The New York herald., 1863-08-17
T H & A r M Y
How the Soldier is Clothed and
Educated in France.

Wnen the present STRIFE rs al an end, when the pre-
sent rebellion 10 crushed the power which we now
n the ed will be greatly shorn Of its numbers but t is
equally true that the standing army which we shall In
future be compelled uphold must be many times larger
than that which have heretofore counted on our mus
tor roll This being admitted bchcoves toiook closely
Into the expenditure, which at present does and
future must necessarily take place in the fitting Of
our forces and into the nature and OF he education
which changes the recruit into the son OF mars.
Is universally admitted that the French army is the
best drilled the best dressed and receives the best mill
sary education Of any army in the yorld and moreover
this superiority is attained expense much below
that Of any other country which maintains first class
army Consequently, it is to France that we must
for guidance IL would desire the greatest amount or
military excellence and the highest style OF military ap
pearance at the least possible In the present article
therefore, propose before our readers few
relative to the clothing aud education French soldiers
In 30 far as relates TO the clothing they will be able
compare the economy and exceence, the French syg.
tom with the wastefu expenditure and nferorty
own and In 80 far relates To tho improvement
Of the soldier they will become acquainted with the do
tails Of system which has not yet been introduced
| our army.
CLOTHING OF TIE SOLDIER.
Nothing can be than the system which Is at
present here practised in regard to military equipment
Nearly the whole army Of contractors and sub
ors who faten the nations yitals, like vutur0s
deceased camel, are pests to the body polite Men
without character and without money and without the
least particle of knowledge about the article in
which they DEAL have been amassing mighty fortunes by
covering the soldiers with spongy rags which absorb the
rain instead OF resisting IT, peculiar political hue, and
apronse to share the plunder whchs obtained, appear
to be the principal passports which these people are
qured produce to enable them upon this road
10 Thairn hapor rilad
purse being emoted aud II behooycs the taxpayers
who required repensh the latter that they should
place In their public Offices who will consider the
public good second their personal aggraudzemcnt
"They do these things better in France" There sys
tenn Of checks is introduced which prevents the
tractor from fosting upon the public worthless article,
and competent Of appeal allowed which prevent
him from being sacrificed the caprice If any malignant
official There several great government depos stu
atcd in different parts Of France, entrey distinct from
the regimental depots At each Of these commissions
appointed inspect the stores delivered under
tracts entered into by the Minister OF War They are
composed OF two superior officers and six captains, all
belonging regiments who happen at the time
posehe garisons OF the towns where those depots
established. They are named by the general comtnand.
ing the department: their appointment, which but tom
polary exceed the duration Of one year and The
only Remuneration they receive for their services is
gratuity OF three francs (abou sixty ceIts for each Sit
ting which they present. out which they must
deay all expenses incident on their attendance There
0ommissons for each arm OF the service and their
duties consist prancpay in examining the cloth and fan
mel used for the soldiers clothing The tests u be en-
ployedsn ascertaning the quality and strength Of the
cloth and soundness OF the dye afe specified
to the most minute particular In the printed
book Of instructions The chemicals used In those tests
are furnished them ready prepared the method time
and duration OF their application. as well the elects
which they should produce, pointed out
circumstances deviation from the prescribed rules
permitted that the most stupid man scarcely mako
mistake or the most corrupt one do injustice. The
storekeepcr Of each depot may be ccnsatd and in
OF marked diversity u opinion the assistance Of an ex
pert" (who must be, have been, licensed dealer in
the article whose quality IL under discusson), named for
tho occasion by The military sous intendan, may be
had recourse TO, but neither storckecpcr nor
| pert has any right 70 vote, or even to be
whose membors must render its proceedings
legal In case the majority is only one the SIOUX send
ne srscs hose ons,y Il sp"ted mus, be reectea
Should the decision Of the g mmssion finally condennng
the art Gle be directed 70 oy the oontr@c,Sr ne nss
| tors-one named by the Q mmission, another by the
mayer OF the commune and the third BY tho contractor
dealers la manufacturers OF the description OF
goods reiectcd, inhabitlng that or the neighbor.
| given an opinion. being disqualified 70 act. Tho
arbiirators 10 do justice by the sous intndan
sealed pattern snd delivered goods ae submitted TO
their Inspection the commission represented oyone
OF Its members, who states the causes OF reection the
berac in private but declare presence
OF the intenda and parties Interested, each in
they arrive at which definite, there being right Of
appeal
by the commission which has not the name OF the nrm
under which the contractor trades printed In uil and
| in legiblc letters on It's front. Independent Of
! the commissions appointed TO act at the great
| government dcpots, there Ia in each regiment
consnl daiminitrdSo~ Council Of admins,ration),
comp sed II the colonel lieutenant colonel and chef ds
bita on the major, captain the paymaster, and cdd
taiae habiuement (the oicer who commands the com
pany composed OF talors and shoemakers, and who
|
tai sores) The chef de bddi and captain are changed
every year. others OF the taking places
turn Of seniority subordinate to the con admit,d-
tion there also commission, composed OF the maor-
who presdes hut has no yoeapd three captains
BY the CAPTAINS the regiment from among themselves
by ballot the duration OF their term OF service limited
TO six months, and no member o the consea dddm'nrd
| ten eau bel to the commission.
Every French regiment has Its own depot and nutho-
rzcd make contracts for all articles may require save
depo and must be received without examination when
bearing the seal u the superior commisson The cloth
ing Gas may call him) takes his measures to
have always In store sufficient suppy oi uniforms and
| equipments to meet any emergencies that may arise
When necessary 10 increase the quantity on hand he
makes his demand OF major, who lays his statement
before The colonel, By whose authority the ccseI dad
inirn ton convened. They decide upon tho descrp
ion and amount Of tho articles relurcd and II then be-
the duty OF the commission TO and nsect
them Along wn bss ss'ea pss,srn r.sa o. eys,s 40 70
leave the regimeniai store, there Is q tariff OF
prices which mus, not DO excecsed. Letters
by each o! the three captains sent 10 the diff
ercnt makers stating what n wanted and demanding 70
know their prices. When their the con-
given tine lowest tender and the contractors
know the maximum price, aud the quality which viii
pass inspection, there rs neither difficulty delay in
terminating the transaction Tho CLOTH with Innings, for
the number OF uniforms required drect from the
government depot TO the regmenta tailor under
whose inst ecton they made up BY the taors belong
Ing 10 the company OF workmen.'' For each tunic
the master tailor receives three francs (less
than sixty cents), out OF which he is obliged
10 provide buttons and trimmings, aud 70 pay
the man who makes It twenty-lour cents; for the
he receives equivalent orty five cents or
which he buys buttons and pays the maker eighteen
cents tor the pantaoons he receives thirty cents and
pays fourteen cents and for the foragnr CAP sixteen
cents, providing the tassel and paying the workman
about Ave cents Every sdicr s measured, and
raely fitted under the inspection of the clothing captain
whose duty limited 10 that and the Of
the rsgimcnai stores lie always remains at the depot,
and goes active service with tho regiment Tbs
shoemaker purchases the leather for the shoes,
which made up n the regiment receives 81 - per
pair and pays twelve cents 70 the workman The CATERS
bought BY contract, for thirty pair, the