§ 79. Mr. MOSLEYasked the Secretary of State for War what was the approximate number of French troops mobilised in June, 1913; what is the approximate number mobilised at the present time; whether any reduction has been effected between the peace establishment of the French Army in the year 3913 and the projected peace establishment of the French Army in the future; what was the cost of the French Army in the year 1913; and what is the estimated cost for the current year and for the normal peace year of the future?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONIn June, 1913, the strength of the French Army, including Colonial troops, amounted to about 655,000, all ranks. The Budget for 1914 allowed for 28,701 officers and 762,963 other ranks, i.e., a total of 791,664. The number of French troops under arms at the present time is, approximately, 660,000, all ranks, made up of 470,000 white and 190,000 coloured troops. The military expenditure for 1913, including the various Colonial forces and Army pensions, was about £70,000,000. The estimated cost for the current year, less pensions, is 4,365,774,874 francs. The cost of pensions for Army and Navy (between which no discrimination is made in the French Estimates) amounts to 922,498,660 francs. As regards the future, I am unable to supply the information asked for.