Evening star., 1948-09-19

It's only hope OF restoration TO
of Europe, and as an effective bu-
wark against Soviet expansion, lies
in America.
Frances Army, says its mill
tarists, cannot be rebuilt in an
emergency into a real force without
at least 5000, 100000 francs (s1O,-
600 900 ,0OO) in war equipment. And
this must come as lease-lend aid
from the only nation that can give
it todav-America. Top industrlallsts
concur in this estimate.
Army Has 100000
As things stand, if France were
to enter war today, the maximum
number of trained men it could
throw into the field would be S00,-
OOO-a trife against Russia's mil
lions under arms.
They could be armed with weapons
from present French stocks, but
France is so poor in uniforms that
only half their number would be
properly clad and the remainder
would be In rags-no better than
the nondescript fighters of the days
of the French revolution.
Fortunately Frances actual reser-
volr of electives is far greater than
that. France can mobilize men
10 to 30 and build up force, poten-
italy, of 100000 men. But the
brutal fact is that, apart from being
unframed, considerably more than
100000 would remain totally un-
armed and unequipped.
French leaders, not unduN Wor-
ried on this score. believe they can
train 10 young classes within few
months-given the necessary arms
and facilities.
Barracks Were Ruined
Still another handicap, however,
Is the lack of barracks. What
antiquated structures existed before
the war we're reduced to ruins by
the Germans, and the bulk of the
French Army today bivouacks in
the open air, in tents.
French factories are useless as
sinews of the army. What few
arms plants exist turn out mere
dribble of weapons, most of their
output being materials for recon-
struction and other civilian pur-
poses.
It would take years. say both mill
tary and industrial leaders, for this
country to produce the arms and
munitions-and other supplies--
needed to launch great army
That is why thc,r eyes are turned
qnxiously toward Washington. And
TO prove Frances worthincSS for
every ounce OF assistance, French
militarists are ready to extend the
greatest cooperation possible WITHIN
the dignity of proud nation.
Purge Erases Reds
One step in this direction has
been the eradication of almost all
Communist taint from the ranks of
the army. A year-long purge" has
cut Communist propaganda among
French officers to minimum.
Reds who had "infiltrated" into
high army ranks because of their
liberation records have been VIZ
tually weeded out. Only 2 per cent,
in fact, remain members OF the
party and these are deliberately
given minor functions so that they
might resign in disgust.
Military leaders can demonstrate.
too, that the Frenchman retains his
valor on the battlefield
A drive is on to intensity in the
ranks the combative spirit that gave
the Frenchmsn his fame as
fighter. But 1t hardly seems neces-
.sarv, Since liberation, France has
fought only one war-its campaign
in Indo-C China. Unpopular as that
adventure has been here, French
troops have displayed indispensable
qualities as warriors against an
enemy superior in numbers and
better accoutered for guerrilla war
fare.
Soldiers Re.enlisted
OF the 5000 reinforcements sent
there last January, half were close
to expiration of their terms. All
refused to be demobilized when their
time came They asked for new
bitches so they could continue to
fight for Ia patrie."
France is most eager to show Its
pliability when it comes to stand
ardization of arms and choice OF
an overall commander of the COM
bined Western armies-two topics
now under discussion by the French
and British general staffs and high
military experts of the other Bene-
lux nations.
French and American ornaments
are similar in cauber, except for
guns. But the British, whose
weapons differ, have wanted the
calibers of the others adopted to
theirs. 1t is reliably expected, how
ever, that with French persuasion,
the British viii agree to European
tie" their arms.
AS for leadership of the combined
west Europe armies, II war came,
the French would accept an Ameri-
can general in full command. They
believe an American would carry
more weight and lead to less jeal-
ousy with both the British and
French forces than a British or
French general.