THE FRENCH SOLDIER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15686, 13 August 1914, Page 9

THE FRENCH SOLDIER.

SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY. NATIONAL HONOUR HELD DEAR. EXAMPLE OF OFFICERS. The following extracts from " Franco Under the Republic," by Jean Charlemagne Bracq, and from the best English book on the home life of Franco, contain tributes to the training and character of tho French Army. The author of the first-named book says :— " Too officers of to-day havo worked much, and from a technical point of view are superior to nil their predecessors. Taken all and all, the same thing might bo said of their manliness aid devotion to their country. Tho army is now like tho nation. It is no longer made up of the poor, tho ignorant, «r paid substitutes. The marchands d'hommes, who made it their business to provide someone to take tho place of tho rich, disappeared with tho Empire. Tho son of a peasant and the sod of a duke now stand side by side in the ranks. There, wealth and birth no longer create much inequality, though the officers como mostly from aristocratic families; but tho middle-class is more and more taking an important place among them. What the Army Does. ' "As Captain Lobaud has said : Tho conception of the army has changed. It is no longer intended for the purpose of conquering new territories, but to safeguard the national honour. The soldier to-day is a freo and conscious citizen, who is entitled to some consideration.' The army is fast becoming something more than a fighting machine. The officer is more than a commander, ho is rapidly becoming an educator. In many places he has opened schools, which have been quite successful. In the opinion of Captain Lebaud, the residence in barracks now should build up manhood, rather than mere technical ability. Good appearance should be an index of self-control and self-restraint. ' Hazing ' has almost disappeared. There can be no question that the army brings Frenchmen of different provinces together, introduces a common national spirit among men who have never been assimilated, leads them to speak tho national vernacular of which they have been ignorant, while it imparts . to them a discipline which, later on, may . be secured outsido of the army. In I Madagascar it has become a great force of colonial, pioneering and of instruction in the arts of peaco. The soldiers have been made overseers, gardeners, farmers, road builders, engineers, etc. The same thing is true of the recent campaign in Morocco. They built roads, constructed bridges, opened markets, established a postal and telegraph service, dispensaries, etc. Many of the leaders became explorers, such as Gallieni, Gentil, Mizon, Binger, Toutee, and Lamy. It would be an act of signal injustice not to mention the great services rendered everywhere to science by French officers." Indebtedness Impossible. In her authoritative work, "Home Life in France," Miss Betham Edwards gives a charming picture of the French officer as she has seen him — "Tho French officer of to-day, moreover, is as little like insular conception of him as can well be. Is he not pictured as a light-hearted, inconsequent, dashing fellow, a something of the D'Artapan, a something of the Charles O'Mallcy about him, professional .duties sitting lightly upon his shoulders, domestic cares quite shaken off? True to life I were a directly opposite portrait— of • an indefatigable worker, one to whom fireside joys and intellectual pleasures are especially dear, and to whom self-abnega- ( tion in tho loftiest as well as the domestic sense becomes a second nature. " I should say that in no class of French society more pre-eminently shine the virtues of forethought and disinterestedness. The first-mentioned quality—namely, thirft —if not inherent is implanted by bis position. Indebtedness is impossible to a French officer. From pecuniary embarrassments and involvements with money-lenders he is guarded by a code almost Draconian in its severity. Even before tho reorganisation of the army In 1872 an officer could not contract debts. A first infringement of this law entails a reprimand. Should the debts remain unpaid, the offender is suspended by the Minister for War for three years. At the end of that period he is summoned before a commission of five members, one of whom holds the same rank as himself. This commission, after the strictest investigation, has power to decide whether or no*' reinstatement is permissible. It will, of course, sometimes happen that the verdict means disgrace and a ruined career. But the uncompromising, unassailable solvency of the French Army is without doubt a tremendous element of its moral strength. "The army as a profession being held in high esteem, officers of rank can always make brilliant marriages, but as a rule they only know one ambition, that toe noblest of all—namely, how best to serve their country. They may not feel particularly enthusiastic about the powers that be. Drastically critical they aro necessarily, being Frenchmen. No matter individual predilections or antipathies, the honour of France is ever before their eyes, patriotism, in the august sense of the word, with them is a veritable religion." "CHOCOLATE FUND." SUGGESTION FOR CHILDREN. Tho school children of Auckland are anxious to assist in tho present patriotic activity prevailing. As it is not possible to give them any sewing or other active work to do at present, the Mayoress suggests that they should contribute their spare pennies to provide chocolate cakes for tho soldiers. Lady Godley has written to Mrs. Parr, stating that the chocolates would bo gladly welcomed by tho troops. Should the children decide to hand their pennies to tho teachers for this purpose tliey would bo assisting tho troops in a practical way. Tne fund could bo known as the " chocolate fund." FOOD FOR BRITAIN. SPORTS LEAGUE MOVEMENT. [iiX TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Wednesday. A movement has boen set on foot by a number of leading sportsmen, who are endeavouring, with the co-operation of tho New Zealand Sports Protection League, to raise, by voluntary subscription, a shipload of frozen meat, dairy produce, and other foodstuffs, and clothes, etc., to be sent to England for the relief of the poor people who aro feeling the pinch of rising prices. It is hoped that tho Government will undertake the transport of the good*. f' ' '