FRANCE

a republic of Western in N.E. France approaches within 21 m. of Eng. coast. Boundaries of France, taken clockwise from Straits of Dover, are Belgium, Luxemburg, Germany (the Palatinate and riv. Rhine), Switzerland, Italy, Mediterranean Sea, Spain, Atlantic Ocean, and Eng. Channel. Coast of Britt any {fs rocky and indented: farther E. are high chalk cliffs, farther S. flat and sandy; Mediterranean shore bordered by dunes and marshes W. of Rhone, but to E. of that river the Alps are close to the sea. The highlands of France lie mainly to the 8. round the central plateau, which contains the Auvergne van, and La Marche. KH. of this plateau are the Alps (Mont Blanc, 15,780 ft.) and Jura Mts.; W. are the Between central plateau and Alpine and Pyrene an folded ranges (both barriers to communication) are easy routes of Rhone and Garonne valleys, connecting Mediterranean with northern plain. In E. are Vosges (4,680 ft.) and western extremity of Ardennes; in N.W. are heights of Britteny. The principal rivers are the Seine (485 m.), flowing through the Paris i an basin, where the Oise—converge; the Loire (634 m.), from the central plateau to the Bay of Biscay, with network of tributaries linked to other rivers by canals; the Garonne (404 m.), flowing with Dordogne into the Gironde, and joined from Toulouse to Mediterranean by Canal du Midi; the Rhone (504 m.), from the Alps, joined by the slow flowing Sadne; and the Rhine forms part of the eastern frontier. The climate of the N., is like that of southern England, but becomes continental in the center and E.; mild, wet winters mark the Mediterranean shore lands, where the summers are relatively dry and hot. Rich soils and plentiful rains make France an agricultural country; over 60 per cent. of the surface was cultivated or under gra in 1913; wheat, rye, barley, oats, and potatoes are grown in N. and center, sugar beet in N.E., flax and hemp in N.; vines grow best in Burgundy, Champagne, and round Bordeaux; silk is produced in the Rhone valley. Of the 8,000,000 people engaged in agriculture in 1914, 3,000,000 were mobilized, and the majority of the 1,400,000 men lost in the World War belonged to this cla ; ten of the richest departments — Pas-de-Calais, Nord, have been laid waste; in 1918 the acreage under crops and the harvests alike were greatly reduced; the war has had a similar effect on the numbers of livestock. There are fisheries on coasts of Flanders, Britt any, and Provence. The invaded region included the principal coal and iron areas, and the seats of many great industries. France was deprived of 68 per cent. of her coal, 47 per cent. of her coke, 90 per cent. of her iron, 85 per cent. of her cast iron, 60 hor| cent. of her steel, 75 per cent, of sugar, 85 per cent, of her woolen factories, 65 per cent. of her cotton mills, and 85 per cent. of her flax. The future status will be modified by the recovery of Alsace-Lorraine, where textile and mining industries were flourishing. It will take ten years to get all the coal mines into full swing. The production of coal in tons was 39,816,000 in 1913, 20,000,000 in 1919; 28,240,887 in 1921. In addition to iron, copper, aluminium, lead, silver, zinc, and salt are largely mined. Alsace-Lorraine is rich in pot a sOlive oil is prepared chiefly round Marseilles. Silk is the only industry that escaped damage during the war; it is manufactured in Isere, Rhone, Loire, Ardéche, and Saéne-et-Loire. The effect of the war on commerce has been to increase imports (in 1919 three times over those of 1913), while expo”ts remain practically the same; thus «‘rance is faced with a steadily increasing commercial deficit. Communications by road are excellent; five great railway companies — Nord, Est, Paris, Lyonthe Etat or State line give services to all parts; in 1913 the mileage was 31,870. In 1921 the mileage was 26,250. The decrease represents the effects of the war on railroad operations. Waterways have been somewhat neglected; main canals are in N. and E. giving acce to Belgium and the Rhine; in 1913 there were 5,480 m. of navigable rivers, and 3,104 m. of canals. The mercantile marine totals about 2,500,000 tons. The population was 39,601,509 in 1911; of these 1,159,835 were foreigners, chiefly Italians, Belgians, Spaniards, and Germans. In 1921 the population was 37,499,394. ‘The birth-rate is low; the war lo es were 1,400,000. Area, es. Government and Constttution.—The executive power is in the hands of a president elected for seven years; he is a isted by ministers. Legislative power is exercised by Chamber of Deputies, elected for four years, and Senate, elected for nine years, one-third retiring every three years; manhood suffrage obtains. Side by side with these is an advisory council of state. For administrative purposes France is divided into 86 departments. Alsace-Lorraine forms three additional departments; these are divided into 362 arrondi ements, subdivided into 2,915 cantons and 36,241 communes. For judiciary purposes the Cour de Ca ation is supreme; under it are 26 courts of appeal. Education.—Public instruction falls into primary or elementary, secondary (lycees et colleges), and higher universies. The Fr. educational system is now in force in Alsace-Lorraine, The minister of public instruction is at the head of univ. and school education. For educational administration purposes France is divided into academies, one in Algeria, each under a rector, a isted by several inspectors. The Sorbonne in Paris is the seat of the faculties of literature and science of the univ. of Paris. It was founded under St. Louis by Robert de Sorbon, 1211-74, and first intended for theol. The Collége de France, close to the Sorbonne, independent of the univ.; it was founded by Francis I., and is a public institution. Primary education is compulsory between ages of 6 and 13—tree, secular. Religion.—Till 1905, when the Church was disestablished, Roman Catholicism was the officially recognized religion. Church property ed to the state in 1907, since when there has been no state religion. Freedom cf worship is allowed to all creeds. There are 17 archbishoprics. | Army and Navy.—France is at present divided into 21 regions, in each of which an army corps is stationed in time of peace. By law of 1913 service is compulsory for all males between ages of 20 and 48 years. The effective force on all fronts, Sept. 1, 1918 was 2,888,730; the number mobilized was 7,917,000 men, or. 20.4 of the total pop. In 1923 there were about 500,000 men under. arms; the Fr. recruiting system is now in force in Alsace-Lorraine. In 1918 the Fr. navy comprised 1,296 ve els, excluding transports; their work was principally in the Mediterranean. The coasts are divided into five mar. prefectures, with headquarters in fortified rts of Cherbourg, Brest, L’orient, ochefort, and Toulon. There is also a Colonies and Dependencies include:— In Africa: Algeria, Tunis, Sahara, Fr. W. Africa, Fr. Equatorial Africa, Mayotte and Comoro Islands, Madagascar, Réunion, Fr. Soma lil and, and a virtual protectorate over Morocco. African po e ions are increased as a result of the World War. In Asia: Fr. India, Fr. Indo-China. In Ocean i a: New Caledonia, with dependencies, Loyalty Islands, etc., New He brides, under joint Franco-Brit. administration, Society Islands, Tahiti, and other Pacific islands. In America: S.—Fr. Guiana; N. Guadeloupe, Martin i que, St. Pierre, an Miquelon. Total area is c. 4,500,000 sq. articles. French History.—¥or the history w to the invasion of the Franks, see Gauu. For the Franxs, see art. under len ieg it Osu}