The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1915-08-26
FRANCE FACES
A CRISES IN
THE CABINET
SHORTAGE OF MUNITIONS
CAUSES DISSATISFACTION
ARMY sHAkE-UP PROBABLE
Speculation Probable as to Who VIII
Be Called on to Form the New
Cabinet In Event the Present
Body Resigns.
Paris.-The vivanni cabinet is ex-

Paris.-The Vivanni cabinet is ex
pected to resign. H..
France faces a cabinet crisis like
England's of three months ago, and {
new ministry is possible.
Whether Vivianni will form it ol
President Poincare will call upor
someone else to do it, is matter o.
speculation. There is a possibility
that Paul Deschanel may form the
new ministry, and it is also possible
that Gen. Joffre may become the wal
minister in place of Alexander Mil
lerand.
The cause of the present military
coup is the dissatisfaction of power
full senators over the failure of the
present war ministry to supply ade
quate munitions to the army.
Joffre's services to the country
have been far too eminent for poll
ticians of any party to cast the slight
est suspicion of incompetency upon
him. He may receive the appoint
ment of war minister, and it Is even
said he will be made a marshal OF
France as a permanent reward for
his great victory of the Marne which
saved Paris from German occupa-
ton.
If Joffre is transferred from the
field the most conspicuous army
commands may fall to the following
brilliant triumvirate:
Military Changes Mentioned.
First--Gen. Foch, who, by his his
toric stand last October with the
British commander-in-chief, closed
the northern gate of Paris. He will
continue to command all armies of
the left wing, including the British
troops. - .-.. .....s ....#
troops. - al. .s.-..
Second-Gen. De Castellnau, whose
stubborn defense of Nancy saved
Eastern France and allowed Joffre
to pivot on Nancy during his great
retreat and at the battle Of the
Marne. De Castellnau will command
the armies Of the center.
Third-Gen. Dubail the dashing
cavalry general, who displayed mill
tary genius in his fighting in the
Vosges early in the war, and only
retreated from mountain passes to
conform with the retirement further
north. Dubail will command the ar
mics of the east or the right wing.
Military authorities also foreshad-
ow the early appointment of General
Gallieni, military governor of Paris,
to the command of the army operat-
ing in Alsace.
Political prophets said inJuly that
the downfall of Millerand as war
minister was certain after his
speech in the Senate, June 20, where
in he confessed that the supply of
guns and ammunition has been de-
fective.
His most startling confession
made at one of the meetings of the
Senate army COMMISSIONERS that
until recently the supply of gunpow-
der had been Is tons daily, instead
of the 40 tons needed by the army.
The minister then had most chill
ly reception and, no doubt clearly
a movement against him,
he said afterwards to friends:
Il shall not resign: If they want
me to go, they must turn me out"
Paul Des Chanel is the most pop
liar figure in the Chamber of Depu-
les and is perhaps the one polite.
an in France at this moment upon
whose nomination to the head of the
'abinet all parties might agree.
Since the assassination of Juarez,
le is the best orator in France.
1t is almost certain that BRAND,
Del Casse and Ridot will figure if a
lew coalition cabinet is fosmed, but
is doubtful whether Augagneur
1ill be retained as minister of ma
inc.
France is, however, absolutely uni
ed about the war and confident of
ltimate victory.
- -