1. The French-Czechoslovakian treaty provides for military assistance only in the case of an unprovoked attack. At least an agreement of the French and British views as to the legal aspect has to be achieved. If only for political reasons we have to consider the 2nd day as the earliest possible day of war on a European scale. In cast of a 24 hour ultimatum it would be the 3rd day.
2. It is further assumed that the actual commencement of hostilities will only take place after the French armed forces have been tactically deployed. That means within the fourth to eighteenth day. This to
a. use the deployment as a means of political pressure,
b. and to be able to deploy the troops undisturbed.
3. The war aim of the Entente Powers is to be considered as the overcoming of Germany through attacking its war economy. With other words through a long war.
4. The following are possible methods of operation for the French army:
a. to man and hold the Maginot-line,
b. to march into Belgium and the Netherlands at the beginning of the war with the aim of occupying the Ruhr-territory.
All suppositions support the first alternative.
5. The French Air Force will probably attack both economic and German Air Force targets as well as military and communication objectives. Thus no concentrated effect will be achieved at any one place.