This interpretation of the attitude jot the Frenen masses is universal. They believe too that their fortifica-itens are sufficient to protect them. Yet an outside observer, a neutral, has, observed that perhaps the historian of 100 years from now will remark that the decline of France dated from the building of that steel wall on its Eastern. and Northern frontiers. Be-Jeause the wall has made it impossible for the French soldier to contemplate going beyond the wall. Tt has made ihe French army permanently defen-'Has it made the air force strictly defensive? The best authority for an Janswer to that question is General [Joseph Denain, the frst professional military man to be Minister of Air.
General Denain occupies brand new quarters in a brand new Air Ministry away out on the "Avenue Victor. [More than a city block is covered by ithe complex buildings housing the [School of Military Areonautics, the Museum of aeronautics, and the Minis lity. They are the most modern buildings in Paris, straight-lined, rejminiscent of German architecture.
An aged French sergeant led us to the elevator, but the elevator did not work. Eventually it started, but had light. "The ascent was made In the "On the sixth floor the Minister has his headquarters. The room is large, Jwith a studio window, a ceiling in two decks, a column just off centre, [Et jand steel lamps. It is as up to date och riving 20" Ne exclaimed. we were of the French miliary air programme, Germans past a monument, put up by "Seunds Like " Bad Joke JAlsace-Lorraine in 1870—71. At the General Denain, in civillan=clothes, lyery moment that my friend asked "How can we stop them?" as though by stage direction there appeared from 'a hole in a barnyard fence a tall white cock, the Gallic cock of France. With Jo lift of his wings and a ting of his head he crowed so. lustily, that a keen-eared listener might have heard ton the otner side of the Rhine. He jerowed with his bright tittle eyes [slooming at the German monument.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.