YOUNGER GENERALS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1559, 3 June 1916, Page 4

YOUNGER GENERALS.

The French Chamber of Deputies recently refused to pass a Government Bill lowering the age limit of general officers between the ranks of colonel and divisional generals, not, a correspondent explains, that Parliament did not favour such a measure, but that, it wanted something more thorough-going. The project, which was formulated by the late Minister for War, General Gallieni, and defended by his successor, General Roques, proposed to fix the age limit at 59 for colonels (instead of 60), at 60 for briga-dier-generals (instead of 62), and at 63 for divisional generals (instead of 65), the last-named to be kept on active lists, however’, in case of brilliant services. M. Maginot, the first hostile speaker, is deputy for the Meuse, and was Undersecretary for War in the Doumerque Cabinet before the war. He went to the front as corporal, was severely wounded, gaining the War Cross and Military Medal, and now appeared at the “tribune,” or speaking platform, of the Chamber on crutches. He complained of an insufficiency of bold and vigorous effort. initiative, and “warlike will” in the high command. General Roques did not dispute the need of lowering the age limits. “When we entered the war there were 47 divisional generals and 67 brigadier generals who would not have taken active service it this Bill had been in force. Among those there remain at the front four divisional and 16 brigadier generals.” The oldest army corps commander, he added, is now 64, and the youngest 49.