis
patches as having concentrated
attacks against French positions in
four distinct sectors of the western
front, the government ordered the
release from service of all men of
the 1910 class (born in 189OD. all
1atherS OF four or more children
regardless of age, all men aged 43
or over who are fathers of three
children and all aged As or over
who are fathers of two.
This move was considered log
lcal one by military observers.
Too Many Under Arms.
French military authorities con-
slider France has almost too MANY
men under arms. They explained it
was obviously necessary to put sur
plus manpower to work producing
rather than maintain them under
arms, where they are only con-
sumers
Pre-War estimates were that
100000 men were sufficient to man
the Maginot Line, the only land
'front.' to date. Experts estimated
that complete mobilization would
put 100000 men under arms.
Mechanized warfare's mobility of
divisions and new rapid-fre guns
have increased the fire power of the
present French division of 10000
10000 men to more than that of
the old division of 10000 men. In
addition, the experts declared. the
present fortress warfare was dou-
bling or tripling the fighting power
OF each man. They said there had
been scarcely more losses in the
last eight weeks than in the first
week alone of the last war.
Also, the experts said, Frances
, British allies had many times more
men to send to France than in 1914.
Germans Reported Repulsed.
French advices said that during
the last 48 hours the Germans were
driven back by automatic rifle and
machlne-gun fire as they ap-
preached the French lines.
According to French descriptions
OF the hghtlng, the Nazl thruSts had
not reached the point of sustained
attack and when the French opened
fire the attacking units, usually re-
1nforced companies up to 200 men,
retired.
German pressure on French lines
by dawn today was estimated by
French officers to have reached the
intensity of that of two weeks ago.
The previous pressure preceded the
German attack in force up the Mo-
selle Valley at the extreme northern
end OF the front on October 16
AS the war reached the end of the
eighth week the French apparently
considered themselves on the eve of
a German offensive. The only ques-
ton, seemingly, in French minds was
whether the Germans would wait
for sluShy weather to clear, thus
using several more days for the test
Ing of French positions.
November in Lorraine usually is
cold but dry, with bright clear
nights compensating for the short
ioy1joht bo,,rc