Evening star., 1949-08-28

tion take to determine the Wiling
Senators that the reports brought
back by the joint chiefs of staff
and presented to Congress were
designed by their civilian supe iors
to encourage the voting of ne
initial slice for the rearma 1T
of Europe. The reports did 1t
contain actual information a. o
the ability of the Europeans n
general-and the French in par
ticular-to put to good use the
arms which the American tax
payer will be called on to provide.
Defense Ability Doubted
The economic situation in
France has greatly improved. But
in the minds of many legislators
there is great doubt as to whether
the F'renchman in the street is
more willing to meet the Red
avalanche"-as it is described
across the Atlantic-than he was
to meet the Nazi onslaught in
1910. The following facts and
figures have been marshaled to
show that it is not at all certain
by any means that the Western
EuropeanS-with France as their
military pivot-will be in any
better position to fight than they
were 10 years ago:
When the war broke out be-
tween Germany and France, the
French Army put in the field no
less thap 73 divisions. When the
rearmament of Europe has been
completed the French will have
a maximum of % divisions. They
now have Z ill-equipped combat
divisions and we aim to add an
other Is divisions within the next
five years.
It is true that France lacked
modern armament and especially
modern aviation to use against
the Nazis. But she did have a
strong line Of fortifications-the
Maginot Line-which military ex-
perts believed to be impregnable.
French artillery was still excel
lent and did not lack the means
with which to fight. French tanks
were poor and for the most part
obsolescent. but they could be
used satisfactorily for defense.
Yet the 73 divisions put into COM
bat by the French-supported by
a good British Army of 10 divi-
sions (much more than Britain
could put into the field today
melted away within a. days after
the Germans launched their at
tack. '---
Reasons for Collapse
A number of factors contributed
to the spectacular defeat of what
was once the most powerful army
in Europe: Incompetence in the
rapidly changing governments.
wishful thinking about peace on
the part Of the country's admin
istrators, infiltration and subver-
sive propaganda by the then small
number of Communists. and-it
must be said frankly-the lassi-
tude of the French people and
their lack of enthusiasm to fight.
It was the French electorate
which placed in power the in.
competent legislators and govern
ments which were partially-but
only partially responsible for
Frances collapse. These incom-
petents gathered popular votes by
their pacif1sm.
The situation has not improved
in the least today. The French
have emerged from the daze cre-
ated by that crushing defeat. In
the last two years their economic
conditions have improved remark
ably. But whether they will be
willing to take up arms once
more is such a moot question that
no honest thinking Frenchman
can answer frankly. The inf1l-
tration of Communists in French
industries-which necessarily will
play an important role In the
event of another war lis far
greater than it was in 1889.
Between 1945 and 1947 French
coalition cabinets contained a
number of high-ranking Com
munists. Some of them had key
positions, particularly in the De-
partments of National Defense
and Air, During those two years
they placed in vital positions per-
sons who were devoted followers
of Moscow. They are still there.
Communists Are Stronger
The General Confederation Of
Labor tCGT}, which is the main
French labor organization. has a
much larger number OF Com
munists in its ranks than it ever
had before. The Communist
Party, while suffering serious set
backs at the elections in the last
two years, is still the second most
important party in France. And
the Communists have gone on
record officially as refusing to
bear arms against the Russians.
They have fought everything
Moscow wanted them to fight.
They have opposed the Marshall
Plan violently. saying that Amer
ican imperialist- capitalists were
"fattening up" the French people
as cannon fodder for use against
the Russians.
For two years there has been
Communist propaganda
both by word of mouth and In
print-saying that as soon as the
French people have received
enough to eat and have gained
strength they will be provided
with arms to fight the capital
lists battle against dear RUS
sia."
How deep q root this propa-