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Taihape Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3604, 16 October 1920, Page 6

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•{.; MANOEUVRES TO INCLUDE AEROPLANES. TANKS AND POISON GAS. The wars of the future will not be less terrible than that one which was loosened by the Germans "in 1914, if •the plans of the French manoeuvres which are to be helcTlate this summer are to be taken as an indication. Incidentally, these manoeuvres will add an interesting reflection on President WiVorrs peace treaty, which was suppoj d to turn the minds of mankind fro:a military thoughts and to make for an sternal and wonderful peace. It must noi. be theught that France is more military than any other nation of Europe, but. the fact .that she has continued to call classes to the colours makes it necessary tha't they should get some idea of what war is like. Therefore, France's military chiefs have outlined a tentative scheme which Avill teach the hortrors of war without the students experiencing the flangers of actual conflict. The manoeuvres are to furnishj a perfect image of a (real battle, with airplanes, tanks, machine guns, trenches, artillery, bomb-throwers, hand grenades, smoke clouds and even .poison gas protection included in the list of subjects wherein students must be proficient The announcement that the manoeuvres will not be confined to marches, sleeping in fields and the carrying out of intricate drills, as in the past, is causing consternation among peace apostles, who are already suggesting that the teaching of French youths how to kill by the most ghastly methods will have only one logical effect—to induce other nations to do likewise, with the result 'that France -will some day find herself faced by some nation as highly Itrained as were the Germans in 1914. Tactical problems have not been overlooked by France's military chiefs. In fact, France has wonderful facilities for these manoeuvres, and actual battles will be fought at Verdun and at Eheims, in Artois, on the Aisne and on the Name where troops will use the same ilrenches' and the same dugouts that sheltered the allied heroes during the five years of the world war. Certain areas have been reserved for, training purposes the trenches there will be maintained in their present condition at Ihe expense of the Government, an expenditure which undoubtedly will be recovered from tourists desirous say in the next decade, of seeing just what war trenches look like and who are willing to hand out francs for the privilege of seeing them. Militaristic naltions also should not overlook the fact that while the French army hereafter will be based on two years' service, , youths, when demobilised, will be transferred to the reserves, from which they will not' be released for thirty years. This will give France a total of between -6,000,O 0 7,000,000" fully trained men, •who will be available for duty at any , time.