Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-25

NW may be- II
Nevertheless, the
phrase standing army" may be misunder
STOOD In one sense the standing army of
france Is standing today; but in another
sense a great part of it is sitting down. OF
the Z'oVoVo men of which II is COMPOSED
On paper, and of the 100000 men which
the republic would throw out on her bor-
oers In the first week of hostilities. the
great mass arc, at the moment quietly
going 10 their business and their pleasure
SIMPLE citizers to all appearance They
constitute the reserve" of the army: and
to be exact. it is the reserve that is mobi
lzed.
The standing army, in a more restricted
sense, is only the framework of the great
er body; and it, too, is a composite CON-
Germ, made up of something permanent and
something shifting. All its commissioned
off1cerS are fixtures being educated for a
definite career pursuing it through life.
and knowing nothing outside of the mill
tary existence. And with them there live
ana move, year in, year out, the family of
the re-engaged'' enlisted men a great
mass of soldiers-by-choice who may we'll
be compared to our own regulars. These
form the real inner framework of the
modern continental army. They make the
null through which must pass all the male
The First Process.
Entering the mill as "conscripts," all the
youth of France, without exception must
be formed. by three years service into
soldiers. This is the first process Then
the mill let's go of them, to this extent.
that they may reabsorb themselves in
private iie-but always as reserves.
Year after year the active reserve thus
accumulates. The army mill has never
SAID goodbye to them. Year after year the
army mill must call them back again, TO
keep them in their places by the process
of the annual maneuvers. This is the sec
end process-practice in the great war act
of mobilization
/ have a friend, a Frenchman and Paris
ian. young gentleman of enviable for
tune and position. who in summer time is
wont to make the round of mountain spas,
seaside casinos, trains de luxe and pleas
ure yachts; and i have another friend.
cabman, who spends all the year in what
he says is toll. This autumn both will
have change. The rich young man has
had to give up a whole list of autumn
pleasures; the young workingman is to take
what ne looks on rather as a holiday; and
both will be together. The three Of US
were riding in the cabman's cab the other
night. when the more fortunate of the
two Frenchmen spoke up suddenly:
ITEMS, / know you-you are Ravel? The
one they called Casse-pipe in the regi-
ment!'
Yes. monsieur. 1 knew you instantly 1
often see monsieur.
Then both were silent for a moment.
How many years has ii been now?
Three years since We were out last,
said the cabman, land seven years since
We were of the classe."
"A long time
"A long time
And it is this year we go out again."
Yes. monsieur, this year We are 1T
again"
Again of the great family
Again to peel potatoes
again to listen to the corporars lam
guage.''
Again to do forced marches-ah!"
Point of Mutual Objection.
They both said ''ah" to that, for neither
cabman nor cab patron takes a pleasure in
excessive walking.
II must go into training-oof.'
And me- Ohe French say mel land
me. quot! My feet swell already at the
thought of it!'
I'VE should have been one of the cavalry,
Ravel."
I'm listening to You. monsieur (which
means, Monsieur, now you're talking.'D
Then as the rich man left the cab and paid
the poor man with handsome tip it was
Good night. Ravel, and au revoirr' and
"Merci. monsieur" dhank YOU, I'VE shall
meet again"
When they meet again this year the poor
man will not say Monsieur" nor will the
rich man resume his condescendng tone
They will be Casse-pipe and the grand
Chariot. In regiment slang, "old brother
and 'old dog" and even the familiar .'old
COW" Of fraternal confidence and pleas
antry.
Each Of these men, like hundreds OF
thousands Of others. keeps at home his
military book" which II would be rank
oishonor, and even rank punishment. TO
lose. 1t contains the record of the French
mans three-year army service as a con-
script. 1t contains the record of his ser
vice In the reserve. 1t has his almanac
to show, down through his future life. the
years in which he must go OUT in the
maneuvers. 1t contains his route" and
railway ticket; and on the outside there is
inscribed his company and regiment in the
reserve. OF these the route and railway
ticket are the most significant
Must Be I'm Readiness,
When the sudden call to arms comes. in
the feverish crisis of the future, when all
virile France must pour itself upon the
German frontier. there must be no confu-
sion. hesitation or delay. Each man must
know exactly where to 60 Each man must
have his railway ticket in his hand: and.
following their routes" from every mart
of France, the soldier-citizens must nile in
HIS IDEA oE,