The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-30
NEW MINISTER OF WAR
RESIGNATION OF GENERAL THE
MARQUIS DE GALLIFET.
And Appointment Of General Andre, a
Well-knOwn French Soldier, to
the Vacated Cabinet Position.

PARIS May 30-General the Marquis De
Gallifet, minister of war. has resigned. 1t
is officially announced that his successor is
General Andre.
In his letter to NJ. waldeck- Rousseau.
the premier. asking him to place the resig-
nation in the hands of the President of the
republic. General De Gallifet pleads Ill
health as a reason for his decision. His
exact words are: 81 am very unwell, and
my health prevents me resisting all emo
tions for the moment" The Official Jour-
nal this morning, therefore, contains the
acceptance of the resignation embodied in
a decree signed by NJ. Loubet, which also
appoints the new minister of war.
After deciding upon General Andre as the
most suitable successor the premier tele-
graphed to him at Nemours. where he was
taking part in the maneuvers. General An
dre left Immediately, arriving in Paris
about 11:15 last evening. The interview at
the Ministry of the Interior lasted about
three-quarters of an hour. An understand
ing was rapidly reached regarding all
points in the ministerial programme, and
at midnight the premier was able to send
the decree to the Official Journal.
generally considered the sole reason for
the resignation of General De Gallifet.
Having in view the apologetic statement
made by NJ. Waldeck- in the
Chamber of Deputies there seems little
doubt that he was annoyed by the word
felony" applied to an officer of the
French army, although there is little diff
ference between the language of the pre-
mier and that which General De Gallifet
had himself used at previous sitting.
Whatever the true explanation there can
be no doubt on one point. General De Gal
lifet's retirement is regarded with consider
able regret. His straightforward conduct
and vigorous manner of dealing with oppo-
nents were the delight of his friends, and
his rugged eloquence at times compelled
even the admiration of his enemies. Under
his direction the army has benefited by
quite number of reforms. the most recent
of which was his prohibition of the sale of
harmful intoxicants. He also forbade that
certain newspapers. noted for their attacks
upon the army. should be placed at the
military club.
General Andre was appointed a general
of division a year ago. He is an officer of
the Legion of Honor. General Andre COM
mands the Tenth Division of the Fifth
Army Corps. He is sixty-two years old.
and is an excellent type of the well-edu-
Gated French soldier. distinguished by
physical vigor and cool energy, as well as
for intellectual quality. While COM
mander of the Polytechnic School from
December. 1893. to May. 1899. he showed
himself a skillful as we'll energetic ad-
ministrator. He has strenuously opposed
the introduction of politics into the army.
and 1t is therefore certain that he will CO.
operate with the Cabinet to make France
peaceful. 1t was he who, some months
ago, first forbade the entry into the bar
racks of his division of newspapers that
attacked the army. General De Gallifet,
encouraged by his old initiative, extended
the order to all the garrisons in France