Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-09-23
GENERAL BouLANGER.

The Eventful Career OF Ono Of the Most
Prominent French Politicians.
The restless activity of the present
French War Minister, his evident de-
sire to build up the military prestige of
France. and his energetic part in the
expulsion of the Orleans Princes, have
led TO many sensational reports regard
ing his aims and purposes. He has
been credited with q desire to bring
about war of revenge with Germany,
and royalist newspapers in Paris have
tried with suspicious eagerness to fos-
ter the notion that he is aiming q coup
d'etat and military dictatorship of
France. Notwithstanding his recent
popularity and his evident desire to at
tract public attention to himself, there
is nothing in General Boulanger's past
career to justify the stir that has lately
been made over his supposed designs.
His life has been simply that of SOL
der who has advanced rapidly, as OPP
portuniiy offered, until he reached the
rank of Major-General, and the COM
mand of division of the French army.
Georges Boulanger was born at
Rennes, the ancient capital of Brit
tany, in 1887, his mother being
OF English birth. He became
a military student at Saint-Cyr,
and in 1856 was appointed sub-lieuten-
ant in the First Regiment of Algerian
Tirailleurs at Blidah. He took part in
the Kabyle expedition under General
Random, and was present at the attack
of Irdjetcs Heights. In 1859 his regi-
ment was sent to Italy, and he was
wounded in the chest in the Turbigo
skirmish, his gallantry earning him a
place in the Legion of Honor. He re-
turned to Africa in 1860. and was pro-
NOTED to Lieutenant.
In the following year he went to Co
chin China with his company, and was
wounded at Waidan in the thigh.
He attained Captaincy in 1852,
and in 1866 was assigned to the posi-
ton of drill-master at Saint-Cyr, where
he remained until the declaration OF
war against Germany in 1870. He
was in the army at Paris, and in No
vember of that year became Lieuten-
ant-Colonel of the One Hundred and
Fourteenth Infantry. His shoulder was
fractured by bal at the battle OF
Champigny. and he was made an Off
Ger of the Legion of Honor. In Janu-
airy, 1871. he took command of his regi-
ment as Colonel, receiving his fourth
wound. this time in the elbow. while at
its head, and attaining the exceptional
distinction for so young an officer of
Commander of the Legion of Honor.
He was put back to the rank of Lieu
tenant Colonel by the Revenue Com
mission after the war, but was deputed
in 1872 to organize the One Hundred
and Thirty-third Regiment, and placed
on the promotion list, gaining COM
mand of the new regiment in 1874. He
retained this command until 1880. when
he became a Brigadier-General. Being
anxious to become acquainted with cav
airy service, he obtained command Of
brigade in the Fourteenth Army
Corps. He was & member of the French
delegation to this country to take part
in the centenary CT the battle of York
town in 1881, and attracted attention
by his alert and affable ways. On his
return to France he took command of
his brigade at Lyons, and was soon after
intrusted with the office of Director of
Infantry under the Minister of War.
He worked hard in reforming and
strengthening the military organiza-
ton, and resigned in 1884 to take COM
mand of division in Africa, where he
transformed the expeditionary force in
Tunis into a permanent force of occu-
patton. On the formation of the De
Freycinet Ministry at the beginning of
the present year he was made Minister
of War, and began that display of
energy and spirit which mas produced
SO much apparent disquict in France.
-Harper's Weekly.