FRENCH ARMY AS IT IS TO-DAY

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 2456, 8 May 1915, Page 13

FRENCH ARMY AS IT IS TO-DAY

STRENGTH AND EFFICIENCY BIG RESOURCES IN TRAINED MEN Tlie strength, organisation, and efficiency of tlie ltyenck army as it stands w-day after eight mouths of warfare are strikingly set forth in Part II of the French official review of the war, published in the English newspapers. The compiler of the report, beginning his review on February 1, states that on that date the condition of the French army was excellent and appreciably superior to what it was at the begiiming of the war from the three points of view of numbers, quality, and equipment. Younger Cenerals, In the higher command important changes have been made. It has, in fact, been rejuvenated by the promotion of young commanders of proved quality to high rank. All the old Generals who at the beginning of August were at the head of large commands have been gradually eliminated, some as the result of the physical strain of war, others by. appointment to Territorial commands.' This rejuvenation of the higher ranks of the army has been, carried out in a far-reaching manner ,and it may be said that it has embraced all the grades of the military hierarchy from commanders of brigades to commanders of armies. The result has been to lower the average age of general officers 'by ten years. To-day more than three-fourths of the officers commanding armies and army corps are less than sixty years of ako. Some are considerably younger. A number of the army corps commanders are from 46 to 54 years of age, and the brigade commanders are usually under 60. There are, in fact, at the front extremely few general officers over 160. and tlieso are men who are in full possession of their physical and intellectual powers. This rejuvenation of the high command was facilitated by a number of circumstances, notable among which were the strengthening of the higher regimental ranks carried out during the three years preceding the war, as a result of which at the outset of the campaign each infantry regiment had two lieutenant-colonels and each cavalry and artillery regiment a colonel and a lieu-tenant-colonel, and also the system of promotion for the duration of the war. Many officers who began the war as colonels now command brigades. Some are even at the head of divisions or army oorps. Ability proved on the field of battle is now immediately recognised and utilised. The higher grades of the French army are inspired by a remarkable unity in the matter of military theory and by a solidarity .of spirit. Plenty of Regimental Officers. The cavalry after six months of war still possess an excess of officers. There are on an average 36 officers to a regiment instead of the 31 considered to lie the necessary minimum. TiTe artillery, which has suffered 1-elatively little, has also an excess of officers, and is further able to count upon a large number of captains and other officers who hefore the war were employed in the arsenals or in technical research. Finally, tho reserve artillery officers have nearly all proved to be excellent battery commanders. The losses in the junior commissioned ranks have naturally been highest in tho infantry. There .is, however, nofo'.ing like a want.of officers in' this arm. Many captains and lieutenants who have been wounded by machine-gun fire vsuch wounds are usually slight and quickly healed) have been able to return speedily, to the front. Tho roserve officers fe'ave in general done re-' markably well, and in many cases have bluwu quite exceptional aptitude for tho rank of company commanders. The non-commissioned officers promoted to sub-lieutenancies make excellent section leaders, and oven show themselves very clever and energetic company commanders in the field. The Democratic, Spirit. It must be remembered also that, thanks to the intellectual and physical development of tho serving with the colours, and thanks, above all,' to the warlike qualities or the race and the democratic spirit of our army, we have been able to draw upon the lower grades and even upon the rank and file for officers. Many men who began the war on August 2 as privates now wear the officer's epaulettes. The elasticity of our regulations regarding promotion in war-time, the absence of spirit of caste, and the friendly welcome extended by all officers to those of tlieir military inferiors who havo shown undei fire their fitness to command have enabled us to meet all requirements. The state of our infantry cadres on January 15 was very satisfactory,, and much. superior to? that of the German infantry. [Tile French' review has already stated that Germany now has "on ail average'twelve officers to a regiment."] On an average each of our regiments has 48 officers, including 18 regular officers, 15 reserve officers, and 15 non-commissioned officers. In each regiment six of the twelve companiea are commanded by captain's who are regular officers, tliree by captains of the reserve, and threo by lieutenants. Each company has at least three officers. In sum, the state of the army.as regards the commissioned 'ranks, from the highest to the lowest, is declared to be exceptionally brilliant. Tho army is led by young, well-trained, and daring chiefs, and the lower •.commissioned ranks have acquired the art of war by oxperience.

Over 2,500,000 at the Front, Including all ranks, France now has more than 2,500,000 men at the front, and every unit is, or was on January 15, at ivar strength. The infantry coni- . panics are at least 200 strong. In many regiments the companies nave a strength of 250 or more. In the other arms, -which have suffered less than the infantry, the units are all up to, or above, regulation strength. This fact constitutes one of the most important advantages of the French army over the Germans. While Germany has created a great number of new units, army corps, or divisions, which absorbed at a blow all of her available resources in officers and men, tlio French supreme command has avoided the formation of new units except in limited number, and has only admitted exceptions to this rulo when it was able to count with certainty on being able to provide amply for both the present and future requirements of the new units as regards all ranks without encroaching upon the reserves needed for the existing units. At tho same time, thanks to tliß depots in tho interior of the country, the effectives at the front have been maintained at full strength. The sources of supply for this purpose were the remainder of the eleven classes of the reserve, the younger classes of the Territorial army, and the new class of 1911. A large number of the men wounded in the earlier engagements of the war have, been able to return to the front, and these have been incorporated in the new drafts, and have provided these with a useful stiffening of war-tried men. Repairing Future Wastage. With regard to the supplies of men upon which the army can draw to repair the wastage at the front, there are ' practically half as many men iu the

depots as at the front; in other words, about 1,250,000. Further supplies of men aro provided by the class of 1915, which has already proved to bo more than a fifth more numerous than the official estimate, and tho "revision," in consequence of Ministerial decree, of the various categories of men of military age exempted oil grounds of health or for other reasons from the duty of bearing arms. As a • result of this measure nearly half a million men have been claimed for the army, almost all of whom, after a rigorous physical test, have been declared fit for military service. 'l'here are still many voluntary enlistments, and with all these resources of men the army can count upon reinforcements, soon to be available, which will considerably augment its offensive power. Quality Proved by Success. The quality of the troops has improved perceptibly since the beginning of the war. The men have become hardened aud used to war, and their health—largely owing to tho excellence of the commissariat—is extremely satisfactory. In spite of the severity of the winter hardly any cases of disease of the respiratory organs have occurred, and the sanitary returns of the army show ajL appreciable improvement on those of the preceding winter. AVith regard to the reserves, experience has verified the dictum of the Servian and Bulgarian Generals in the war of 1913—namely, that "two months in the field are necessary in order to get at the full value of reserves." Our infantry is now accustomed to the rapid and thorough "organisation" of the defensive. In August it neither liked nor had the habit of using the spade. _ During the past five, months not a single encounter can bo cited in which our infantry did not have the advantage over tho German infantry. All the enemy's attacks have been repulsed, except to the north of Soissons, where their success was due to the floo'iied state of the Aisne and the carrying away of our bridges. Our attacks, on tho other hand, have yielded important results, and have been carried out with plenty of spirit, although without the imprudence which cost us such heavy losses in August.