National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1867-10-18
DISCIPLINE II THE FRENCH AR

DISCIPLINE ~ THE FRENCH AR
hf'-A winter in The Month says
thal non on-commissioued officers In
the reheh army are not often re
uuced 10 the ranks, though the Co
ioileI ol the regiment has power to
40 So 1hey are generally punished
by confinement TO barracks or arrest
Ill their own quarters. or. If on nc
tive service, i'll the tents which serve
as the sale de police For Offences
against honesty or for insubordina.
ton they are always tried by court
martial. But crime is rare among
them. Sometimes, many of them
being young men, they indulge too
freely in wine; but if not on duty.
and if the offence is not repeated.
7 they are let off with n scolding or a
few days arres.. The commissioned
officers i'll like manner are punished
by from three to thirty days arrest
III their own quarters tor any Omis-
sion III matters of duty, or on ac.
count OF any folly for which their
/ youth may plead with the colonel
not TO be too hard upon them.
fHmct .mys du officer who has mis-
/ behaved is exchanged into another
regiment, and, occasionally, but
rarely, is placed Oh the non-dctirite
list, which Is equivalent to tcmpora-
~ Aa.t.pay. Tue latter punishment
l3 It-Urtcd 10 somctmcb when Off
ce.S nave ran very deeply iuto debt,
and Il is thought better that they
shouid retire iOr a tImc from their
regiments, until they can make
some arrangement with their cred
it0rS. 1t is tine that the latter can.
| not arrest them but still indebted
ness in the French army is consid-
cred q disgrace, and unworthy of
those who wear the uniform. With
them officers have no excuse for be-
ing behind the world. The State
takes great care that they shall
have no excuse for extravaganza.
whereas i'll our army we are obliged,
-in the junior ranks, to expect more
than we actually receive.
| The trades, trddeSmen. work men,
and artitiCplS Of French regiment
are of themselves something to see
and to study The baking of the
bread, the killin. OF the meat. the
repairing of the harraCk- buildings,
the making Of the boots and clothes
all things. in short, that can pos
Sibly be required iii the regiment,
are donc by the men themselves.
, and they thus earn considerable ad
| ditions to their pay. Every soldier,
/ once he has learned his drill, is ex-
| ptctcd to work at something or 9th.
er. aud those thNt can do nothing
! better dig and deive and plant and
, cultivate the gardens which supply
] Vegetables for the different regimen
1 tai iucSstS Nothing seems to be
/ outside OF the curpa, us those who
. make Ui hate years taken notice OF
he French soldiers dress IN vouch
tor. The small. compact shacko
/ the absence OF Ill belts across the
chest; the having black instead OF
white beluS the loose bnicNerbock
CTS, with light leather leggins and
STOUT boots. leaving nothing TO be
wished Tor IN the way Ola neatfuse-
tul. and at the same time handsome
uultOlm. The changes which the
present Emperor has introduced III
the dress of the army have been
very great, and aIe exceedingly pop
ulal' in the service. II is the same
with the officers. Without being at
all expensive their uniform is sold.
iel-hke. useful, and the rank OF any
Of the wearers may be asCcrtained
at glance.