New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-13

may mention the name Of the veteran General
Billot. ex-Minister of War.
In 1859, although the war with Austria had
been foreseen for months previously, it's out
break found France wholly unready from n mill
tary point OF view. At the moment when, after
the proclamation OF hostities, the French
troops We're crossing the frontier into Italy they
were not only without tents, blankets and cook
ing utensils. but even without cartridges, while
plan of campaign had been determined.
AS my readers doubtless know, the war Of
1870 although everybody in France had long
known it to be inevitable, found the Paris War
Department still less prepared Whereas the
officers were provided with maps of Germany.
they had of their country; generals
were at sea to the whereabouts of the mem
bers of their STATS; brigades and divisions were
hunting for their commanders, and regiments
looking for their colonels while the confusion
with regard to the equipment of the troops to
the ammunition and to the disposition Of the
forces was indescribable.
According to General BnIot much the same
confusion would ensue in the event Of another
conflict with Germany. among the reasons being
that most OF the preparations to resist invasion
exist only paper. The plan of mobilization, il
is true, provides for The chief commander CT the
entire French army in the case of war. and for
the composition of his staff But the members
of the latter at present scattered all over
France and Algeria some of them being even
stationed in far distant colonies and if war
should break out, considerable time would be
quired to summon them from every point of the
compass in order to join their chief and to
sumo the posts to which they had been assigned.
Everything in connection with the scheme of
mobilization is what may be described
eventual" 1t is only in the event. of certain
things coming to pass that it will be brought
into operation. and while on the hand the
commanding generals have no knowledge Of the
characteristics of those who are to constitute
their staff. the members of the latter are for the
most part not even personally acquainted with
one another.
In Germany, on the other hand, no political
considerations fears Of military dicta torship
are permitted to interfere with the organization
or the command of the army. Thanks 70 the
untiring attention and care of the sovereign.
everything in connection Herewith moves like
clocEwork, in times Of as in those Of peace
while the War Department at Berlin, fully equal
to every demand likely to be made upon it, AMI
moving like a piece OF well oiled machinery, is
ready for any emergency. Thus not only the
possibility OF war with France. and with Russia
but also with nearly every other country has
been taken into consideration.
1t is said that when war was declared with
France in 1870 MCltke, receiving the news III
the middle Of the night, merely directed one
Of the members of his staff TO open a certain cup
board at the War Department and to execute
the orders which he found contained therein.
and then turned over to sleep again, satisfied
that within half an hour the entire process OF
mobilization as devised by him would be in
rapid progress.
And 50 in the same way it may b. taken for
granted that if to-day conflict were to take
place between Germany and England, or let
US say, with the United States, al that Tie
Kaiser would find it necessary TO 90 would be
to open some receptacle at the War T,p@TJ-
ment where there would be found all ready for
use fun plan Of campaign against the United
States, including provision for the immediate
erlbarkment Of specified regiments on sTeciueI
ships, with directions where they were 20 make
landing this side of the Atlantic, for the
bombardment Of American ports, for the seizure
Of American shipping and possibly Tor an AIMED
descent upon Porto Rico and the Philippines Il
is difficult 10 conceive OF anything Ho-C wholly
improbable than a war between this country
AMI Gcrmany-aad yet it may be taken for
granted that the War Department { Berlin is
thoroughly prepared for the coa,insenCy, remote
though the latter may appear.
without entering into the question oc stra-
tegical genius ana Of skiful generalship. it must