The Sun.
London, England, 1870-08-12 00:00:00

THE NEW FRENCH MINISTRY.

The Standard points out that the new French Govern-
ment is not a party one. It is not an administration
ivl4ch represents—whatevever the opinions of the majority
of its members—absolutism, as opposed to liberty. It is a
war Ministry, and as such it has been accepted
by the nation. The people of France do not ask
whether the Count de Palikao is in favour of further limi-
tations of the Imperial power or not. They recognise in
him a Minister who, given a war, will do everything to
carry it on vigorously ; who knows what is needed
in the emergency, and who will not shrink from
doing what is needed because it may impose sacri-
fices upon those disposed to evade the fulfilment
of the duties they owe their country. On these
grounds the French nation is content to accept, although
not enthusiastic about, the new Ministry. Its enthusiasm
is directed to the expulsion of the invader from French
soil, and that enthusiasm and the confidence of achieving
such a result will not be destroyed or diminished by a
Prussian victory before Metz and retreat of the "army
of the Rhine"—what a title—upon Paris, if that should
be the consequence of the military operations of. yester-
day or to-day.

THE TWO MILITARY SYSTEMS.

The lack of news from the frontier gives the Te/rgraph,
an opportunity to moralise on the desperate aspect of
affairs for the Empire whose military strength, mighty
in reputation, and formidable enough according to
the old standards, has at the outset broken like
a painted pipkin against the " blood and iron "
of Stein's system. France must comprehend the facts of
the day. She is defeated because her leaders hazarded a
daring stroke of policy without having actually secured
the means to accomplish it. If (says the Telegraph)
we might already form a conclusion on the
events before us, . we may venture the opinion
that popular forces have superseded professional
armies. Mitrailleuses have not saved "regulars"
from succumbing to " nationals ;" and thus the question
is ended, unless Bazaine can work a miracle of war. It
lies in this nutshell : By Stein's method you can fight
with all your male population, and carry on the ordinary
work of life when the nation is not fighting. A French-
man has said, thankfully, of the English in-
fantry, "God be praised; there is not much of it ;"
and in regard to this tremendous German engine of war-
fare, civilisation may also gratefully reflect that by its
nature it is stronger for defence than aggression, that it
cannot be often called forth, nor for very long at a time.
But Sir Henry Storks, and those who are, with true
intelligence and watchfulness, .examining the future
conditions of warfare, and especially those of our own
insular security, must turn their thoughts to this
remarkable system. The French had brought the
old standing army plan about as near to perfec-
tion as it would come, and; in spite of the gross
derelictions of the Executive, it was indeed a
magnificent and most formidable power. Yet,
look at Woerth and Forbach—in these sanguinary
scenes it has not been for lack of valour, nor of patriotism,
nor of readiness to die that France has stood beaten and
at bay. The French army has to face a far mightier
and less costly engine ; and those nations will be the
wisest who first take into earnest and practical considera-
tion .the moral of Von Moltke's gigantic campaigns.
The Daily News remarks that both at Saarbruck and at
Woerth the best troops of France were mown down be-
cause the German soldiers kept cool and took good aim,
while the effect of the rapid firing of the French was com-
paratively lost. If these battles show nothing else, they
will convince the world that mere élan can no longer
carry all before it. This is an important truth in con-
nection with the attempt now made to regenerate the
French army by revolutionary fury. General Dejean has
told France what organized forces she has at her disposal,
and they are evidently inadequate. It seems to be
supposed that if the people were armed all would
be changed, and that France would at once become
a nation of soldiers. But Germany is already a
nation of trained soldiers, and it would take years for
France to become like it. All the singing and speech-
making in the world would never make the popu-
lace of France go more gaily and swiftly to
the attack than did the Turcos and Zouayes who
fought at Woerth, without asking what they were com-
bating for. If, however, the war lasts long enough
for the French organisers to give a real military direction
and character to the hosts which the national enthusiasm
is sure to supply, no doubt the product will be a very
fine army indeed. But it will stand opposed to one as
fine. Captain Jeannerod, who was made prisoner at
Saarbruck, and spent two days with the Prus-
sians, has told his countrymen that from the first
step of his entrance among them he recognised "an ex-
cellent army as well as a nation powerfully organised for
war." In what did these characteristics appear ? He
answers, " In everything."