The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-13
ATTACK ON THE FRENCH ARMY.
Camille Pelietnn sns- ItIs M Better on Thnn
Wns In the Days or Napoleon III.

a. Was In the Days or Napoleon ri.
PARIS. March 4.-Cndoubiedly the most i'm.
portant result OF the Droyfus agitation has
been the great boost to the French Army brought
about by the attacks made upon 1t by lola. Its
admirers, seemingly, were only too glad Of the
chance to rise up in its defence, because for q
few years Il, has not enjoyed:the country's great
est respect. Now, in the name Of patriotism,
its former dotractors have Joined voices in
recantation rs well, so that general opinion pro-
claims 1t TO ho the greatest and most virtuous
army that ever was.
The disScn: has brcn hardly worth consider
ing. 1t was therefore IA great surprise 10 the
Partisan public when the Ecidir. after hystcri-
cal praise of the army for a fortnight, suddenly
printed u leader in which Camille pellctan told
some unpalatable truths about it-truths which
| everybody knows, and ha4 known for years, but
which had teen forgotten in the excitement OF
the moment. The article was not conceived in
anger, but rather I'm. sorrow, and as M. Pelletan's
opinion Is priced by the public because he ia as
cautious as he Is patriotic, they wished he had
not printed 1t.
After paying his respects to the re rganization
of tho army. NJ. Peiietan went on to say in this
article: m
The most shameful favoritism devours the
army almost to the degree that it does the navy.
The officer who follows his career with his regi-
ment may say good-by TO his future. Every
sonsln-law, and the favorites OF tho politicians.
In II word, there Is no future ut all except for the
man who i~ntrigues to get a STAFF appointment,
when he receives advancement according to his
ability as n cotillon leader or as complainant
st0p'gep TO I'LL a vacancy at an old lady's whist
The army no longer belongs to France. but
TO the ccoteries OF fashionable and political So
tween the present state or affairs and that Of the
days of Louis Nv. and Nine. de Maintenon, or
EuRtnie, when the best title for military pre-.
i IsTmsn or crane from f r1ti ,b blazing gn Eia, g dSfiG game 3 q bill
a OVER an or E !nTpT pg's siiSai Sn S,'h def'ne'' d shawl
The making, OF this sort of officer is more
than an Injustice to the deserving servants of
the country, who form the minority; unfor-
tunntely it costs the lives OF thousands Of bravo
soldiers. One knows what value to place on
the hour of peril. 1t is not necessary to call to
witness the misfortunes OF the time of Ros.
of one of these court soldiers is Impressed on
our own memories the example of MacMahon,
whose stopping to dine at Forsbach cost France
an army. He owed his fortune to the salons,
this man, just as our present officers owe theirs.
Pampered at the Tuiler!es as one OF the rare
who had no desire to pout at an empire Of par.
venus, conseerated by the imperial, decree as a
oil else to lose for us Wissemburg, Reichshofon,
and Sedan; l am not; as everybody knows.
~ each "a sn Of the MeS ap aSapt sne s OF fnS 90 nseysns;
in the army has more peril for France in tho
day Of danger Than the information sold to our
Further on NJ. Pelletan had this to say of
Estcrhazy:
1T is but recently that the public has had an
opportunity TO see exposed the degradation of
the officers corps in the army. One has
viewed n strange figure, a French officer who
has expressed the wish To see the army In which
he held Il commission annihilated. I do not
rcproRch this man with being overwhelmed
with debts, because that Is common enough in
the army; nor do ] reproach him with the life
he led. But in spite Of all, you see how he was
esteemed; his recommendations from his SUI
perior officers were even eulogistic. The whole
shameful revelation merely shows the sort Of
men favored bv the cotcrics which have the
army under their thumb. This revelation,
however, has. simply been Of one kind; 1t 10 a
pity that tho country cannot have q view of
some, OF tho other abuses-the great contract
frauds as assiduously covered up, or the weak
nesses OF organization which cost us everything
in the last great war. and which bid fair to
cost us everything in the next"
Turning to the navy, NJ. .Pelletan went on:
but the abuses 60 not exist only in the army. |
The Minister Of Marine has sent circulars to
spect as little as possible, presumably for fear |
that the real condition of the navy will become |
known. lie has ordered his officers to supply |
no infoI nation to tho country. Everywhere
thore Is the same effort to conceal the truth. |
Closed doors to concea! military abuses, closed |
mouths to hide naval Weakness. 1t ID the era |
OF militarlsIn: some day we may know, and
then ii will he too lato. Does 1t not soon that
France has lost hcr rcasonf After the terrible
lessons of 1871 she permits herself to be bled OF
n thousand millions of francs annually, indifer.
emit as to whether 1t he spent honestly in ma |
tlonal defence or BQuandered in REGULATION"