The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-09-02
THE VIEWS OF TROCHU.
What the Governor Of Paris thought of tn,
Organization of the French Army three Year,

what the Governor Of Paris thought of the
Orsanization of the French Army three Years
ARo.
The London Times has printed a review of
LArmee FrduCdiSe en- 1867, published two years
ago by Gen. Trochu, and made prophetic by
recent events. The critic thus summarizes the
views of the author: "The chapter on the SIM
plicity and fxity of regulations is short, he
says, ''very general in its statements, and ap
plicable to all armies. 1t may be summed up
in the one expression regarding troops
in a campaign, There, all which is not
simple is impossible. His essay on the general
education of the French army might have been
taken as the text on which to preach the sermon
contained in the report of the Royal Commission
on Military Education in England. But, in ad-
dition, Gen. Trochu recommends those military
discussions or lectures which have been since
adopted, and to which attention has lately been
drawn in these columns. In speaking of the
administration of the army Gen; Trochu does
justice to the honor of those who have been
charged with it, but shows that, from want of
knowledge of business, the honorable admins
traitors often allowed the army of Italy to want
%s bread riches In country yes eemag sn and %h psr s
feet climate. Have we not heard
something of the same sort lately? When he
speaks of 'man9uvres' General Trochu is tren-
chant in his criticisms. He shows that the
French army of to-day acts upon regulations
not differing in plan or spirit from those in use
during the wars of Frederick the Great. He
calls for simpler and more natural rules for the
manual and platoon exercises of Infantry and
finds fault because the time of the men and
officers is taken up with all sorts of minute OBJ
servances, instead Of with the broader study of
tactics. He quotes General Morand to prove
that heads full of formule become so confused
that they are incapable before the enemy, but
that reforms in this direction are espe-
cially difficult because there are so many
officers who have no other merit than
that of being what is called good
drills All necessary maneuvres could very
poeilv hn contained in a few and Oupht
to be considered but as the alphabet of the art
of war. In other parts of his book General
Trochu insists that neither enthusiasm nor yet
elaborate drill will bind victory to the standards
of an army. Intelligence, from the Commander
in Chief down to the last soldier, simplicity, and
an organization designed for war rather than
peace, are the chief necessity for armies likely
to take the field. He shows how all artificial
manners and speech of soldiers are irresistibly
effaced in battle, and give place to the true at
titude brought about by the natural instincts
of individuals. Nothing is more unlike
real war than the accounts of it.. In battle the
swagger of the sabreur has disappeared, his
brilliant uniform is smirched by the dust or the
mud of the bivouac. His naughty self-asserton
in the presence of civilians has evaporated and
he rests in faith upon the knowledge and clever
ness of his officers If those officers show them
selves skilful, he gains confidence and is devoted
to them; but If he finds that their knowledge is
insufficient TO lead him to victory, at least to
keep him from undeserved defeat, he is ready to
accuse them of murder, and take vengeance upon
them.
However it may be recruited, an army is kept
together by discipline, but neither threats nor
kindness, reward nor the lash, can ever cause
soldiers to show devoted obedience TO officers
whom they do not respect. There is tact
compact between them; the soldier gives his
services, his obedience, and his life, if neces-
sary, without murmur. He eXacts, on the
other hand, that his officers shall be intelligent
and skilful, that they shall not fatigue him un-
necessarily, and that they shall not call upon
him to die unless the sacrifice of his life is OF
real benefit to his comrades, and needful to sup
p)rt the honor of his country's arms"