The Sun.
London, England, 1870-10-03 00:00:00

DISORGANISATION IN FRANCE.

To those who look at the state of things
.in Tours
and the neighbourhood with the impartiality of
foreigners, it seems almost impossible that the
troops whom we see here can beat back the trained,
hardened, and fully-equipped regiments which they
must face. For the most part they are raw levies—,
fall of spirit and vigour, no doubt, and eager to
fight, but only half trained and half armed. This
morning the Mall has been lined with a large corps
of Gerdes Mobile, from Brittany, who are as vigorous
a set of young fellows as any drill sergeant
need covet ; but 'they are armed with the muzzle-
loader, and hence, in all probability, they will be
driven like chaff before the wind when exposed to
the fire of the needle-gun. Next, the disorganisation is
absolutely frightful. The soldiers seem to have forgotten
how to obey and the officers how to command. The re-s
cent mutiny of the Francs-tireurs was but an extreme ex-
ample of the effects which might at any moment
be produced by the wide-spread spirit of in-
subordination. The soldiers firmly believe, not that
they have been beaten in fair fight, but that that they
have been " betrayed." They are equally convinced
that had they not been " betrayed " they would have
been the victors at Woerth and Sedan. What precise
meaning they attach to the charge of treachery they do
not, and perhaps cannot, tell. Roundly they ac-
cuse the Emperor, his Ministers, the Generals,
the contractors for army stores, and everybody save
themselves. Their own officers cannot expect to be
omitted from the black list ; the men cannot have
confidence in chiefs who have continually led
them to defeat. And hence the spirit of insubordi-
nation among the rank and file. The evil has
reached such a height that, acting for the
Minister of War, Admiral Fourichon has issued
a circular, calling upon the officers of the line and of the
Garde Mobile to put down breaches of discipline with the
utmost rigour of military law. In other words, he corn.
mends the officers to shoot a few mutineers ; and, how-
ever cruel the judgment may be, it is difficult to believe
that discipline can be maintained at a less extreme
price. The Government itself seems to be smitten by
the same spirit of disorganisation. M. Emile de Girardin,
who is at present in Tours, has published a letter, in
which he complains that the _forces of France
are cut up into minute bodies,' and scattered over all
the country, instead of being massed in large camps.
Not the least ominous fact is the temper shewn
by some of the villages and towns. That the people, as a
nation, are now thoroughly bent on fighting to the bitter
end, there cannot be a doubt ; and it is equally certain
that, if well led, the country will fight with a despe-
ration worthy of the first Republic. All that is noblest,
most manly, most womanly in France is, I can-
not doubt, actuated by the spirit of Jules Fevre,
and will make any sacrifice of property or life rather than
permit France to be dismembered. But France also con-
tains less regal elements of manhood and womanhood.
Some of the villagers seem to care for nothing but to
save their property from destruction. From a
Franc-tireur de la Seine—one of the loyal few
who stood by their officers on Tuesday night—
I heard the complaint, that on reaching some villages and
taking up a position which would have enabled them to
resist the Germans, the dignitaries of the place peremp-
torily bade them begone, lest they should exasperate the
invaders, and the inhabitants caused to suffer. An equally
disgraceful spirit has been displayed by the town
of Chartres, which has refused to give lodging or food
to 4,000 Gardes Mobiles from Lot-et-Garonne. The
devotion with which the French bourgeoisie worship
comfort has long been a subject of bitter comment
to French publicists, and the behaviour of certain
towns and villages shows that the idolatry is not
dead. Fortunately for the nation, it has nobler
elements in a peasantry which fanatically loves ht France
and an ouvrier class which would spill its blood like water
for la Republique Prancaise. Otherwise, the situation of
France might inspire her well-wishers with despair.—
Correspondent of Telegraph at Tonvs.

ROYAL CREMORNF. GARDENS. This evening
there will be an ascent of a war-signal bal-
loon, and a mimic battle of fire-works. But ther
will be no killed and wounded. The entertainment is
designed for the amusement of the spectators, and
for the benefit of Mr. E. M. Adams, who for
twenty years has been the successful diplomatist
to the proprietors of this popular place of
amusement There will also be the usual round of con-
cert, ballet, and promenade music. Strict neutrality for
people of all nations, and a large gathering of old and
new friends is expected.

MINISTERIAL MOVEMENTS. The Premier left
town on Saturday evening for Hawarden Castle. The
Chief Secretary for Ireland, accompaniedby the Countess
Waldegrave, left town on Saturday for the Priory, Chew-
ton, Somersetshire. The Earl of Kimberley returned on
Saturday to Kimberley-hall, Norfolk. The Duke of
Argyll left on Saturday for Inverary Castle. Earl Gran-
ville returned to Walmer Castle on Saturday.

How TENDER.—Count Bismarck has directed the
representatives of Prussia abroad to give an unqualified
contradiction to the statement of the Government at
Tours, that in his interview with M. Favre he had ex-
pressed any intention of reducing France to a second-rate
Power. No such phrase, or no phrase capable of bearing
this meaning, was ever employed by him.
A. robbery of £13,000, notes and gold, has taken
on the Dunstan, New Zealand. The treasure was locked
up in a cell at a police station, which was broken into.
Mr. Newton, barrister-at-law, Allahabad, has been
found guilty by the High Court, North-West Provinces,
of improper professional conduct ; and has been suspended
from practice till further orders.

The Shrewslntry Chronicle, the Liberal county
paper for Shropshire, in an article on the late Shrews-
bury election, says, " Our own impression is that the re-
cent election was conducted as fairly as any of which the
borough can boast, and that Mr. Cotes's defeat may be'
attributed to a want of that unity of action and that in-
dispensable organisation which distinguished ' the other
side,' and a lack of tact and energy on the part of at least
the mass of those to whom the conduct of the contest on
behalf of the Liberals was entrusted."
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