The evening times., 1899-09-25
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FoRRhn oRh F and 18th. SHH99P5
THE FRENCH STAFF.
Important Bureau Organizations in
the Military Service.

(Paris Correspondence Of the London Globe)
Some interesting details concerning the
French staff are published today AS will
have been seen, Captain Dreyfus, in the
course of his examination, was led TO speak
of the sections to which he was attached in
the different bureaus through which he
passed at the time OF his probation in the
general staff of the Army The enumera-
tion of the attributes of these sections
which will no doubt be frequently alluded
to later on, does not figure, although Of no
confidential character, in any printed doc
ument. 1t will, therefore, be of great ser
vice to the public TO indicate them
The general staff. in addition 10
the cabinet CT the chief Of the
general staff in the army, the section
OF the personnel, the section of the ma
terrell and the accounts, the historical sec
ton, and the section of Africa, which have
an administrative character. comprise four
bureaus charged especially with everything
that concerns the preparation OF war. and
a section OF statistics, better known as the
intelligence department The first bureau
the attributes of which are the general Or
ganization and mobilization of the army is
divided into four sections, and an annexed
section; the first occupies itself with the
organization of the army the effectives the
placing and movements of troops in time of
peace; the second section studies the mobil-
ization of the active army, as well as the
requisition of horses and vehicles; the third
section devotes itself to the same work as
far as concerns the formation OF the re-
serve and territorial army; the annexed sec
tion prepares the mobilization of fortified
places and. finally, the fourth section es-
tablishes the general situation of the ma
terial" and provisions.
The second bureau, which is often mis-
taken By the public for the service of in
telligence, which is absolutely distinct
from it, is charged with the study CT the
organization and working of the rules
maneuvres. means of defence armamentS
tactical procedure, manner OF the ccncen-
tration of foreign armies, as well as the
theatre Of operations from a geographical
typographical, administrative, and statis-
teal point of view. The work of this bu-
reau is divided into five sections-the Ger
man section for Germany, the eastern sec
tion for Russia. Austria. Turkey, Greece,
and the Danubian principalities: the sec
ton for the south. for Italy. Spain, Portu-
gal, Switzerland. Morocco, Tunis, South
America, and Central America: the section
of the north for England Holland. Bel
GUM, Denmark, Sweden. Norway, the
United States, China, Japan, Mexico. the
Indies, and Egypt; and. finally the tech
nical section for all that concerns rail-
ways, fortifcations, artillery 'materiel,' .
and engineering.
The third bureau, which is entitled the
bureau CT military operations and general
instruction, comprises three sections-the
first, whose role is of considerable i'm
portance, occupies itself with the prepara-
ton the grouping and the utilization of
French forces in view of the eyentuality
Of war. 1t also studies the plans OF con-
centration which are laid before the su-
preme council Of war, and takes the nee
essary measures for the execution of those
which are adopted. The second section
examines the rules and regulations of ma
neuvres established by special commits
sions or the directions of central admins
tration, in order that the two sections may
agree with each other. The third section
is charged with the preparation of ma
neuvres and practical exercises of all
kinds.
The fourth bureau deals with railways
halting places, and navigable routes. II is
divided into four sections; the first estab-
fishes the plans and means of transports;
the second forms the secretariat of the su-
perior commission of railways; the third
centralizes the organization of all the ser
vices, and the fourth is charged with the
organization OF the transports IN time OF
peace. To the fourth bureau are attached
the commissions for railways and naviga-
ton. which are seven in number-east.
north, west. Orleans, south, Paris. and Ly-
ons. Each OF these commissions
prepares the working of the
railways and navigation in time
of war, and directs the mobilization
of them. In time of peace each commits
sion occupies itself with its own line. but
in time of war it has to take charge of sew
eral complete transports, no matter from
what lines they are borrowed. The section
of statistics in the intelligence department
collects secret information and prepares
the agents whose assistance would be nee
essary in time of war. For the enormous
labor, of which the above is a brief sum
mary. the general staff possesses at the
present time, besides the chief of the staff
the two sub-chiefs. ard the four chiefs of
the bureau, 119 officers, Of whom "a are
probationers. II keepers Of the records. a
military interpreter, 81 civil employees. and
about So sergeants, corporals, soldiers. and
secretaries.
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