The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-08-13
THE Sgw FRRNCH CONNASDERs
Louis Jules TrOchu.

LOufs jules IrOcnu.
/ In assuming command Of the French
forces, as Commander-in-Chief in the
field, the Emperor appointed Marshal
Lebeuf the Major General OF the army,
as the Freach military phrase has it. or,
as we would say chief of staff. There
is reason to suppose that this appoint
ment was not over acceptable to the
French Generals, and was, in fact, con-
sidered the result rather of the imperial
prediction than as a prudent choice.
The late serious rcverses to the imperial
arms have so fully demonstrated the
justice of the reluctance manifested at
his rapid promotion that he has been
compelled to withdraw, or the Emperor
has been compelled to dismiss him, and
the official announcement accordingly is
that he retircs.
In his place is appointed Louis Jules
Trochu, the organization being Marshal
Bazaine as Commander-in-Chief, and
General Trochu as Major General
of the army. Whether Marshal
Bazaine's appointment to the SUI
preme command signifies that the
Emperor purposes to withdraw
from the actual command in the field
does not appear, but it is certain that
General Trochu is henceforth chief
administrative officer OF the French
army.
Louis Jules Trochu, born in lSlj, is
still in the full vigor OF his faculties,
and has for some years past devoted so
intense a degree of attention to mill
taIy study of the Rhenish frontier that
he is pre-eminently fitted for his pres
ent post His history, in brief, is
Lieutenant in 1910, Captain in 1913,
then staff officer with Marshal Bugeaud
in Algeria, Major in 1916, Lieutenant
Colonel in 1853, General Of Brigade in
1854, and General Of Division in 1864.
In the Crimea he served a chief of the
general staff, and is credited 10y King
lake, the historian, as the master mind
of the French army in that war. In
1866 he was charged with the prepara-
ton Of a plan to reorganize the French
army, the Emperor discerning through
the smoke Of Sadowa thata new mill
tary era had set in, and in 1867 issued
the result Of his labors in n famous
essay that has run through ten editions.
Since the usual of this pamphlet,
"LArmee Franchise, his chief study
has been the Rhine border, lire inn
minence Of war with Prussia being
ever before him. With his accession to
command we will, doubtless, see a
change in the French strategy.
Marshal Bazaine.
Marshal Francois Achille Bazaine,
the new Commander-in-C Chief OF the
French army has the reputation Of be
ing the best handler of troops in that
service. He is the descendant OF fam
ily OF soldiers, and is now sixty-one
wears ofage. He rose from the ranks,
and in five years from his enlistment
gained his sub-lieutenancy and his cross
on the field of battle. In 1887 he was
sent to Spain with the Legion, and
when the war of succession closed
he went back TO Algeria,
where he was in the expeditions against
Milianah, Cabylia, and Morocco For
several years he had the superintend-
entship of Arab affairs in the province
of Tiemcen. In 1855, being at the head
ofthe first regiment Of the foreign legion,
he was appointed to the command of
the infantry brigade formed. from this
legion. He performed valuable service
with his men at the siege Of Sebastapol
and in particular co-operated in the re-
duction Of Kinburn, one Of the outposts
of the great fortress.
= After the retreat of the Russians he
was Governor of Sebastopol until its
final evacuation by the allies Marshal
Bazaine has a special interest for the
American people from his connection
with the Maximilian expedition 10
Mexico. He commanded the French
contingent, succeeding General Forey
as chief The success of the Emperor :
disciplined troops against the half
armed and half-civilized levies Of Mex
leo was almost as rapid and remarkable
az that of Certez or Pizarro against the
aborigines. 0aiaca was taken, Jua-
rsz put to flight, the triumph
was complete. All that was
needed was stability. If the day of sue
cess was brilliant, the day Of reverse
was soon to come, and its darkness
wiped out even the memory of early
good fortune. The termination Of the
American war and the known disinclina.
ton of the United States 10 foreign in.
reference in American affairs animated
the Mexicaus with new hopes. Bazaine,
in council. advised Maximilian that the
empire was impossible; Bazaine was
recalled, Maximilian court-martialed
and executed and Napoleon III suffered
such diminution OF military prestige
and political reputation as can only bt
restored by the possible success Of wal
with Prussia.