The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-10-11
.fnrxcm MaxnurnEs CRITICIZED.
ffEseii-h Critic On The Receat Display IN
m s,haupagn~.

"a sHhNs1NVHC1 SFhAANs"sSDs
AY1E~eii-h Critic IN tse Rccest Display n
Z M thar~pagn~.
Probably no other grcnt army In tho world
eau show n more experienced body OF generals
than those who gathered In Champagne last
month b. conduct the mannnvrcs IT 100000
3 Frnncl, troops. Most Of thcm have been deco
Z nd,-l for Calantry and skill In tho Crlfnon.
ITALY. Mexico, nnd Algoria. Except Gen. dc
Nd:cior. who owes his rnpid advancement to
Z his gallant conduct in T6npuin. and Ia no
more than 81. thu ages VI tho corps and divls-
ioi,al leaders vury from ~ to ~. Con, seuss,er
hirnsclf was born IN 1874. De Galliffet Is 81.
and Davoust. Due dAucrstadt, A nephew of
Nnpoioon's great Marshal. was horn In 1873.
Of The cavalry divisional leaders. Cen. Bonic.
WILL known ny tho author u an exceedingly
turk expose Of tho shortcomings Of the
frsucl, cavalry in 1870. il ~. Con- do Jesse 81.
AMI the youngest brigndrr not lees thnn "a.
All ~ these high ofIicnrs served In
the Frnnco-Prussian war; md whatever
military Wisdom was learned by the
French from tb"ir disastrous defeats in
1870 n IL in the mental grasp u those
tried LENDERS. Probably tho most interesting
feature uf their operations with tho troops
near Colouhey and vendcuvrc. therefore. was
tho Illustration Of tho changes in the army
cnused by the mor.ifyipE object lessons of tho
lust war. In n series Of articles on his obscr-
watkins III tho French manDuvros tho military
correspondent Of tho London Times dcvotes
considerable attention to this feature
" In the first place. It Is apparent TINT tho
Fundamental structure of French tactics Inns
Undergone most significant change since tho
great wnr. Tho constant offensive t0uuotc
Marshal 3useaud. so essential to the Of
ncicncy of the French soldier has boon ro-
a phn,yf kn
operations tho generals. whether in supreme
command! or IN charge Of u corps. division. or
brigade. even on the defensive were evidently
always on the watch for an opportunity to at
tack. At tho same tin,c there was no blundor-
ing int, battle. On the contrary, commend
alle dog o Of prudence was generally notice.
able. Wnerc at.Rck was nanfestly Ill timed
Ut roulhnrdy, the troops wore held back. and
Inrch skill was shown in tho occupation Of de-
frrsi"r posi.ions Int, none the less. tho off'n-
s!vc Is the 'nnlnsprinR Of French tactics.
III TcntruvrI. for instance. on Sept. q.
Nil";" Gems Dc Gnl!iirct ind Davonst. each
with ,f,.thO men aud 40 Batteries, were again
pittr,: against cac:l othrf. the former occupied
ii stsoi:: ;ic'"n,iv" position ncnr)y six miles in
,cnst... Both TANKS rrst", IN compact villages
somewhat In the rear II the main limo Of bnt-
slr: in fart. lr,tii Hanks wore exposed aud both
were strong. Reserves had been placed III
tr!,ion in thu rear. and theoretically tho posi-
:.n w,s Mii'ers readers s. may
~ fnn. Tho first nttclnpt t. turn the french
.svs n% WAS but ap"' sss e ny inc KEPT
-.nrh. and nventuaIly leaving lIorsDronn on his
right succscded In turning tho exposed Hank.
at tni hS
his turning movements by Q strong attack on
n
outer TANKS by occupying strong posts. yi-
lax.s: eopsrs. or commanding groand: This
tags of nnduly thinning the line Of the at
9 "n6 aonst hs e f has
countcrettoke-the first by the energy o. his
d bis artillery. At tho battle 81 Venieuyre
both Generals at once recognized that the
weak; here Dayanst made his main attack.
and here De tialliflet massed IN strength. But
st. the Rs time that v6 he ssad h hs I
was put seSondary objective with the great.
had to weaken his centre 70 reinforce his left ;"
The smokelessness q the new powder rem
make successful ieints. Tho ACTION Of the
commander could readily determine real
instnctiyely when body q troops opposite to
friends yonder." said one little corporal to his
squad; In the rear-guard action, OF the 9Th.
sp hs Ssa nS Rn
tack on the flank. But tho commander Of the
force thus threatened. who had at first ncg-
action q tho enemy in front. lad already dis
regards 81" advane NEED n9st Hpt and Advanced
Euurds IN 1907 and now, the Tunes corre-
oitsn been questioned whether they gained
~ ali events. in t he encounters between the
there was no visible, disposition to delay the
ssenss s e. S sFss a the snd s tx s9o
pretty II Is posi- fSe
a fes s tho s tie
tsy Is dleuit to @ detect the e neS Ss ad
SsTs H
obtaining infoi%at,9n The. arm,e e, march,
" or miles siS e .V s's"
s"a and 1a e' ILL., seSn
cr-iment 70 small parties, It was pQasbIe for
u h9rsemen and to gain some point from
which tn observe the approach Vt ono or moro
Uf tho advancing columns. Tho hcada, there
lore. p the various columns had alYays annie
yanoed guards played. CONSEQUENTLY. On impor-
taDt role"
= rathor curious detail Of manpuvres WIS
fho eyide2t determination to restore to tho
envalry Its prestige. md to use IL SIDE by side
on tho battlefield with artillery npi infantry.
The correspondent touches upon this point:
Az a rule the independent divisions three
briGadesl OF twenty four sguadrons. attached
g either, army. wutched II" moro exposed
hink. and hero. ON more than ono occasion.
eamo into collision: but at .yendcuvro. Con.
Donie commanding Do Galllrct's horsemen.
adIyaeoo q the enomy asalnst the right and to
taEins odv s ,s0" " tho eonsr afsrdSd
b. deep deIrsssiona. and menDuvring
nnObseryed. no camo down ON tho iank
of the attack: and tho first limo was ordered by
s.d TIVE resimshts attached to each CORPS
HaGemsnts. md executod seYeral cllargeh