Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-08-16
HOW TO FIGHT FRANCE.
Prince Frederick Charles of Prus
sia Upon the French Soldier.


an able and successful strategist and
leader, victor at Sadowa, and now lead
ing the Prussians to victory, wrote some
years ago military memoir. This me-
moir contained some important remarks
on the condition of the Prussian troops,
and sort of csmparison between their
efficiency, discipline, and military organ
ization and those of the French. 1t was
prophetic in its very title: "The Art Of
Fighting the French Army" The opin-
ions are not only valuable in themselves,
but they attain an added significance
when it is remembered that the Prince
has attained great renown, and that he
has the power of carrying into practice
the opinions which he expresses. He
says:
Those who suppose that the French
fight in an irregular and desultory man
ner, like the hordes of Attila, are as
much in error as those who suppose them
subject to the strict rules of military art.
The truth must be sought between the
two extremes. Undoubtedly the French
army in time of war is deficient in forms,
,, but these are replaced by simple princi-
pies and actual truths, that can be re-
newed at will. For instances. c0ups de
main that had been practiced by Moreau
in the wars of~the Republic, were seen
again in the last Italian war. Marshal
Bugeaud, the most able instructor and
the most experienced in contemporary
art knew the French soldier better than
any man living He embodied their
principles in his own short treatises from
which they were almost texually extract
ed by Marshal Saint Arnaud.
THE FRENCH PRINCIPLES OF WAR,
as briefly as | can give them, are:
|. Absolutely to lay aside in time of
war the regulations, the instructions of
the barrick drill, and the very memory
itself of the parade ground There is no
such thing with the French as an order
of battle, form that prevails on every
occasion The mode of carrying the
troops into action is left to the initiative
and the talent of the generals. They,
on their side, rest on the knowledge of
the leading subalterns and on the in
telligence of the soldier. The French
soldier always marches forward !" such
is the French tactic in its simplicity.
Forms are of no Importance, they are
varied according to the ultimate object,
tho country, the movement, and above
all, the ememys faults.
Z. The real principle, which becomes
as familiar to the soldier as to the gene
raj. rests on this truth, moral force is
superior to physical force" Napoleon
himself expressed this idea when he said
that Moral force contributed three
fourths to success, while physical force
was only worth one-fourth." The entire
education OF the French soldier is on
This principle. The French disdain to
maneuyer one division against another
The chief who commands, whatever his
intelligence, rstiFes with the most com
plete and simple notion Gf his own in
fallibility and future success ihe.
French officer has no sense OF feaf 81
Difference to superiors-he does not ieel
himself crushed by the presence OF a
chief, and every general, every oihcer,
goes into action without misgiving, sure
of himself, full of confidence in his own
light and in bis own courage. 1t is easy
to understand the authority such officers
have, compared with those who dread
the critics more than the enemy and
have never had other lhRp limited re-
sponsibility. The French soldier says;
1--WE have no taeticians," but from bis
Inns this is no repfoaeh. He estimates
his general or officer by the elan or i'm
pulse he can. communicate 20 hiR men:
And the soldier is right. That moral
chapter Of tho art of war which relies on
knowledge OF the human heart, consti-
tutes the better part Of . generals great
ness; gifs rarely accorded By nature,
still less to be acquired, out Of which
the soldier is instinctiyely conscious.
MNAHOS AND CANRoBERr
have been great in the French army pre- |
cisely by this quality Joined with care
for the personal weifaFs Of their men. 1
in the Crimea, would ask bis /
men, do you think you can do it2 and 1
the result always justified the con6dence
he had in the men, for they understood |
what was to be done The French are
not above the Maohiavellian arts Of sur
prise, the unexpected, TO astonish the
enemy. Thus they attack with terrible |
cries and the hideoas aspects of the
rurcos and the Zouayes may intimidate
young soldiers; for which reason il isex-
pedient to warn recruits against sneh
practices.
,. Another French principle is 10 at
lack in close colhmn when operating