Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-03-29
DEMOCRACY AND
YOUTH OF CHIEFS
WIN FOR FRANCE
More Than Three -Fourths Of Off.
GERS at Head of Armies and
Army Corps of Republic
Under Sixty.
OLDER MEN ARE CROWDED OUT
Ranks Of Privates Drawn Upon for
Commanders as War Deaths
Create Vacancies.
LEADERS YOUNG AND AUDACIOUs

LONDON, March 2S.-Under the
caption, The French Army as II Is"
the French review OF the war deals
exhaustively with the condition OF
the army after six months OF war, the
higher command. the supply OF off
GERS and noncommlssioned officers
and of munitions OF war OF all kinds,
and transport and auxiliary services.
The compiler of the report, begin
ming his review on February /, states
that the condition of the French army
is excellent and appreciably superior
to what Il was at the beginning of the
war from the three points OF view of
numbers. quality and equipment.
Younger Men In Cont-oI.
In the higher command the important
changes have been made. II has In fact.
beeu rejuvenated by the promotion Of
young commanders of superb quality to
high rank All the old generals, who at
the beginning OF August were at the
head of the large commands. have been
gradual eliminated. some as the result
of the =. -icai strain OF the war and
others by appointment 20 other com
mands.
TNis rejuvenation to higher ranks OF
TN my has been carried out In far
res ing manner and II niGy be said that
Il has embraced all the gredes of mih-
tary hierarchy, from commanders OF bril-
gades TO commanders OF armies The Ta-
suit has been TO lower the average age
OF general officers by ten years. Today
more than three-fourths OF the officers
commanding armies and army corps are
less than 80 years of age. Some are con-
siderably younger. A number of army
corps commanders are from &c to s. years
OF age, and the brigade commanders are
usually under so. There are. in fact. at
the front extremely few general officers
over GO and these are men who are In full
possession of their physical and intel
lectual powers.
system of Promotion.
This. reiuvenation OF the high command
was facilitated by number OF ciroum-
stances, notable among which were the
strengthening OF the higher regimentai
ranks carried out during the bASe years
Preceding the war as fesuIta :. which
at the outset OF the csmpaign each m
fantry regiment had two lieutenant colo
nels and each cavalry and artillery reei-
ment colonel and lieutenant colonel,
and also the system OF promotion for the
duration OF the war.
Thanks above all to the warlike quail
ties OF the race, and the democratic spirit
of our army I'VE have been able to draw
upon the lower grades and even upon
the rank and file for officers. Many men
who began the war on August q as pri-
Yates now wear the officers epaulettes,
The elasticity OF our regiments regarding
promotions in war time. the absence OF
spirit of caste and the friendly welcome
extended by all officers to those OF their
military interiors who have shown under
fire their fitness to command have en-
abled us 70. meet all requirements.
The state of infantry on January 10 was
very satisfactory and much superior 20
that OF the general infantry.
exceptionally Brilliant.
on an average each OF our regiments
has forty-eight officers. including eight
cen regular officers. eighteen reserve Of
ficers and fifteen noncommissioned Off
GERS. In each regiment six OF the twelve
companies are commanded by captains
who are regular officers, three by cap
tains Of the reserve and three by lieu
tenants. Each company has al least
three officers. In summing up the state
OF the army as regards the commands,
from the highest to the lowest ranks. Is
declared TO be exceptionally brilliant.
The army is led by young. weil-trained
and daring chiefs and the lower com
missioned ranks have acquired the art OF
war by experience. Finally a tribute is
paid TO the work OF the stats OF the
armies and OF the army corps which
were formed three years ago and have
thrown themselves into their work in en-
tire agreement both of views and