The New York herald., 1871-01-14


rched on the strength OF the standing army pro
vIded for by statute. and FOR the maintenance o
which they were heavily taxed. The Prussians
however, who came forward in July last did sc
under cOmpulslon. 3e
THE FLIGHT TO sAuMuR. Nf
l have already mentioned that the Mobiles and
Francs-treurs, driven away from Tours and the sur
rounding district under sense OF fear, had deter
mined TO seek shelter ~ Saumur. There seems ~
have been no preconcerted measure which necessi-
tated the night In this direction. Yet all took to
their heels rs II Dy common accord, and made for
Saumur without knowing the reason. The agglome-
ration OF these panic.strcken Is stated,
liable authority to have exceeded 16 900 men. Fully
one-haif OF this force consisted OF regiments which
were not entirely void OF al discipline. Thus the
officers were enabled to rally. and In uniting their
men they were III q position to enforce authority.
Under the circumstances 1t has been possible TO
move about five thousand men. They lett this city
by rail and are to join the army now forming In the
neighborh0od OF Le Mans. Another force. probably
equally large has returned 70 Tours. and the por-
leave IN the same direction, since 1t has been ascer
tanned that tine Prussians never occupied Tours up
ated the city Of vierz0n, Mont Louis and other
places. Large bodies OF Francs.tireurs, numbering
in the aggregate nearly two Thousand, had partic-
pated IN the stampede. But on reaching Saumur
they resolved TO reorganize. Five or slx dAferent
CORPS having hitherto acted independently, will
powsky, Polish oflcer. II is stated that they VIII
leave i0-morrow, and also JOIN the army now FORM
.s0sH AUTIEOUs CONDUCT
seems 70 have prevailed among these corps but It n
10 be hoped that united a. they now appear, their
action Will prove useful TO the country. II seems
only the old story-every member OF the corps feels
apparently strong enough to assume the command
suring his capabiiry at par with that OF the Gem.
manding onicer. So long as . CORPS ike this face
the enemy all goes on tremendously, but whenever
few days OF comparative idleness intervene 1t be-
comes thoroughly demOralzed. Add to this the
privation which hunger and fatigue increase, and
you nave thoroughly deplOrable state OF things,
which ends In q general rout. Nevertheless, these
corps or Francsreurs are composed more or less OF
men Of the world. They are not men thrown to-
gether at haphazard; they Will listen TO reason,
and. though apparently Much against their will,
they viii rally around their officers. It Is
otherwise, however, with the Mobile Guards. Their
regiments are for the most part badly olcered. 1t
has been enormously stated that there exists want
o. discipline. Ihis Is entirely mlsconceptloli.
pine. But when the men perceive that their 0t1-
GERS are incapable to command, that In fact. they
ders are compelled to shift for themselves, the on
GERS occupy comfortable quarters with elegant
preakiass anu suppers, II cannot excite surprise
that they become mutnouS Thus you perceive SOL
diers wandering about III patches OF ten and more
begging from door TO door, while their superiors are
enjoying every luxury at hotels or private lodgings.
The consequence Is that whole regiments are dis
banded and demoralized so soon as a retreat has
become inevitable, while a victory causes them to
appear equally unmanageaole In another direction.
BAD OFFICERS.
All that is now required rests with the necessity OF
hndlng general who is equal TO the occasion,
whose capacity Is such as TO undertake the organ
zation OF an army; TO form unit OF the straggllng
utterly shlless position, AS it is, the lack OF duty
among officers 10 look after their men has brought
t the army INTO bad odor: Million. are wasted
and the consequence is that thousands of poor fel-
lows are now dependent on public charity. The
may mention that one single contractor mas fur
nished 10000 rides. Ammunition, clothing pro-
visions OF all kinds are plentiful and yet you
see men running about barclo0ted while others are
starving or as stated before, rendered dependent
on public charity.
Il
The panic occasoned by the sudden invasion OF
these runaway soldiers IS indescriDable Tho rural
village On nearing the city itself the nigh road has
been cut Up at intervals OF from fifty to sixty yards
as s and palisades have been erected
down and the water courses spread over the sur
rounding fields, with the view to impede the march
lous: they have evidently 6Nen concerted BY men
who are totally ignorant OF the first principles OF
sy bney e but mo nothing and
military genius. The men educated as officers are
absen'ees, being prisoners in Germany. The newly
mpr0vlscd army rendered therefore, utterly help
less, as far as commanding officers are con-
cerned. Oh 24o generals, as L showed the
the greater number e Of the remaining ninety are
superannuated old fogies. and they are the cause
OF money and labor being expended in the most
Ridiculous manner. Moreover, glance at the map
VIII show that there Is moral tmposslblllty that
the Prussians should ever extend their move
Tours 1t Is possible tnat for the purpose OF making
requisilions a few uhlans would have crossed the
Loire; but IN a military point OF view 1t seems eul
OF the question that the Prussians should occupy
Saumur. Now that they have retired suddenly from
the Bordeaux route they can be held In cheek by
the new leves which drawing near. Their stores
OF clothing and camping materials which have
been massed together here and elsewhere are
astounding They have arms and accoutre
ments ready to equip any gwen number
Of men coming forward for the derepce
OF France. In making this assertion do not gene.
ralize matters; but l am speaking OF facts which
have come under my own observation The only
deficiency now consists In 0filcerS-abOye all, on
GERS capable to weld large forces Discipline would
be almost a natural consequence The men are
willing enough to submit to discipline but the mis-
chief is there Is no one who can either impose OIL
enforce 1t.
NJ. GLAIS-BIZOIT,
perceive from notice In the Phore de la Loire
has arrived at the city OF Nantes. The Mayor o.
that city had likewise issued orders to place Nantes
IN state Of defence within circle OF twelve miles
i conclude therefrom thatthe same ridiculous mea
sures at Saumur viii be resorted to- in the shape
oil barricades, dlrches and foundations. NJ. Cam
BETA was, according TO las. accounts, at Bourges.