The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-08-21
.:;WA,ieh IL. .sunesior.a.

icontending powers arsttolerably equal,
are both prepared, and are fairly oppo-
site one. another. the old and vulgar
datum, the comparative merit of the IN.
dividual soldier, is the best and most
trustworthy element in calculation. And
upon this subject the English observer
T!s very likely to suffer himself to be mis-
led. He starts very naturally with a
Rreoonceived idea that the Frenchman is
the better soldier, for history upon the
whole seems to justify that view. The
German has in his contests with the
Frenchman usually got the worst of it.
There was a very remarkable exception
at Rossbach, an engagement which was
to O great degree soldiers battle, but
that Is balanced by Jena-as Leipsic is
taken, IN France, at least, to be by
nlgny-and the general record is against
marked change has occurred in the
German capacity for war, the balance of
probability is in favor of the French
man, who is very. much the soldier he
was. There is no evidence whatever to
show that the Frenchman has deterio-
rated, and very little to show that he
has greatly improved He has fought in
the Crimea, in Italy and in Mexico, as
he fought in 1914 in Germany, and
shown himself the same adroit, brave
soldier, very obedient, very patient of
hardship, and very recuperative-the
last point upon which an error is very
prevalent in England. The French sol
dier is quickly dispirited, but lie reco-
vers as quickly, and he fought as we'll in
1914, after many defeats, as in 1904,
after many victories. His drawback in
that respect ls not want of tenacity, but
want of; willingness to obey any visible
incompetent leader, any man who he
thinks will not give him the best chance
II there is sany evidence of improve
ment, it is in slightly stricter discipline
Oft duty, and if of decline, it is in q
slight increase of stupidity, owing to the
absence OF any long experience of actual
service, the French soldiers best, and
often his only, education. Positively
ne may be taken to be the same man,
and it is only by comparison that we
can arrive at any evidence of a serious
decadence. Careful comparison does,
however, suggest such possibility.
Though the French soldier has declined,
1t is certain that the Prussian soldier has
Immensely improved. Throughout the
Napoleonlc wars, he was, to begin with,
o mere serf, an uneducated boor, with
no land, no education, and a very
feeble sense of self-respect He was
drilled mainly by the stick, he had not
enough to eat in boyhood, and he was
quite incapable of understanding any
thing outside his immediate duty. Now
he is an educated citizen, possessed of
property, able to form opinions, and
able to rely in an emergency on himself.
at tho same time. his discipline has
rather been strengthened than relaxed.
lncessant instruction, backed by very
severe punishment, has made obedience
habit, until in an emergency the whole
nation moves like O machine. The call
to arms has this time been almost theat-
rlcaily sudden, yet every observer has
dwelt on the total absence of confusion
or hurry throughout Germany, the
regularity and speed with which the
most difficult 'sembarkations" of troops
have been effected. Men who retain
their ancient discipline so perfectly, yet
are individualized, are sure to be better
soldiers than mere serfs, and it is men
toned as natural consequence that
Frederick's old rigid formations, which
are unsuited to days when troops use
arms of precision, have been given up
without producing any tendency to dis
order. The changed mode of Prussian
life. moreover, has tended to improve
the physique of the peasantry, until in
every respect but one, their physical
average is better than the physical ave-
rage of Frenchmen. In the dialect of
English athletes. they are heavier men,
The one reservation refers to a certain
liability to disease. Nothing is 80 diff
cult to analyze as the cause of this lia-
bility, which does not seem to depend
on constitution; but the fact is, we be-
lieye, certain that the Prussian soldier,
with all his strength, is in long cam
paign liable to break down sooner from
bowel disease than the weaker but wiry
Frenchtnan. This liability is not fully
recognized by the Prussian Government,
which has the permanent fault Of stingi-
ness and heartlessness in pecuniary mat
ters, and keeps down its outlay both on
diet and on medical help far too care
fully, and though tbe defect does not
tell in battle, it does in any long series
OF engagements. Upon the whole, how.
ever, it is certain that the Prussian SOL
dier is very much better fighter than
he was at jena. and it is probable that
he is better one THAI the Frenchmnn.