THE FRENCH MANOEUVRES OF 1891 . 
71 
balloons were carried from place to place in a cart, and although kept 
filled, there seemed but little trouble in transporting them about. 
The opposing force was quite a skeleton one, it consisted of 14 
battalions, 12 squadrons, and 9 batteries of Artillery, under the 
command of General Boisdeffre, a large part of the Infantry were 
drawn from the Marines ; as with us the men of the Marine battalions 
enlist for long service, they are, therefore, much older than in the 
ordinary regiments of the line, many of them had finished their tour 
of Colonial service and wore medals for the Tonkin Expedition. It was 
a strange coincidence that precisely the same brig’ade of Marines which 
had defended, in February 1814, the line of the Voire, under Marshal 
Marmont, and had much distinguished itself at the village of Rosnay, 
should at these manoeuvres be detailed for the defence of this very 
same village, though under very different conditions. The remainder 
of the Infantry were composed of Chasseurs, the reputation for whose 
marching power is spread far and wide throughout Prance. This 
force represented- the advanced-guard of the invaders, its extreme 
weakness would not have allowed of its offering any real opposition to 
the army manoeuvring against it, but from its size it was able to change 
its position with handiness and rapidity, and thus great practice was 
afforded to the General Officers in the various arrangements required 
in making great changes of direction and the very varying plans for 
the marches which these changes demanded, while much exactitude 
was demanded from the subordinate officers in carrying out the in¬ 
structions and orders of their superiors. 
The front of the four Army Corps was covered by the two divisions 
of Cavalry. Behind the screen thus formed marched the army in four 
columns, its flanks protected by the four Cavalry brigades of the Army 
Corps, two brigades on each flank. The whole force moved in a square 
formation. On the right was the Eastern Army under General Davoust, 
the VII. Corps in front, with the VIII. Corps in its rear, each corps 
forming in itself two columns; a similar formation was adopted by the 
Western Army, under General Gallifet, the VI. Corps formed into 
two columns, having the lead, while it in its turn was followed by the 
V. Corps. This order of march was strictly preserved, but on the 
field of battle the V., VI., and VII. Corps formed a front line, with 
the VIII. in reserve. 
The regularity with which all the movements of this army were 
carried out reflected great credit on the working of the Staff, very 
close touch was kept between the columns as they advanced. General 
Saussier, who moved by a central road, being always in telegraphic 
communication with his subordinate commanders. Strict orders were 
issued as to the timing of passing various points, and the passage of 
the rivers at the various bridges was carried out with great exactitude. 
There was a complete absence of all confusion, and the Staff arrange¬ 
ments seemed to work with great ease, and without friction or hurry. 
Everything seemed to proceed of its own accord, _ although the great, 
changes of front which were made must have been a severe test on 
the system, which shows how thoroughly has been perfected the French 
Staff, to enable it to direct the movements of such a large army of 
men with so much precision, 
