The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-20
ORDER RESTORED
IN FRENCH NATION
Country Awakens to Dangers
That Threaten Its Internal
Peace.
HEAD OF MILITARY AFFAIRS
Press and Public Are in State
OF Apprehension Over
Cholera Scare.
HEAD OF MILITARY AFFAIRS
by GEORGE DuEnEsNE.

Especial Gable TO The Times Dispatch)
Paris August i2.-France, torn by
political dissension. governed by
Chamber of Deputies whose complex
ion changes with chameleonlike rapid
ity. and whose army is the creature
Of political exploitation. is at last
awakening to a Relation of the dan
ger that threatens ner internal peace
through the activities OF her warning
political parties and diplomatic diff
ticulties with her neighbors. She is
reaching coalition through fear in
ternal friendship through danger and
political efficiency through the addi-
ton OF each.
Churchmen. Royalists. Socialists and
lahorites have awakened from their
nightmare OF personal conflict, have
RELOCATED their differences to the linn
DO Of forgotten grudges. and are join
ing hands In an alliance OF friendship
such as has not been evident for many
decades. Instead OF making the meet
ings of the chamber hideous with pas
sionate Gallo denuncistions and ad
vancins their own peculiar political
creeds, the dissenting parties are fac
ing the diplomatic crises that the
war In Morocco. internal troubles and
unstable government have thrust upon
them.
They are beginning a reform move
ment, the magnitude of which only flu
ture events can outline, and they are
beginning it with the most essential
and most neglected part of the gov
ernmerts departnent-the army
For years Ministers OF War have
come and gone, and for years the APP
pointment OF head of ths French
army in time of peace has been left
for seemingly more important matters,
with the result that decentralization of
the military becomes complete. And
with the result that that body of wei!
trained though politically maltreated
men has been left 70 take care OF it
self-a condition that has split II into
militantly hostile factions and has un-
dermined its efficiency
To remedy this condition. to bring
order from chaos. and efficiency from
turmoil, the new government has sane
toned the appointment OF definite
head of military affairs. whose duty 1t
is to supervise the army with the same
care that would be exercised In times
OF war. This new Communicated chief
is General Joffe. q soldier of known
merit and impregnable loyalty. whose
duty It Will be to keep the army in
the high state of efficiency that
French policy demands.
Already General Joffes appointment.
together with the cooperation
effect upon the military. The dis
seminatton of socialistic propaganda.
melting soldiers to acts of treason
when called upon to protect public
property endangered by strikers, has
been stopped: officers with a royals.
tendency have been warned Of the
consequence OF their creed and pri-
Yates and department officials have
felt the guiding hand of the master.
France seems we'll on the way to-
ward rejuvenating her army through
the friendship OF fear.
Paris. with Its immense Eastern
trade. Its lax methods OF inspection.
and Its usual official apathy has at last
brought upon itself long invited chol-
era scare. with the result that press
and public alike are In a state of great
apprehension.
Mnrseilles has become infected with
the plague, other towns and seaports
have reported suspicious cases. and
strict quarantine seems only matter
OF days. Yet amid all the excitement
that these reports have engendered
among the populace. the government
itself seems to be loath TO admit the