1939-03-23 — Page 10

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BRITAIN AND

FRANCE

Britain to create a great army

and prepare it to defend her exis- tence, as in 1914-18, on the soil of France. The French are not alone in arguing thus. Some Brit- ish soldiers and politicians con- tend almost passionately that Britain must not only be ready to fling her potent naval and aerial weapons, and her immense industrial and financial resources, into the struggle, but must des- patch a large army to the main theatre of European operations.

noted military writer, who, be- Captain Liddell Hart, the

fore Munich, held the view that France could repel any German attack unaided by British land [forces, now concedes that she has Recent events added a drama-la just claim to military assist- tic intensity to the warmth of fance owing to the changed bal- welcome given to President and ance of power and the appear- Madame Lebrun, says a British ance of potentially, hostile forces message in reference to the State on her Spanish frontier.. For the Visit of the Presidence of the British Government, however, the French Republic. In fact, it might decision to send 19 divisions im- seem to many something of anmediately on outbreak of war was omen that the visit, arranged so not an easy one. Such a further long ago, should coincide so hap- pledge to Paris, and the prepara- pily with a moment when events tions to implement it, ran coun- have wrought a tremendous ter to the belief honestly held by change in Britain's relationship some Ministers that Britain could to Europe and when the inex-render most effective aid by not drable linking_of.. Britain's fate becoming too heavily embroided with that of France cannot belon land. But, for the rape of too sharply impressed. If Czechoslovakia, the ultimatum to France's military might were Lithuania and other signs that broken by an invader Britain the Nazi machine is running would be in instant and fearful wild, ît would probably run count- jeopardy. The rise of powerful er also to popular feeling. The and predatory totalitarian States, British people. remember with though it menaces France more horror the holocausts of the nearly, is no less of a threat to Somme and Passchendaele; in- Britain, whose statesmen, when stinctively they recoil from the they speak of giving help to the idea of the flower of Britain's French in the event of attack, manhood perishing again on for- are conscious that the rendering eign soil. The Government, of such assistance would be no apart from taking cognisance of more than an act of self-preser-public opinion, and knowing that vation. As the European sky the promise of a large army to has darkened so have the West-France in a future war means Térn democracies drawn more consideration of a policy of con- closely together, until, from the scription now, has to consider limited and legalistic interpreta, to what extent even Britain's un- tion of British obligations to rivalled resources would be equal France given by Mr. Chamber-to the strain of creating a great lain last December, the two na-army in addition to the vast ex- tions have progressed to a point penditure on the Navy and the at which they have publicly ex-Air Force. changed pledges to employ “all

their forces" in one another's Women in Defence

behalf in the event of war and

·

Britain has joined France in Modern "total"". calling the Soviet into collabora- dissolved the old distinction be- tion.

tween the home and the fighting

.

warfare has

re-

The Chancellor of the Duchy fronts, and the part of women in of Lancaster has been more ex- defence' preparations,, if quite plicit than the Prime Minister in different in character, is no less defining Britain's position. The essential than that of the men. Government, said Mr. Morrison This obvious truth is hardly re- on the other day was fully agreed cognised by the local government. that, if France were attacked, The plan for a national Britain could not proceed on the gister, is limited to man-power, principle of limited liability. "All and we suggest that it should be our resources would have. to be supplemented with a women's re- thrown in. The only question is gister for service in an emer- how they could be most effectivé-gency. It is true that already in ly used." This question, how the Colony, women's associations ever, is fundamental. It goes to are co-operating with various the very heart of what is now in organisations for emergency ser- effect the Anglo-French military vice, these organisations have alliance. It is sorely troubling themselves taken the initiative statesmen and strategists in and begun enrolling recruits, and both countries, but particularly training members in first aid, in France. The French, neces-home nursing, and air-raid pre- sarily, think. primarily in terms cautions. Many other activities of their land frontiers and their which women will be expected to Army, which is still the most for-perform, whether in peace time midable in Europe. To them the or in war time, hardly need to throwing in of all British re-be outlined. The scope for such sources connotes the sending to feminine assistance is emphasis- France of vast military forces ed, of course, by the smallness of such as turned the scales in the our population, which demande Great War. Britain, they ar-that every citizen, man or wo- gue, might hold the seas and par- man, must fill a role best suited tially throttle the enemy by to individual capacities in the blockade, and even protect her- event of an emergency. Work al- self against the worst consequ-randy, carried out by existing or- ences of aerial invasion, but ganisations should prove helpful where would she be if France but the inauguration of a co-or- were errun and defeated on land? Wars are still won...

lost in the

Therefo

view, the

rapple:

logical

plan would be welcomed abling uniform methods to

ted, thus putting the volunteer services on the