Vicksburg weekly herald., 1870-08-20
FRANCES =: ts:fECIGLs.
TIE zoCAvEs-THElR ORGANIZATION
AND STYLE OF FIGHTING.
TFrom The View York World. !

from the regular army, the nation
al guards or marines. One Of them,
and perhaps the most peculiar and
eccentric, are the Zouaves. There
are two kinds of Zouaves-the /
African or original Zouaves, who
in time of peace are always sta
toned in Africa, and whose
strength is about 1900 men, and
the Zouaves Imites or Imitation
Zuaves, who are armed, equipped !
and drilled like the original corps, /
but do not possess the same per
fection in maneuvering. DC. These
latter are only stationed 4 part of
the time in Africa; the greater /
part are stationed in various parts
Of France. In their armament the |
Zouaves differ materially from the /
regular infantry, particularly in |
their bayonets, which have the |
shape of sythes, and their side
arm, which is the Algerian yata.
ghan-that is, the peculiar short |
sword Of the Kabyles. Also in so
far that they prefer to use their
own private revolvers. No one
can become q Zouave who is not a |
born Frenchman, and a very large |
number of them are recruited
amongst the Paris loafers and
gamins. Their drilling comprizes,
besides the usual military evolu-
tons, more particularly all gym
nastics, and no one can serve
amongst them for any length Of
time who is not an accomplished
and perfect swimmer, jumper and
climber, Their style of fighting
differs accordingly from that Of the
regular infantry. They spread
themselves out so as to have more
room for striking about with their
bayonets, and they enter the ene-
my's lines on the full run with
large bounds.
One Of their eccentricities is
their love Of cats, and they prefer
as pets the large gray and black
cat Of Algeria. The training OF
these cats is admirable. They
know not only all the soldiers, but
also their four-footed comrades
belonging TO the same battalion,
and easily pick out their own mas.
ters under all circumstances. They
are very obedient TO them, and, not
only on the march but also in bat.
tie, take up their positions upon
their knapsacks-from which po.
sition they participate in the fight
according to their own peculiar
style, by jumping into the face Of
the enemy and scratching and bit
ing in furious manner. During
the Crimean war the wounds in
the faces Of the Russian soldiers
from these cats were 80 serious
and numerous that they had to es.
tablish at Odessa 4 separate ward
in the hospital for the better heal.
ing Of them.
In climbing up and attacking a
rocky height the Zouaves command
their cats to the front TO lead the
way, and carefully watching the
way the cats take they follow them
closely and take advantage Of
every foothold pointed out by their
trusty and agile comrades.
MARSHAL FRANCOIS AcHILLE
BAzAlEE.-Born February 13,
1911, descendant Of a family well
known in French military history,
studied at the polytechnic school
in Paris, and entered the army in
Africa when twenty years old. AT.
ter six years ofuninterrupted war
fare against the Kabples and other
hostile tribes, he was assigned to
the foreign legion, and seut into
Spain in 1887 to suppress the Car
list movement in that country.
He returned to Algeria in 1889,
joined the expedition against Mil
lanai and Morocco, and was for
several years Governor of the
Arabian subdivision Of Tlemcen.
During the Crimean war, where
he was in command Of q brigade
of infantry, he is said to have dis.
tinguished himself by his bravery,
and by his talent for organization.
When the Russians had evacuated
Sebastopol, Bazaine was made
governor Of the place. He took
no part in the campaign against
Austria in 1853, but was intrusted
with the command Of the expedi.
tion to Mexico in 1862.
A PITTsBURG boy threw stones
at q circus elephant while he was
drinking, and then offered him
some gingerbread. The pachy-
derm responded by emptying about
two barrels Of water over the boy
and then finging him on top Of
the seats to dry. That boy has
lost all interest in natural history.
THE Chinese determine whether
the year win be good or bad by
placing ct the commencement Of
the year 3 measure Of seed IN an
earthen vessel and leaving the
vessel IN = dark cellar fifty days.
They then measure the seed, and
ae hnlk has Increased Of de,