The Sun.
London, England, 1845-11-18 00:00:00

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LONDON, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1845.

ILa position of the French in Africa, and the means for
extricating them from countless difficulties, will form the
most prominent topics of discussion in the ensuing session of
the Chambers. Year after year their affairs havebecome more
and more complicated, and while for a moment they had the
prcspect of utterly subduing the indefatigable and enterprising
chief who has so long opposed them, some accident, some out-
break, or skilful military movement, on his part, disappointed
their hopes, and they were again reduced to the mortifyingeon-
Aition of fighting for their very existence. Latterly affairs
have assumed a more serious aspect than any yet exhibited.
The spirit of the natives, and their enthusiasm, called by the
French writers fanaticism, increase with their difficulties, and
they have assumed such a tone of defiance, and are so bent
on avenging their wrongs, that nothing but the total extir-
pation of the race will secure the territory to France.
-What adds to the difficulties in which the French
Government has involved itself is, the total want
of isympatt y in their system of subjugation, manifested
by all ether nations. England does not stand
alone in this respect. The whole of Germany, Turkey of
course, and even Spain and Portugal, and we may add, every
civilised and uncivilised state, are opposed to this attempt
to conquer a vast territory by sheer force, by means, too,
hitherto unknown in regular warfare, and by acts of vio-
lence and cruelty, against which the whole of France has
indignantly raised its voice. What then are the Chambers
to do ? The present force, amounting to at least 120,000 men,
is unequal to the contest, and should Ann-EL-KADER suc-
ceed in rousing the whole population of Morocco
to his aid, a result now hardly to be doubted,
an army of 200,000 men would barely suffice to keep the hos-
tile tribes at bay. To conquer them is out of the question.
They will not amalgamate with the French; they prefer
death to slavery. They have the sympathy of the world
svith them; and as far as any one can judge of future events
by present appearances, the conquest of Algeria and'Morocco
may he declared impossible. The French Chamber of Depu-
ties have repeatedly refused to vote sums demanded
by the Government as absolutely necessary to carry
en the war ; but what has been already demanded is a
trifle compared with what is in prospect. Another ominous
feature in this ill-managed s?,heme is the demoralisation of
the troops. The army is daily acquiring habits of predatory
warfare ; it is constantly engaged in razzia..s, which means
carrying off men, women, and children, with their herds and
flacki, • and all the little property necessary for their
daily subsistence ; the troops are taught that this
is a :Part of their duty, and like good soldiers,
they . of course, obey the orders of Marshal
or those of Ins Lieutenant—the notorious PELia.
men:: This 'is a dangetons habit to infuse into regular
troops, Arid the more so when it is known that in these
inroada.; tAzzius, and skirmishes with the Arabs, they are not
learning the art of war, which may fit them for meeting
European arnies—their generals, in fact, will soon forget
the regular tactics, and become leaders of divisions adapted
only to Such ignoble achievements. The commotion
which is now general in Morocco must add even
to present difficulties, and give rise to changes which
cannot by any possibility turn out well for the invaders,
'nut ;on that subject we will not enter. We will merely
give "che French Government and the Chambers a little
advice. They have been making war on an erroneous
system. it radically bad, it never can succeed, and the
i sooner t. is abandoned the better. The French nation
ltd, guinea.' glory' enough in its battles with the armies
,f Europe; it can therefore afford to-be magnanimous,
admit its error, and adopt a plan which would
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