The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-22

! in full evening dress may he seen the
private soldier, In uniform, taking notes
with probably greater intelligence than
the newspaper man; for the soldier may
be anything In civilian life: the son Of
the rich banker occupies the next bed
In the barrack room to the son Of the
Breton peasant and the Cabinet Min
ister's lad, when in uniform, is on a
| level with the gamin of Paris.
IL must be confessed that the average
French soldier, when off parade, looks
| rather slovenly. The baggy trousers 90
long way toward the creation OF this
Impression. Then, again, the way in
which the French soldier Is trained to
march is far different from British prin-
ciples. The pas de fiexion" does not
look SO smart as the stately march of
the British Guards, but Il Is more effec-
tive.
But at the given occasion comes the
word from the colonel: correct forma-
tons appear out OF the threes and fves
Of men a. II by magic. The band Is
a corporate body. marching to attention.
and playing the regiment on with every
bit as fine a military appearance as any
British band. The men resume step,
and with their peculiar swinging march
follow on. a regiment at attention and
az fne regiment, in appearance as
we'll as in fact, q one would wish TO see.
Work IL work and play Is play. and the
French soldier does both thoroughly.
In the matter OF smartness II Is hardly
fair to compare a British infantry bat
talon with a French one, for the point
arises yet once more with regard to
the difference between q voluntary and
conscript system. The English bat
talon Is made up Of picked men. while
in the French service all citizens are
included. The fact OF choice in the
case OF the British battalion makes for
uniformity. The recruits OF the French
battalion include every man who has
been passed by the revising board, and
there Is not the same chance OF main
tanning that uniformity which alone r.
responsible for smartness. And smart
ness Itself is but a survival from the
days when a soldier was trained to no
more than unquestioning obedience, the
old days before warfare became so
scientific as II 10 at present. when mi
tiative was not required of the rank and
file. The only purpose served by smart
ness at the present day is that OF re-
cru!ting. and obviously conscript army
has no need Of this. Hence use rather
than appearance comes first.
So far as the rank and file OF the
French army are concerned, no officer
above the rank of Colonel Is Of conse-
quence. for the man In the ranks is not
likely to come In contact with a general
officer once in twelvemonth. The
Colonel is the head of the regiment
whether OF artillery, cavalry or in
fantry. and his authority extends In
! every direction over tho men he com
mands. With the help OF tho Conseil
d Administration he directs the admin
istration OF his regiment and he Is re-
sponsible for discipline and instruction,
all forms OF military education. SANTA
ton. and police control, while, needless
to say. he IA held responsible for the
efficiency Of the regiment and the ap-
pearance OF it's men. He has absolute
power as regards the appointment OF
all non commissioned officers and cor
! porals, who in the French army do not
rank a. non commissioner officers.
Tho officer known in the British ser
vice as qusrtermaster 10 termed major
in the French army. but the French
major has moro definite authority than
the British quartermaster. Under his
charge are placed the regulation OF pay
ana accounts the making OF purchases,
/ the supervision of equipment and bar
rack furniture, &c. The French major.
/ in ADDITION to these headquarters duties
/ which concern the well being of the
whole regiment. has definite command
| OF the NTH squadr which forms the
/ depot for the regiment in case of war.
From the major the capitaine treso-
rier receives the pay and moneys which
| have to be distributed to the regiment
! He is a member OF the Conseil dad
minietration. from which he receives
his authorization to make payment. The
pay Of the men il handed to them every
| NTH day, when the capitaine tresorier
or paymaster hands over to the SER
geant-msJor OF each squadron. or TO
the captain commanding. the pay OF
the squadron for distribution among
the men. He also makes all payments
and issues demands for supplies for the
horses OF tho regiment, and lieuten-
ant or sub-lieutenant is appointed 10
assist the paymaster IN his duties.
There IL strict but unwritten law
Of the French army az regards the
canteen: no man may take drink
by himself Faire suisse Is the term
applied II one goes to the canteen alone.
and the rest of the men in the con-
scripts room look on him as some
thing Of a mean fellow II he does such
a thing as this. or course, It works
out at the same thing In tho end. and
share and ehare alike is not bad prtn-