The Teutonic peril has not only caused a revival of patriotic sentiment, but has drawn attention to the permanent danger of invasion under which Franco fact not always sufficiently taken i count by foreign writers. There is any question of Fronoh troops entering German territory, but it is a standing ity—one might say a certainty—thi in the event of serious trouble Ger man troops would be over the frontier before France know she was at war; and there is some reason to doubt whether the French line of det would be able to atom the tide. This line is in reality artificial. The conformation of the frontier enables the Germansto make both frontal and flank attacks on the French forces stationed on the right bank of the upper Moselle. Moreover, the French frontier between Switzerland and Belgium is 160 miles long. To build forts along the whole length of this boundary would be far too costly; and for this reason there are only suficient' fortifications to command such. portions of territory as best lend themucltes to defensive operations, There are four strongly fortified towns—Belfort, Epinal, Foul and Verdun—each held by more than a division. There are also two screens of small forts, one between Belfort and Epinal, the other between Foul and Verdun. This leaves two gaps: one, to the north, 25 miles wide, between Verdun and Belgian territory; the other, in the centre, 40 miles and Foul. Each of openings is watched'by a large field Tt-has been asserted quite recently that none of the outlying forts would be able to hold out against heavy artillery of the type now possessed by Germany; but this, the military authorities say, was recognised as soon as modern projectiles of high explosive power came into u The part played by the forts in que has been altered accordingly. They are no longer intended to bear the brant of the shock. " They sre merely to serve as bases for the field forces stationed along the border. The fortifications of the four towns above-mentioned, however, have been greatly strengthened, both for offend sive and defensive purposes, Modern guns have been placed in position, protected by casemates and redoubts of immonse thickness. The four "strong places," as they are called, thus continue to fulfil the original purpose; namely, to provide bases for counter-attacks, to cover a retreat, and command the railways by which the enemy might otherwise pour troops into France. 1 money, the work has delayed, but the present the authorities from their apathy, and it is stated that everything will soon be completed. The deficiency in the supply of ammunition is also being made good, we are told, though it is by no-m rings enjoy the prospect of sinking the amount of money required for the immense quantities of ammunition required by quick-firing guns and magazine rifles. Unfortunately the French military system has other defects w! medied quite 80 easily. According to a high authority, Gonoral Langlois, delation has undermined discipline, the general staff devotes too much time to ofice foralities and not enough to preparation for war, the commanders of many units late better politicians than soldiers, the horse artillery attached to the cavalry divisions is inferior, and so on. After roading these things, Frenchmen may excused if they regard the situation a certain amount of pessimism.
A Ruse De Guerre, Apropos of military questions, an ingenious device, evidently inspired by Boer and Japanese cunning, has just been sug-red by " French artillery officer, Lieut. lo Fleurelle. He proposes to supply every field battery with an extra limber containing four hinged steel shields similar in appearance to the-e used for the protection of the gunners, but contrived only for the discharge of specially prepared blank caridges. The idea is to place the four shields in position with intervals of fifteen paces, like an ordinary battery. Behind each shield is an artilleryman to fire cartridges, which give a flame exactly simi lar to that of gunfire, but without noise, When the real'battery (which should if possible remain behind the crest of a hill or be otherwise kept out of sight of the enemy) opens, the cartridges are to be detonated as each gun is fired. It is claimed that the enemy's artillery would expend its shell.on the phantom battery, leaving the real one free to obtain its range to a nicety. Should the real and fictitious flashes bo'seon simultaneously, the enemy bring up more gans unnecessarily, ivide his fre, thus wasting ammunition, Doubtless the deception would be found out by the enemy's cavalry, but the information would not he likely to reach the deluded artillery commander in time to be of use. It remains to be seen whether experience will confirm this curious conception.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.