New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-10-06
THE FRENCH ARMY
THE FINE SHOWING IT MADE IN THE
REVIEW AT BETHENY BEFORE
THE CAR OF RUSSIA.
Paris, September %.

The review which took place yesterday on the
vast plain north Of Rheims in the presence of
the Emperor and Empress of Russia may pos
sibly have been surpassed on two occasions In
France as far actual numbers are concerned
The review by Napoleon l of the army concen-
trated at Bouogne-sur-M er for the invasion or
England In August 1904. is said to have been
more numerous than that which defiled before
the Car and President Loubet at Betheny yes
terday and it is on record that the allied forces
reviewed by Car Alexander 1 on the plain
of Vertus near Rheims on September 10. 1919,
included 10000 men, but it is doubtful II this
figure is accurate-probably 100000 would be
nearer the truth. According to the official count
on paper there were 10000 present at the re-
view yesterday, but closely as could be cal
culated the spot by military men famlilar
with movements Of large bodies OF troops the
actual numbers that marched past the imperial
stand yesterday were 1877 900 men, 10000 horses
and AS guns-a force twice large as that
with which Napoleon won the victory Of Aus
terlitz almost twice as large as that with which
he lost the day at Waterloo and about the size
of the army under Napoleon III at Sedan. In
the opinion of prominent military authorities
the review at Betheny yesterday was the larg-
est as well as the most imposing that mas ever
taken place in France.
was enabled to witness this memorable re-
view from the official tribune B. which IS
next to the stand occupied by the imperial
guests The imposing feature of the day was
the dense massing together OF the troops COM
posing each army corps that army corps be-
came the units of the entire movement-an ar
rangement of grouping which, together with the
happy CONFORMATION of the ground, which rises
in broad inclined plane for a distance of eight
miles in front of the tribunes. enabled the whole
army to be seen at glance From spec
tacular point of view the sight Of these massed
.irmy corps was superb. The broad sheen of
6ayonets. advancing and undulating like gigan-
lie waves the expanse of gtterng yellow he'll
acts of the serried cavalry divisions and the
)ale smoky blue tones of the artillery-guns and
AL in the French batteries being panted-were
a revelation a color scheme. From artistic
standpoint this review differs from all other re
views hitherto held in France just Claude
Monet's famous garden of closely planted chrys-
anthemums and geraniums presenting contrast
~; seas of color differs from ordinary gardens.
Then. too, the weather was just such as de
lights the artists heart. IL was soft gray
day, with occasional fitting showers alternating
with brief outbursts OF bright sunshine. The
Eazzling white and scarlet buInouses of the
escort OF Arab horsemen which preceded the
Car he rode beside the carriage door Of
the CZarina on his fine black mare, during the
inspection of the troops previous to the review.
brought out the qualities of the sombre
tones while the huge signal balloon. from which
foated streamers of coiored bunting fifty feet
in length, lowered high above the whole picture
and the red white and blue standards of the
srgiments rising above the sheets of bayonets
.-emed like peoples and bluebes from fields
Of wheat.
The march past highly effective The
men were in campaigning dress, wearing their
and heavy loads of tin cooking utensils. The
rifles with fixed bayonets carried ut the
slope the right shoulder, and the red trous-
ers were tucked in black leather eggines For
fifteen Gays the men had been performing work
in muS1y rainy weather during he grand
man@uvres. quite fatiguing as campaigning
in actual They looked strong and wiry
and were i'm fine spirits. The French soldier has
a certain irreDressbe individuality about him
that at first sight may to indicate slack
ness of discipline which is not nearly as rigid as
in the German army. For instance many of the
fnfantrymen would look over their shoulders to
try and catch glimpse of the Car. The wiry
much less impressive when seen at close quar-
ters than the stiff. measured tread of the Ger
man foot soldier. This is increased by the loose
citing, badly tailored trousers and overcoats of
the French infantry. The French kepis is
also impracticable head dress 1t is I'M
comfortable 1t affords