The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-08-08

I
as one OF the most celebrated OF Prencf
/ Generals. should have occupied a sat u
/ the Presidential e4uipage Ike mere CIV
1 ilian instead OF being on horseback. an'
attention was drawn to the f2t- ina
whereas Gems BiIlot and MERCER. Wnei
/ Ministers Of War. invariably headed tbs
parade, surrounded by q brilliant stan
( taking up their position opposite Tbs
grand stand after saluting the Cab;t Mag
( istrate. the veteran de Gailifet vas al
| most concealed from public view ~ u
Loubet and the Speakers OF the Senate
and OF the Chamber of Deputies SehlAu
whom he stood on the Presidential stsnd
His place as ranking officer OF ths- review
was taken by Gen. BTugeTe. the newly
APPOINTED commander of the metTopoitta.
district and Governor Of the Capital, al
officer who, neither in military prssus-
nor IN point Of distinguished service. car
for one moment be compared 10 oe sam,
fet The reason for this Is that whereas
Gems. Billot ana Mercier were stlil on me
active list ~ the time when theF helu tEe
Office OF Minister or War Gen. de GaIiitet
on the contrary, has already been retired
from the army on account OF age ahu
could not legally resume his pla &c Oh Tue
active list save in the event or war. Oh!y
in that case could he be assigned to any
command. since the outbreak or hoslii-
ties and the calling out OF the reserves
are the signal for the acceptance by inc
government of offers OF serVi0e hreSptc-
tive of age The review at L.Ongchamps
on the national festival, therefore, served
10 demonstrate a fact ignored TO a great
axtent abroad. and of which sight has
been to a large extent lost by F'renchmen
4 that the ETentl
Army is alone among the civilized pow
ers OF the world without commandment
chief Here in the United States the CT
fee of eeneralissimo of the army is vest
ed in the President of the republic But
Frances Chic! Magistrate has no sdch
nrerogatiyes or powers, and while the
administration OF the army is directed DS
the Minister of War for the time being
who is sometimes an officer and often
mere civilian, the troops remain WITHOUT d
ceneralssimo in time of peace.
Cause of Lack of Discipline.
This. in the opinion of foreign military
evnerts. is one of the principal sources OF
weakness OF the French army. IL Is true
that the plan OF mobilization in the event
of war provides for the chief command
of the entire French army and for the
the members of the latter are at the pres
ent moment scattered all over France ana
Algeria. some of them bsing even sta
toned in far distant colonies, and II war
should break out considerable time would
be REQUIRED TO summon them from every
point OF the compass in order to Join their
chief and to assume the posts 10 which
they had been assigned. 1t must be re-
membered that everything In connection
with this scheme OF mob ilization is what
may be described as eventual 1t is
only in the event of certain things
coming to pass that it will be brought
into operation, and whils on the one hand
the commanding Generals have no knowi-
edge of the characteristics OF those who
are to constitute their STATS, the men,
bers of the latter are for the most part
not even personally acquainted with one
another. AS in 1870, al the preparations
and arrangements to resist invasion are
on paper, and only on paper. The result
of this is that at the present moment the
commanders of the tventy army corps
composing the standing army have abso-
lutely no one above them excepting the
Minister OF War, who changes with every
Cabinet crisis, and whose time. as rule,
is far too much engross ed with the draw
ing up OF the budget, with political ques-
tons, and with what may be described as
the economic administration of the army.
to be able TO supervise and control the
twenty Generals commanding the various
army corps. The consequence Is that
these Generals have developed into a spe-
cies Of military satraps. subject TO no
rule but their own good will and pleasure.
Moreover, they are almost entirely indie
Of
cially as regards Questions of discipline,
about which the Minister of War, when
he happens 10 be a civilian, knows little
or nothing. and they are naturally with
out any system OF cooperation or cohe-
sion with one another. 1t is this condi-
ton OF affairs that is largely account
able for the numerous military scandals
which, during the last ten years or so.
have brought so much diScredit upon the
fair name Of Frances army.
II Is only when . strict dsciplinarian
ike Gen de Gallfet happens 10 be in
trusted with the Office OF Minister of War
that the commanders Of army corps are
made 10 feel that there are certain mill
tary rules and regulations TO be observed
and that they have for the time being a
master over them.
Fear z Military Dictatorship.
The reason why the French have until
row objected to the nomination of a Cen
eralissimo who would exercise supreme
command not only in time If war. but
also in time of peace, subject or superior
to the Minister OF War, is that they dread
above everything else the possibility OF a
General invested with such an office as
this assuming the powers Of a military
dictator. The entire NapoIeonic system
originated with military dictatorships OF
this nature. and on three separate occa-
sions, namely. in 1873 when Marshal Mac
mahon was virtually in military control
OF France, again at the moment Of the
Boulanger episode. about a decade ago
and yet again last autumn and winter. in
connection with the Dreyfus controversy.
the republic las been in serious danger
u this kind. In one word, The rslitical
element Of France Justly distrusts the
military element, and, although Gen. Bill
lot and other Ministers OF War have beer
anxious 70 submit 10 the Legislature. bills
providing for the appointment Of q Com
OF the army In time Of
peace as Indispensable TO the efficiency OF |
he military cefenses OF France, they were !
always cisco urased 1T the last moment |
,ICm doing 80 By the certainty OF par!ia- |
nentaTy defeat, due 70 the dread % the
Chambers lest the Gsneralissino should |
make use or the power thus conferred 10 |
assume the position or a dictator.
The man g5hO is reported u be destined |
1y the plan OF mobilization for the post /
II ComDznGer-in-chief Of the French /
Army in u z event OF war is Gen de IA /
mont, member or the Supreme Council Of |
Var and one Of the few dlgnitarles Of 4
he French Army who has mad the good |
ense 70 held his tongue about ne DT-ylug /
ase- He enjoys the distinction OF hay- I
ne been the only General who ha- CLOSED |
The German frontier at the head Of 1
french troops since the war q 1870 II
vas. OF cSuTse, no hostile invasion. The
ccasioH Eas the removal Of the bodies OF
ONE Of the French soldiers from The hat
le-field OF Gfayelotte 10 ! ln1rtuary
ksDel Or the French side " The border
Inc. lamont. who was then a. the aead /
4 the troops ~ ChalOns, com.randetI In
.erson the French guard Of honor sent 70 /
scOTt the bodies. and. at the Invitation Of