The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-08-20
Discipline in the French Army.

A writer in The Month says that non-commis.
lored officers in the French army are not often
reduced to the ranks, though the colonel of the
regiment has power to do so. They are generally
punished by confinement to barracks or arrest
in their own quarters or, if ON active service,
in the tents which serve as the sale de police.
For offenses 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
somewhat too freely IN wine; but If not on duty,
and If the offense is not repeated, they are let
off with a scolding or few days arrest. The
commissioned officers in like manner are pun
ished by from three to thirty days arrest in
their own quarters for any omission in matters
OF duty, or on account of any folly for which
their youth may plead with the colonel not to
be too hard upon them.
Sometimes an officer who has msbehaved is
exchanged into another regiment, and, occa-
slonally, but rarely, is placed on the nondct,Uite
list, which is equivalent to temporary half-pay.
The latter punishment is resorted to sometimes
when officers have run very deeply into debt,
and it is thought better that they should retire
for time from their regiments until they can
make some arrangement with their creditors
| 1t Is true that the latter cannot arrest them;
| but still Indebtedness in the French army is
considered a disgrace, and unworthy of those
| who wear the uniform. With them officers
| have no excuse for being behind the world.
| The State takes care that they shall have no
! excuse for extravaganza, whereas in our army
VIC are oDHBeu, III Tue junior ranks, 10 expect
| more than we actually receive.
| The trades, tradesmen, workmen, and artif-
GERS OF French regiment are of themselves
| something to see and to study. The baking of
the bread, the killing of the meat, the repairing
| of the barrack-buidings, the making of the
boots and elothes-all things, in short, that can
| possibly be required in the regiment are done
! by the men themselves, and they thus earn con
| siderable additions to their pay. Every soldier,
once he has learned his drill, is expected to
| work at something or other, and those that can
do nothing better dig and delve and plant and
cultivate the gardens which supply vegetables
tor the different regimental messes Nothing
seems 10 be made outside the corps, as those
who have OF late years taken notice of the
| French soldiers dress can vouch for. The small,
compact shacko; the absence of all belts across
the chest; the having black instead of white
belts; the loose knickerbockers, with light
leather leggngs and stout boots, leave nothing
to be wished for in the way of neat, useful,
and, at the same time, handsome uniform. The
changes which the present Emperor has intro
duced IN the dress OF the army have been very
great, and are exceedingly popular in the SER
vice. 1t is the same with the officers. Without
being at all expensive, their uniform is soldier
Ike, useful, and the rank of any of the Wearers
may be ascertalDed at a glance.