Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-02-01
"LITTLE MAC"

'LITTLE MAC"
Coz. Mcclellan on tho Asnny aud Military
Matters tM General.
New York Star Interview.
General, the Star having published the
views of several general officers on the army
bill would be pleased to obtain yours in re-
gard to it,
''You mean the Burnside bill?''
eyes, sir; it has been objected to as pro-
posingto make the Office of the general of
the army completely overshadow the war de-
partment.'
s'Well, really had not had time to ex-
anime the bill, and only glanced at the ao-
coucts of it in the newspapers. I see it is
said such would be the effect of the bill.'
'Another feature much noted is in rela-
ton to the armament and control of the
militia in the several States--what is your
opinion on this point?''
81 am not aware Of its provisions in this
respect, not having had the time to examine
them. Indeed, the only means have of
knowing what is going on in the army is
through some officer meet now and then,
in the papers, there seems to be no donbt
that the bill will be killed in Congress-
Corresponding in a measure to our
militia system, there has been organized in
France vast territorial army of re-.
serves"
sit has not been completely organized?"
"No, to large extent only on paper as yet.
The few months instruction and services re-
quired of these reserves is set down by these
critics as utterly inadequate to the needs of
the country's situation. The same objection
is raised in regard to the reserves in Austria,
while in Germany the landwehr and reserves
must have all first served IN the line.''
eyes, they are all old. soldiers; suppose
there can be no question that the German
organization is the best of all. The land
wehr fought as we'll as the troops of the line
IN the Franco-German campaign, during
which was in France with the German ar
mies.''
"With which army were you, and we're you
there until the surrender"
"With the crown princes army, and to-
ward the last of the siege went down to
Orleans, at which place Prince Frederick
Charles was operating; I left Berlin with the
royal headquarters staff, and was present
with the armies until the negotiations with
NJ. Theirs for the surrender of Paris.''
Chow did the fighting compare with that
here? Sheridan, who was over there, told
me it was not very desperate; that often a
tight was announced, and before he thought
it was fairly begun, it was all over.''
cit was so-the engagements were not so
obstinate and sanguinary as those on this
side, though, as matter of course, their
vast numbers of we'll disciplined and gaudAy-
arrayed troops made altogether very brill
liant display. At Worth there was severe
struggle, and the Germans had hard work to
cross the valley in which the village stood,
and climb up on the French side of the range
of hills. The French fought very brayely
up to the moment in which their reserves
were exhausted, and an inspection of the
bodies and debris of the battle field showed
the severity of the conflict
GLOW were the raw French levies armed
with old guns?"
"They had new arms, mostly chessapots,
but they did not know how to use them.''
According to the recent Russian expert
ences in Turkey, do you think, general, that
the new weapons have rendered necessary a
new system of tactics?"
"Ihe other nations have already, I think.
taken steps for the accommodation of their
armies to the change of tactics necessitated
by the new weapons. I don't know whether
the change has been made for our army, but
I think not.''
"Suoh accommodation, you think, will be
necessary in all armies?''
eyes. neither the French nor the Russians
adopted the leading feature of our warfare
field earthworks. The Turks were wiser,
and Plevna must have proved terrible rev.
elation to the Russians
"Ihe French, you say, had none. They
might have saved many lives if they had"
"Ihey had none in the field, being con-
tent with the regular Qualifications around
Paris, and the various strongholds.'
"Ihe Afghanistan campaign seems to have
been very small affair."
Yes, 1t appears to be over already, with
the only result of slightly extending the
English frontier in ASIA
"ln the count of Paris amateur history of
the war he gives an account of the manner
in which you we're superseded in your COM
mand at Warrenton, Va.-"''
cat Rector's.''
"Of your receiving from WASHINGTON the
dispatch notifying the change, after a some.
what dramatic manner; is it correct YER
sion?''
10 tell you the truth, have not read his
book, only glanced at it, and portions of it
have been repeated to me. I suppose what
ne gives is substantially correct he is hon
est.''
you have been in retirement long time
since 1861
"Yes, the war was SO long ago that
rarely think about it, and I like to forget it
all. Here I am pursuing quite another ca
reer, and am kept so busy that I have very
little time to examine into military matters y