The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-09-18

| 80. - =. l-Ise4t
GENERAL BKAUREeARD ON THE War
A correspondent of the Lynchburg Re.
publican, writing from Allegheny Springs,
Va, relates p conversation with General
Beauregard about the war in Europe.
Some of the Generals viaws are Of in.
terest: 49,. ).
The question was asked: What is the
matter with France2 Consider her for
mer military fame, that Of, the frst war
ring nation in Europe; consider her pa
triotism, the devotion and readiness
with which she went to the field; her
noble, unsurpassed postponement OF
every political question, OF every faction
in her Legislative body to win the safety
of her country-even the "Impractica-
bles" like Favre and Thiers shouting
resistance to the DEATH" Look at her
ready and even excessive loans to the
government; her public spirit risen to q
height that disdains oil compromises and
hurries to offer all possible sacrifices.
Then why her defeat, and her defeat
continued and aggravated Oh every field? -?
Why this succession of disasters? Is it
not possible that there may have been
treachery i'll the French camp, as when
the Emperor is reported to have made
the exclamation that che was BETRAYED"
and, indeed, you noticed the last &C =.
counts, "the French soldiers in Belgium
turned upon their officers and massacred
them?"
General Beaurcgard replied ut length,
and with clearness md detail of con
versation that do not pretend to report,
but IN the third and distant person.
The hypothesis that had been named,
fha nf
lncompetency thrown on particular
French officers, We're possible; but they
were not necessary to answer the pro-
blem of the French defeat After all, it
might be found in slight causes. War,
modern war, had got to be such al ella
borate competition, one so close and ex-
acting that the least shade of superiority
IN any one respect might incline the
balance. The French system of attack
was a traditional one; they relied OH
momentum, dash. He referred to an
article in the Pal NAL Gazette, which
compared the military systems and prac-
tice on the field of Franco and Prussia.
The latter had the advantage in the close
and scrupulous calculation of everything
calculated to give advantage to the single
soldier acting as q combatant, and in
spired with the idea that on his indivi-
dual effort depended the fortune OF the
field. Here was government that had
studied the military efficiency of the
man almost exclusively, to the highest
point. A government moro exacting
than the Oriental dcspotisms; but more
intelligent than these. The whole So
ciety OF Prussia was q vast, elaborate
organization, camp; the supreme idea
everywhere visible that the man be-
longed to the government Form, Sc.
verify was the feature of their civiliza-
ton; popular education was enforced;
even its social industries were organized; !;
in Prussia, no man could pursue a trade
unless he had served an apprenticeship,
or performed certain public conditions.
The idea of the great Frederick had been
constantly cultivated since his time, to
make nation of soldiers; organization
and discipline i'll every department Of
life; and today we see its results in the
most perfectly trained armes-soldiers
the most obedient, yet enthusiastic, hay.
ing that peculiar combination of stcadi-
ness with spirit, that makes the best
soldiers in the worid-and that is the
end, the elimination of all military edu-
cation.
"Who"-and Gen. Beauregard spoke
with sufluscd face-'could doubt the
courage of the French soldier? The
bravest people in the world may fall
under the complications of science
force Of q single fact overlooked in
the grand and elaborate competition
OF war He lad noticed, rs far as
anything could be discovered from
the confused dispatches of the newspa-
pcrs. that the French had adhered to
their favorite. traditional practice in
the field, that Of attacking in close
column. On the other hand, the Prus-
slams deployed their lines, seemed to
have the constant idea of developing tho
largest front Of fire, and all the newspa-
pers had invariably remarked the slow
ness and deliberation Of their fire. It
was q circumstance noticed with curious
unanimity by allthe war correspondents.
An article in the IIryinian, under his
hand, read: "The Prussians never at
tack in squares"
What the General designated as "the
arm OF precision" had changed the
whole character Of modern war, aud he
fcarod that the French had not suffi-
cientiy accommodated themselves to the
important and radical innovation made
i'll small arms. Their favorite idea of