Show FRANCE IS READY THE statement recently given out by M de freycinet the french minister of war that the army of that nation had been increased from to men naturally caused some little flurry until the explanation was made that the minister ister was speaking more or less figuratively his meaning was that that was the substantial result of the recent order lengthening the term of compulsory service the age of Babi liability lity having been extended from forty five to fifty ye years ars all the terms of service in the different re seres have also been considerably increased and upon this condition being reached the minister deemed that the effective military force of the republic had bad been increased fifty per cent this of course allayed any tendency to excitement and we doubt not there were those beyond the rhine who were disposed to laugh at themselves for permitting any other feeling than that of amusement at the ministers system of computation to take possession of them and yet as we look at it the explanation makes the matter much more serious than if the original statement had been permitted to remain without qualification an actual increase in the war footing of the french army from two million to three million men would mean that the greater part of the extra number were recruits of less experience and more immature conditions generally while the lengthening out of the of men chosen for such work because of their fitness or e experience x peri ence and the first figure is the full french strength of that class means the equivalent in numbers and more than that in efficiency of a million new men in either case the situation is ominous enough the world has never since the day the persian hordes were hurled against the tha handful of spartans spartano Spar tans at thermopylae beheld any such army as the french nation could now put into the field in the twinkling of an eye so to speak and these are all disciplined plin edmore more or less capable of enduring hardships thoroughly loyal to france and immovable in their determination to wipe out the series of disgraces which began at woerth and culminated at paris in 1871 de statement therefore in this light ceases to present any of the features of a bon mot and as bumes those of a statement which is full of significance for all the powers of europe now that boulanger is in perpetual exile and all his hopes are forever crushed it might as well lie be said that much if not most of the credit for the present efficient and powerful military system of france is due to him As minister of war he effected effect a thorough reorganization of and infused a renewed morale into the army it cashis was his boast that within twenty four hours after being called upon even the most remote rei ote of the corps would be in the field fully equipped for protracted service and headed for the frontier if he told the truth and J i it now seems that he did france leads the world in preparation and ability to go to war on short notice |