The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-05-19
THE FIGHTING FRENCH.

THE FIGHTING FRENCH.
They Have Another Opportunity to Exercise
Their Martial Spirit and to Acquire Fur
ther Possessions in Algiers.
Tunis to Be Taken in ny the Grasping Gauls,
Who are Now OH the War Path-Other
Interesting Gossip From Paris.
PARIS, April 20.-The Tunis expedition fol-
lows its natural course; the French will march
into the bowels of the land, disposing Of the
Kroumirs en- route and whether the latter lay
down their long flint rifles or not for the mo-
ment-to be supplied with Martins and REM
ingtons in case the French, after an historical
precedent, having marched up the hill-the re-
gency will be occupied until indemnities arc
paid, and material guarantees for anicable re-
)ations being continuous established. Now, as
the hey is as poor as Job in his worst days, and
has no credit to run into debt, the French must
reign themselves to the maxim, that where
thore is nothing the king loses his rights. The
logical consequence is that Tunis will be an
nexed. It is only for the sake Of observing
all diplomatic etiquette that the French do not
commence by dropping in, Paul Pry like, on
the hey, hoping they don't intrude. The mat
ter presents no difficulties; no state seriously
intends contrasting the claims Of France to have
Tunis as her scientific frontier, to round of
her colony later with Morocco, and 80 COM
mand the homogeneity of her possessions up to
Senegal
Italy has lost the results Of all her intrigues
to Dust French influence from Tunis. She has
compromised her good relations with France,
cooled the sympathy between the Latin sisters,
and destroyed the French market for obtaining
the contemplated loan, to square her paper
currency. 1t does appear strange that the
cause of the acute relations between the Boy
and France-the italian consul, II Maccio, has
neither been blamed nor disowned by his gov
eminent. It was he who blew The Goals, Or
ganized the fanaticism, checkmated the Gauls,
and yet swears by tho innocence of Juno's
doves that he has never so acted. Credat Ju-
d8us.
The military preparations for the Tunisian
expedition present this singularity: while i'm
partial aud foreign observers find them excel
lent, certain sections of the French press as
sert they have been detestable This section
ject on principle to every act of every minister
of war, so long as this functonary is not a
civilian. The other comprises those organs
which are discontinued, because the party they
represent is out in the cold; but were their
friends in Office they would sing the same air,
and perhaps not so we'll Formerly the French
said: ''Tbe eyes of Europe are'upon us"-to
envy their glory, understand. The eyes of Eu-
rope are to-day, more than ever, fixed on
France, and in the kindest sense; to observe
what progress the country has made in military
organization since 1870, and how the young
republic will make war. There can be 10
doubt as to the result of the campaign; if the
enemy shows in the open, the fate of arms will
be quickly decided: if he remains in his noun
tain fast lesses, t4e enterprise will be serious,
and, without being very long, will not be ex-
emps from dangers and perils.
10 accuse their generals of incapacity and
treason appears to have entered into the blood
of the French. During the first republic each
corps d'armee was followed by guillotine; SO
in case a general went wrong, his case was soon
disposed of--pour encourager les autres. Not \
few writer's believe they best defend the coun-
try by rejecting on those Professionally en-
trusted with its defence IE the case of the
1unislan expedition tho end is to
CHAsTIsM SEMI BARBARIAN TRIBES;
q few days more or less before commencing is
not important; the grand point to keep in view
il, that the first blow will be vigol ously deliv-
erred, and next, cnergehcally followed up. The
war minister had then only to select-an affair
for his Office OF only twenty-four hours-the
troops best suited for the climate; tho horses
naturally could not be shipped as quickly as
the men; transports were, however, requisi-
not o matter Of mobilization of troops, of call
ing ont married men, and stopping all business
life to de end heraths and homes. That necessi
ty could only occur in case Of continental war,
where the power that can concentrate the most
men at strategic points within the shortest pc
Rod may safely count upon winning the first
campaign, and perhaps deciding the fate of the
war. The minister is not accused of having
left Algeria without it's normal strength of de-
Tense, nor of its arsenals being Impoverished.
49, 80
As tits, it may be said truly on the present &C.
casion, not a button on the gaiter Of a soldier
is wanting
The little war will not only have beneficial
effect on the whole army, but it will also test
the organization of the troops, and will help to
franc the measures still in suspense. Cham
Der strategists and journalistic tacticians must
be prepared for receptions in the coming strug
gle, which will resemble very much the first
conquests of the French in Algeria and their
latest serious conflicts with the Kabyles The
task for the French is not as easy as opinion
concludes. A holy war, like gunpowder, is in
the air. The enemy is rapid, unseizable; he
will harass the French columns, cut communi-
cations, await the approach of the invaders at
every defle-and in the Atlas mountains the
dofiles are numerous: he will avoid serious
engagements; driven from one valley, he will
reform in another; he has neither towns nor
villages to be burned; his habitations are
tents; he has need Of no roads; he is as much
at nome on I'll inaccessible site as ID valley OF
easy access, on a mountain as in plain; he
knows the rsmotest corners of his region; will
make each the center Of resistance, and will
have for allies the soldiers of the hey, pru-
IDENTITY lent. Hence, the French troops will re-
quire much patience and agility: much will
depend on each soldiers responsibility and sang
>froid. that at any unexpected moment he may
be called on to exhibit
THE MONETARY CONGRESS.
whatever good it may arrive ut, will do good by
discussing whether the currency of civilized
nations ought to have gold, or gold and sill
yer standard. England ia not in favor of the