I have the honor to be, with great respect, your very obedient
servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[From the Moniteur, March 9,
1867.—Translation.]
Abstract of the proposed law for the organization of the
army.
The new proposed law for the organization of the army may be summed
up in these words: Alleviation of burdens in time
of peace; increase of resources in time of war.
It consists in calling out from the 325,000 young men who every year
attain the age of 20 [Page 235]
160,000 men instead of 100,000, who have heretofore been designated
by lot These 160,000 are divided into two classes: one forms the
active army, the other the reserve. All these young men are bound to
the service for nine years, bot in different degrees. The soldiers
of the first class of the contingent remain five years in active
service, and afterwards four years in the reserve. The soldiers of
the second class of the contingent serve four years in the reserve,
and afterwards five years in the national guard mobile.
Discharged soldiers are exempted from all service in the active army
as well as in the reserve, but for five years they form a part of
the national guard mobile.
On comparing this system with that now in force, it will be seen that
the burdens are much lightened and more equally distributed.
At present the call of 100,000, who are really reduced to 84.000.
(89,000?) gives at the end of seven years 400,000 men for the active
army and 220,000 men for the reserve.
The call for 160,000, reduced to 117,000 after making deductions for
the navy and for those who are dispensed, exempted, and discharged,.
will give at the end of five years for the active army the same
number of 400,000, and at the end of four years 275,000 men for the
reserve of young men, thus increased by 55,000 men only. But as,
according to the proposed law, the soldiers of the active army will
serve only five years, and the young men of the reserve only four
years, there results a sensible relief, which can be easily
ascertained by calculation.
Let us confine ourselves to a comparison of the present reserve with
that proposed. By multiplying the 220,000 young men of the present
reserve by seven, which is the number of years for which they are
now bound to service, we shall have the sum of 1,540,000,
representing the number of years of service now furnished the state.
Now, if, upon the other side, we make the same calculation for the
reserve which it is proposed to form, and which will be composed of
275,000 men serving four years, we attain 1,100,000 years of
military service. Subtracting this sum from the first, the
difference shows 440,000 years less service.
As for the facility of marrying, the plan, more restrictive for some,
is much less so for the greater number, because the young men of the
reserve, who now cannot marry until 28, can then marry at 25.
It may then be affirmed that in time of peace the new plan diminishes
sensibly the burden of the conscription. It is easy to show that in
time of war it furnishes considerable resources, and places the army
on a solid footing.
In fact, France could then place under arms-
| Soldiers in active service |
400,000 |
| Old soldiers, who have served five years |
154,000 |
| Young soldiers of the reserve |
275,000 |
|
829,000 |
As regards the national guard mobile, whose organization in previous
plans presented some difficulties, there are none in this. It is
composed, in fact, of young men already instructed and equipped in
the reserve. It will be unnecessary to subject them to annoying
drill, or to be put to great expense for their clothing. A few well
chosen skeleton formations will be sufficient to make them a
disciplined troop, and fitted when necessary to be a useful
auxiliary for the defence of the country.
Finally, the land forces of France will be thus distributed:
| Active army |
400,000 |
| Reserve (154,920 old soldiers, 275,595 young
soldiers) |
430,000 |
| National guard mobile, five contingents of. the reserve,
and 94,000 discharged men |
408,000 |
|
1,238,000 |
Thus, with an annual contingent actually reduced to 117,000 men,
subjecting the active army to an active service of only five years,
compelling the young men of the reserve to a drill of some months
only during four years, and afterwards including them for five years
in the national guard mobile, where they will be subjected to no
annoying drill, France will be able to place under arms more than
1,200,000 soldiers.
