The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-23
THE FRENCH ARMY.
Complaints That Private soldiers Are
Too Young and Generals Too oid-
New York Sun.

New York Sun.
Important changes In the French army
are being urged by French newspapers
and military experts. The agitation
springs In part from the discovery OF seTi-
Gus defects in the present organization.
the existence OF which has been demon
strated by the expedition 10 Madagascar
and IL attracts the greater attention be-
cause the oft-repeated prophecies that the
great European war Is at last at hano are
heard once more. The prophet In the pres
emit instance hides himself behind the sig
nature Of Capt G.. c." and writes In the
Nouveile Revue that the outhTeak threat
ems TO come In fS9s-97. He argues that
Germany will endeayor to proht by the
temporary advantage given her by recent
laws increasing the effective strength OF
her army. and by its equipment with I'M
proved artillery. Her plan would hs TO
attack France bsfore Russi2s prepara-
lions FOR war are completed. which VIII
not be for several years. RuEsias rail-
road facilities are not great enough 70
ohlige Germany TO concentrate large
force upon her frontier. and before the ar
mics OF the czar were ready 20 move Ger
many would have time 10 make a supreme
effort to crush France. The French crit
les are therefore urging the necessity OF
increasing the efficiency OF the army with
out delay, so that the forces of the repub-
lie may be prepared TO Withstand the
shock.
one OF the most serious defects shown
by the experience in Madagascar was the
liability OF the French war department
20 exercise ordinary foresight. The expe-
dictionary CORPS was held back IN the MAS
matte swAups and forests OF the coast.
where It's strength was sapped by fevers
aud dyssnfery. solely by the lack OF sufif-
Client means OF carrying supplies. No
fewer than 4.Seo wagons Of special type
~. Il
~ supplies bat they were useless. be-
cause no practicable roads were found up
on which they could De hauled. No wharf
was provided for unloading the vessels
carrying supplies. Even 50 essential
drug as cuinine Was lacking. IL having
heen provided In the form of a solution.
which the soldiers refused 20 take. fn-
stead Of In pills. In general, the situation
was such as TO raise the apprehension that
IN case Of war the French army. though
thoroughly equipped for fighting. might
Hna itself crippled and helpless before the
German hosts simply from inability 90 OBJ
tain supplies OF food
Another serious question brought up hy
Madagascar Is the age OF the soldiers. In
the opinion of some critics. the expedition
indicates that the bulk Of the French army
~ too yourg % support the fatigues Of 4
campaign. The average HGe 81 the men
sent 20 Madagascar vas = years Or less,
and they fell daily victims BY scores 20
g4sesse exposure ana fatigue. II IS point
"a on. that the expedition should have
bs%r COMPOSED Of men not less than =
wears oia ard Injured 70 military service
Unfortunately such men are not 20 ne
F,vrh IN the French army under the pres-
ent system Of universal conscripgioa ard
three years service What the rersedv
shall ee, ard what would happen should
hundreds % thcux& rds OF such unssaSon-
- vsr-fss va 81
IN actual warfare. are questions for which
no answer has been found yet.
Notwithstanding tbs state o. affairs. (.
La proposed - lower the STANDARD q height
cr recruits. a measure made necessary BY
the fact that tire population Of France s.
rot increasing fast enough 20 I'll TIRE ranks
according 70 the plan. In the las, century.
under the royal government. 10 recruits
less than Eve feet tar were accepted Dur
fre- ths revolution there Was no limit q,
height. SO great WAS fAe demand for sob
sf.rS In fSaf t was Fixed a. feet 81 n ~
Is ara IN fSos AZ two inches less Z; vss
vatseA aratn an tnch after the rs-estahlsSh-
r,rnt % p@aee IA ISIS. aod continued about
80 sSr,a urtfi fS1 when y Was u1sSs s
go - tr>he~. which = tho present limit
Amy ssfscsr= a~~ Tow trying 20 persuade
themselves that th.s Is not really ire min
sr4,lna height 81 rnan csrsese OF support
e. military fAtiEges- TESy argue that as
: ,.~sfry - vtossfloa - the recruiting
- soyi. men under height are IN TIE
-. ara have proves capsbls sold ers
a., sh~w think that TIE same night -
-. - Wt.sa rsisn- They propose & set TIE
r.,,,sr,r,rn height a. feet = t5eh- Visitors
:, rS~anee are struck ~ TIE seeming snail
...svve Of the sslo4srs UNDER re present
regulations - .
= 80 pysvatn soldiers srs ;oo YoU1E. &
s.-.-s.-.ma shat .he ccTan,sud1rE EeasTais
=. -, "a 20 ~ eSpsa<e Of supporting tie
s..s~r,.s ~ a rzapAlgs- A. he present
- ,,,,,e 81 TIE geus-ais 90 TIE haEnsss
rank with shrso sxcepfron~ = $50 thAn
= vezrs cd Win the sane aAilksF 81 eN-