The French Army.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 71, 15 July 1914, Page 5

The French Army.

A SENSATION IN SENATE. STAFF'S GROSS INCOMPETENCE. [By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] ["United Press Association.] Paris, July 14. A sensation occurred in the Senate. Charles Humbert, reporter for the 'Army Committee, surprised the Government By (disclosing administrative scandals. He accused the general staff of gross incopetencc. Manufacturers were suplying armored turrets that were inferior to those furnished to foreign countries. The i supply of guns and ammunition was !insufficient, shells were old and dangerous to handle, and howitzers old j [and inferior to Germany's. French l inventors were not encouraged. The Government, he said, had arranged to spend four millions sterling upon a mortar invented in France in 1910, but nothing had yet been done, though it was now employed in the services of Germany and Russia. Communication between the fort- ; resses on the eastern frontier was hopelessly deficient. The army was short of two million pairs of boots, and in the event of war the soldiers would start for the front with none except those on their feet. The army at present had only sufficient pontoons and other equipment to cross the Moselle or the Rhine. Millions voted for defence were wasted. Parliament would consent to any indispensable sacrifice, but it was essential to reorganise. M. Messimy admitted that most of Humbert's facts, taken separately, were correct. He promised to rigorously control the execution of the forthcoming programme.

I M. Clemenceau described the sitting as the most heart-rending he could remember since 1870. He exclaimed: "We are neither covered nor defended. The Government must uphold the situation and indicate a remedy." The debate was adjourned.