The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-04-17

result is-whats That Boulanger is to-
day more popular and powerful than Gam
BETA was at any period of his career.
AS MINISTER OF WAR.
Gen. Boulanger was made Minister of
War through outside pressure, and during
the few months he held that position he eff
fected many valuable reforms. His prede-
cessor had maintained all the ancient rules
IN the army and created many new ones
which were oppressive and senseless For
instance, d soldier could not wear a beard
1t was held that mustache made soldier
appear more fierce and at the same time
gave him a stylish look. Gen. Boulanger
Issued series of orders, abolishing ma
Jorlty of Evolutionary practices and in them
held that If a man wanted to wear any kind
OF beard or shave clean. wear long or short
hair, or anything gentleman should do, in
ranks or out, he could have his pleasure
A Bonapartist leader said a day or two
ago he did not think Boulanger contem-
plated coup d'etGt, and, discussing the
Generals popularity, said:
'Gen. Boulanger won his spurs at the
head of the War Department by no vain
show. Seven or eight years ago, having
plodded as no other man has ever plodded
at the Ministry of War in the subordinate
position which he then occupied, he drew
up series of reports and proposals based
upon his knowledge and experience of what
the army required but they were shelved
by his superiors. OF this the outside world
knew nothing and suspected nothing. Once
in office, however, his plans were already
cut and dried, and he carried them out
without flinching, and with a dexterity,
moreover, which astonished and discon-
certed all the old fogies of the army-some
of those who had preceded him, and others
who would willingly have taken his place.
The same gentleman argued that no other
minister of war had raised the morale of
the army in such an incredibly short space
of time He had fairly electrified it. To
Gen. Boulanger also he attributed the en-
tire credit of the mobilization plans. These,
he said, were the results of his previous
years study and preparation at the Minis
try of War, adding that it was manifest
that operations on such a scale could not
have been devised in a day or fortnight
An unusual coincidence was met in the
organization of the Cabinet during the time
Gen. Boulanger was member of it. The
President of the Cabinet was NJ de Frey
cinot, who had deposed Boulanger when the
latter was in command of the troops at
Tunis. Freycinet regarded Boulangers
course in the army as likely to create an
aristocracy and therefore dangerous This
was but short time before President Grevy
called Boulanger from the army into the
Cabinet. OF course, there could not under
these circumstances be very cordial feel
ing between Freycinet and Boulanger, and
their work in the Cabinet grated and con-
f1icts were constant.
Bonlanger's military career is soon re-
viewed. 1t is said that he who bears the
honorable scars of war is an honorable SOL
der. Boulanger, be it said, is under this
standard brave and honorable soldier. He
has twice been wounded in battle-once in
the chest under command of MacMahOn. in
the expedition Grande-Kobyle, and again
in the siege of Paris. Boulanger graduated
in the army in 1857 and was made first
lieutenant of the Algerian or Turcais regi-
ment. The first arms he bore was under
MacMahon in the Grande-Kobyle expedi-
ton, in conflict with Italy. His wound
subjected him to long sickness. and he did
not rejoin his regiment till 1860 at Blidah
In March of that year he received proba-
tionary promotion and in September fol-
lowing went out at the head of new bat
talion-Cochinchine. At the age of IS years
he was a captain. In 1867 he was ordered
as captain as instructor in the military
school from which be had graduated.
There he remained till 1870, when he be-
came chief of a battalion, and was prominent
in the memorable siege Of Paris 1t is
claimed that he got such a hatred of the
Germans then that he has ever since tried
to involve his country in war with Ger
many. In 1871 he was promoted to be
colonel, but his nomination was not con-
firmed by the Senate, and he went back to
his former rank. In November, 1874, he
was again promoted to be colonel, and this
time was confirmed. He was sent to Amer
lea at the head of the French commission to
attend our Centennial lin 1881 was in the
same capacity at Yorktown, to attend the
anniversary centennial celebration Of the
American alliance with France, and in 1884
was promoted to be general He is well
known in America, where he has Travelled
extensively, and is popular everywhere.