Defense

In his speech to the nation last week (see above) Premier Doumergue announced: "I returned to office when I was called by President Lebrun and party leaders who said that civil war was about to break out. . . . Civil war risks bringing a yet more horrible thing--foreign invasion." Civil war is the politician's lookout, but foreign invasion is the army's job. Last week General Denain, new Minister of Air, calmly overrode the objections of diplomats against needlessly annoying Italy. and ordered ground broken for a vast air base at Rosidiano, Corsica. Built on the seashore, the new field will serve both land and seaplanes, will cover about 300 acres and will be heavily fortified. Italian officers are more interested in the fact that General Denain's new field will be just 60 miles from the coast of Tuscany, less than one hour's living from Rome itself.

France's other Cabinet General, Minister of War Petain. moved to strengthen France's land forces. For the first time since the War French reservists will be called to the colors this summer for two weeks training at frontier fortifications.

The French conscripts now being called to the tricolor are war babies, born in 1914-15. The fact that they are so few has worried the French General Staff for nearly a year (TIME. June 5). Last week was announced a new scheme to fill the blank files. "To aid unemployment" there will be a great recruiting drive in April for six-month volunteers, open to all young men who have completed their military service any time within the past five years. There will also be a call for "Specialistes," unemployed young men who are willing to take a chance on an 18-months' enlistment.

Scratching over the military expenditures section of France's new budget, editors of a political weekly called La Griffe (The Claw) thought they had uncovered another government scandal last week. The French air force of 2,286 effective planes is magnificently staffed with 23 generals, 38 colonels, 73 lieutenant-colonels. 238 battalion chiefs. Tucked in the budget are orders calling for the creation of 40 more battalion chiefs, setting aside 7,498,000 francs for "leave of absence expenses" for the 23 generals, raising the salary of each member of the Air Council 29,880 francs, and giving the Vice President of the Superior Air Council a new entertainment fund of 34,000 francs.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.