The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-10-01
GEN. ~BOULANGER.

x5rl61 SK8tGA Oh Hla S1ictE--A On III.
ture.
Georges Ernest Jean Marie Boulanger
was born at Rennes, April %, 1887. In 1856
he was appointed sub-lieutenant in the
First regiment of Algerian Tirailleurs.
From that time his military career was
very distinguished, and his advance in his
profession very rapid. In 1857 he took
part in the Kabyla expedition. In
1869 he was wounded at Turbigo and re-
ceiyed the decoration of tho Legion of
Honor after three years of service. In 1861
he waa with the expedition in Cochin
China. During the Franco Prussian war
he acted as chief OF battalions in the army
of Paris and was wounded at Champlgny.
In 1880 he was appointed briRadier. general,
in which position he showed great talsntfor
organization. He was, moreover, sent to
United States as head of the mission ON the
centenary Of independence. For q short
time he was attached to the war Office as
director OF infantry, which position he
quilted to proceed az general of division in
Africa. In twenty months he returned to
the war Office as minister, Jan. Z, 1886.
During his tenure of previous offices he had
shown great zeal and determination. His
activity had led in some instances to dis
pute. Such had been the result in Tunis of
his arbitrary resolution to eXalt the mill
tary over the civil authority. During his
early career h0 had moreover been in close
relations with the extreme left in politics,
and his appointment was regarded ass con-
cession to the power of M. ~Clemenceau. who
is Gen. BoulanRer's cousin. His repub-
lican sympathies we're shown by the energy
with which he urged forward the expulsion
of the princes from France, though it was
afterwards proved that he had written in
almost fulaome terms Of gratitude to the
Due d'Aumaie, his superior officer, when
promoted brigadier general.
His administration of the war office was
such as led to apprehension of renewed
trouble with Germany. Dissatisfied with
the field role which the Rouvier ministry
assigned him, the general conspired for his
own Advancement in an intriguing manner
and he was placed under arrest for breaches
of discipline. Persisting in his attitude of
INSTRUMENTATION he was stricken Oft the act
i've list of the French army, whereupon he
sought and gained election to the chamber
of deputies. Addressing that body without
delay he cut q very. sorry figure, which
brought about a resignation of his seat.
Later he provoked III. Flouues, presi-
Boulanger was put hors de combat for sew
eral weeks. His revolutionary intringues
continuing he was subjected to restraints
which forced him to seek an asylum in
other lands, finally taking up his residence
in Belgium. There he remained for some
U1lACs buO lGdl " P1obESAlloA aAu LhlUlo
for conspiracy forbidding the thought of re-
turning to France.
The Paris correspondent of the New York
Posi-, who saw Gen. Boulanger when he was
minister of war, describes him as follows:
Ihe moment he entered the room one
saw clearly how mistaken is the common
conception of his personality. He is q
short man, rather stoutly built, with brown
hair, brown board, rather a red fact; above
all things quiet looking almost to common
plaoeness. His mother was an English
woman, and except for the slight point to
his beard, he himself would DO taken for an
EnRlishman, anywhere. He wore the ordi-
nary French civilians dress of black frock
coat and trousers, with only the single red
spot in his button hole. This, by the way,
was also the dress of ha~lf-a-dozen generals,
who seemed to perform a sort of special
duty by being present about the minister.
In tanners Gen. Boulanger is not
more striking than IN appearance. He
speaks slowly, like most soldiers, but with
out much gesture and without much force
either of voice or language, appearing il
the latter respect particularly dull by COM
parison with M. Clemsnceau, who intro
ducsd me, and who has the rapid and pc
culiarly lacid and terse speech of the bor1
French orator. l desired, if possible, tc
induce Gen. Boulanger to afford Inc facili
ties for visiting such military points on the
frontier as would be inaccessible to thu
OIolAai y Loa lbps u A1SA AAlbAt yot ~
seen without affording q knowledge Of any
strategic or other %secrets. This he promptly
declared to be out of the question, for two
reasons. ''There are" he said, sin The
frat place, things which everybody may
see, and. in the second, things
which nobody may see. AS regards the fer,
mer you will be as we'll off without MY per.
mission as with it. AS regards the latter
if | were a commander of one of the from
tier districts, and q stranger came to MI
with a request from the minister of war tt
conduct him over my fortress, l should
simply laugh at him. There is another
thing, too" he added, with a laugh; II dc
not think for a moment any one will inter.
fere with you; but if you should get into
trouble Of any kind-iournaligts sometimes
get into trouble, you know-and a letter
from me should be found upon you, m
enemies in the press and elsewhere would
mot hesitate to make capital out of the
fact, and We should both of US suffer fol
it. I write NO letters that | can help b,
added quietly; a remark half jest
and half earnest at which those presen,
We're much amused. for obvious reasons. I
was assured, however, that SO far as regard
ed special war preparations nothing had
been done by France, ut is our duty, OF
course" said the minister of war, ito b.
ready for whatever may happen, but in til,
way of what may be called provocative
preparations you may be certain that 70,
will find nothing whatever. AS to those OF
mos amis les Prussiens, when you got OF
their side Won will SEQ what Won will see.'