The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-11-20
The Red Figures of France.

The Red Figures Of France.
DR.. LAGNEAU, a member OF the French
Academy of Medicine and President OF the
Society OF Anthropology. read paper the
other day before the Academy OF Moral
Sciences. dealing with the losses Of France
in the wars OF the first republic and OF the
two empires. A sketch Of the lecture is
published in Figaro under the impressive
title. "Red Figures
According to the statistics compiled by
DR.. LAGNEAU. the number Of killed and
wounded in the battles fought by France Is
far less than the number Of deaths from
mnladies contracted during the campaigns.
The relative mortality stands as ono to
seven, or one to eight. In tho war OF tho
Crimea. for example. out OF 3O9,26s men OF
the land army that took part in tho cam
paign. 05. els persisted. and yet only 10,24O
French soldiers fell In engagements. A
third OF tho cxpcditionary corps was wiped
out, less than onc-ninth OF the corps being
destroyed by the Russians. Tho other
eight-ninths were carried away by sickness
incident to exposure and privation.
From 1871 to 1900. when warfare was al
most continuous 2.0S0000 Frenchmen were
successfully called under arms. In 1900
only 677,5os remained. In ten years nearly
100000 soldiers had disappeared. And this
was only the republics share. That of the
Consulate and the Empire fur surpassed it.
NAPOLEON S consumption of men is estimat-
cd at 100000 by the most moderate statis-
ticinns, and at 100000 by NJ. KicHEr in his
most careful estimate. BRocA and THEIRS
n limit In ,gc ~ mill OF
tho rest belonging. according to them. to
the allies incorporated in the French armies
But the total remains the same 1t stands
ms a great rcd blot in history" In the
language of Gen. FoY, 4 man entered the
military service Mt that time never to get
out Of it alive
But that is not all TO tho mortality
among tho soldiers must be added the pain
full mortality OF many womcn and children
deprived OF their natural support. who
persisted from privation. suffering. and
want. Countless are the homes" says
Dr. LAGNEAu in his lecture. THAT have
been shattered by tho fatal consequences
Of war! What Terrible blows have been
struck Mt the reproduction and the vitality
Of the French race!
From 1915 to 1851 France enjoyed u rc!a-
lively pacific period. But from 1852 tho
nation entered upon new militant period.
and the empire that was founded in the
famous protestat!on of pence" made war
in the Crimea. in Italy. in Mexico, and end
ed the game In the catastrophes Of 1870.
The Italian campaign. far shorter than that
OF the Crimea, and carried on in the summer
season in the midst OF fertile country,
was infinitely less mlrdcrous. notwith-
standing tho great battles OF Magenta and
Solfcvino. Out OF an effective force Of
100000 men in the French armies there
were only 1880 killed; and about an equal
number died In tho hospitals. making Il
total loss of ony 2o.o0).
Passing over the wars In China. we come
to the Mexican adventure. That lasted five
years. and the French troops must have
suffered serious losses. not only by tho
stubborn resistance OF the natives but by
the yellow fever and other diseases. But
the real figures wcrc carefully concealed by
the Empire. All that can be said on the
subject is that the average number Of the
troops during the five years occupation
Of Mexico was from 10000 to $4,000. and
NAPoLEoNs inactivity the day after Sado.
va VIC Supo llluuo Ill Llc cIAcCllNC
forces Of the Empire through that outra.
| geous folly. A careful search shows that
during tho eighteen years Of tho Empire
from 1852 to 1870. $4,000 men have disap.
peared. "a sombre preface to tho heca
| tombs that were to follow"
At Wissembourg one-quarter Of the effec
tive French force was moved down; al
Woerth more than one-tifth. At Metz the
losses were fearful. Before tho capitula
ton. they footed up to 25 Generals. 200.
officers. and over 10000 soldiers. In tina,
entiro campaign. according to the Frencl
statisticians. 1900. 900 is tho number OF men
women. and children that persisted. and Il
we add to this the $4,000 destroyed In the
preceding wars OF tho second Empire. VIZ
find that the reign OF NAPOLEON III. cos
France nearly two millions OF lives.