DEFENCE SCANDAL

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2202, 15 July 1914, Page 7

DEFENCE SCANDAL

11 IN FRANCE

GROSS INCOMPETENCE WASTE OF MONEY ■ ALARMING EXPOSURES. By. Tetegrojih—Press Association—OopyriEit (Rec. July 14, 10.20 p.m.) Paris, July 14. A sensation has been created in the Senate. M. Charles Humbert, reporter for the Army Committee, surprised the Government by disclosing administrative scandals. Ho accused, the General Staff of gross incompetence. Ho said manufacturers were supplying armoußed turrets inferior to those furnished to foreign countries. Tho supply of gun ammunition is insufficient. andj the shells are old and dangerous to handle. The Howitzers aret old and inferior to' Germany's. French inventors were not encouraged. 'l'ho Government arranged to spend four millions sterling upon a' mortar in vented in Franco in 1910, but nothing was .vet (Jane, though it is -now employed in the services of Germany and Russia. CommuuScations botweon • tho fortresses on the eastern frontier were hopelessly deficient. Tho arnHv is short of two million pairs of boots, and in the event of war the soldieus would start to the front with nono ■cxcopt those on their feet. The armfr at present had only sufficient pontoons' ,and other equipment to cross tho ifpsolleand the; Rhine. Millions'had been voted for defence, and wasted. Parliament,, he thought, would constant to any indisnensable sacrifices, but' it was essential to reorganise tho dnfsnc9 administration. ' M. Messfjig (Minister or War) admitted thai} most of I M. Humbert's facts, taken separately, were .correct, if not as pred;nted, but yet as exceptions.- Hc^promised rigorously to control the execution' of the forthcoming programme. • , M. Clcmertceau (Prime Minister in 1906) 'described the sitting as the most heartrending remembered since 1870. He exclaimed: '!Wr> are neither covered nor The Government must uphold the situation, and indicate the remedy.". ; '.. The debate was adjourned.