New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-30
FRENCH AUTUMN WAR cA,,n
LESSON LEARNED FROM pp,r,s,,
PERIENCEs IN SOUTH AFRICA
TROOPS WELCOMED BY
THE PEOPLE.
Paris. Septemba-

THE PEOPLE.
Paris. September Il
Inc great autumlal war game which .
france as In other countries of Confines,
Europe IS Tor three weeks of each year Ma.
WIN great Vlgor and at enormous cost is -
ended The grand maneuvres near Tt
where two army corps were pitted agafns. -
other FOR fortnight. and where the main oLt1I
was TO habituate large bodies OF troops 70
| ing rapidly and silently took place ma
supervision of General Brugere, connara. en'
chief of the French army. and were vi,naa-t ~
! by the Prince of the Asturias and all N.
eisn military attaches. including, Of Co.
Captain Mott. who presented for the fra. -
in France the new uniform of the United e..
Army. which European critics pronounce ST.
pie. serviceable and practical" In the ,v.-
military regions. each corresponding with .
army corps, into which France is dfvida1 =,
visions of from eight thousand to ten +bo,.
men were mannuvred against one another in
solemn earnestness suggestive of real car,
paigning. stranger travelling through CO.
tain districts of France during the war ,.n..
period might readily imagine that the ent,-a
nghtins strength of the country was being
modified Railway stations were occunia5 -,
troops. and the entrainment and detrainroen, :.
!
night and day Roads were crowded with
marching columns. Field hospitals were estab-
lished. and parks of artillery were formed =,
towns and villages.
1t is noted that at the termination Of irnno-
tant tactical moves. and after every form q,
attack possible under the modern conditions
imposed by smokeless powder and rapid fra
from an invisible enemy. groups Of generals and
staff officers would assemble. and in their criti-
cisms of the operations would seek to ascertaf,
whether such and such an action would have
been feasible in the TransvaaL Indeed the
great feature OF this years maneuvres was tina
determination Of the French General STAFF TO
profit by the lessons Of South African warfare
the only occasion recorded during the war
game just ended of direct attack in mass was
made by the division of General Herson, which
did not hesitate to charge a brigade commander
by General Picard occupying an entrenched
position at the Mill of Tucal. but even in this
instance the brigade acting on the defensive
had been shaken and demoralized by heavy ar
tillery fire. The French commanders have this
autumn for the first time abandoned their IA
vorite scheme Of sudden attacks with masked
infantry, and the for this is ascribed
TO the experiences of the British army in the
TransvaaL
Another feature OF the French rnanpuvres Is
the great improvement or the IRE dlSciplne'
of the French infantry. 1t is a pity that the
French foot soldier is not provided like tbs
German soldier with spades for throwing up
hasty intrenchments. for, with their individual
initiative and intelligence. the French rifemen
would become skilful at a work which In the
German and Austro-Hungarian armies is
deemed Indispensable The French infantryman
carries less weight on the march than the Ger
man. and entrenching spade or trowel in the
proportion Of one to three men. would render
inestimable service. During the mannuvres the
French infantrymen were frequently seen crawl
ing stealthily along the ground. taking advan-
tage OF every unduIation or Bit Of shrubbery to
secure shelter from the enemy's fire.
The quality OF craftsmanship Of the French
soldier cannot be tested In peaceful manHuvres.
but IT Is noted that the shooting galleries estae
Iished IN every French town and village. and
where prizes to the best marksrnen are dis
tributed twice during the year. have never be-
fore been so well attended. The Mayors and
schoolmasters take immense pride IN the public
shooting competitions. and it Is safe to say that
of the CONSUMPTION classes now being summoned
10 the colors at least one-third have knowl-
edge of firearms and have practissd with rifles
at the home shooting galleries. Never before in
France has so much attention been given 10
proficiency In craftsmanship This has already
Ifnesnan and Is a vital factor in the national
army which will hereafter be composed OF men
whose term OF service is only two years instead
of three.
II was interesting to observe the manner III
which the French troops were cautioned IN the
towns or villages where they arrived TO pass
the night I happened 10 be az vernon on q
Saturday evening when a brigade or the An1iu
Army Corps arrived to pass the night ana envy
a restful Sunday. after a weeks hard canpaisn-
ing In less than half an hour the doors OF 'A7
principal houses were covered with large cnaA
inscriptions indicating the number OF ofhcels'
non-commissioned officers. soldiers OF hoiS'
Iilleted on the householder. These inscriptions
gave the numbers of the section and OF 'H'
company of each regiment or battery House-
holders are required by law 70 receive anu Wv
vide beds and food for the troops quaF's's
that NAV be assigned them by the conmahsls
officer. The distribution IS made in conJuheNS
with the Mayor In this way the superior '
GERS are biIleted upon the wealthy inhaDNa"1
and each veII-to-do citizen has a captain ~
subaltern to provide for
The officers and soldiers are always "e1',-
guests here in France. where military So
is obligatory. for il often happens that the so-'
of the hosts are enjoying hospitauIy III
parts of the country under similar CIV ~.
stances. Everywhere the reLdtioHS 'O .Iv
inhabitants and the soldiers were most Ii'e -,
and during the man9uvres 1t was Cu
sight 10 see the quaint procession OF Oiu
toned curricles and two wheeled caF's -
ing to the field Of operations IaceH VIZ" ssh
,,,sions and good cheer in the form OF ~
asgs b,tter milk sugar sausages. WNie
bser which were offered TO the soldiers t0' -
of comparatively reasonable prices. anu
came ss luxurious additions TO the suppieS
ried in the regular canteen wagons iii.
10 follow each regiment and subjected
tary discipline