The incessant defeats have emboldened M. Gambetta to take the
first really revolutionary step taken in the war. He has issued, as Minister of War, a decree suspending the laws about promotion and service, and enabling the Ministry to select officers at dis- cretion, even from among civilians. These commissions, however, will not be retained after the war, unless their bearers have performed striking services. This decree, rendered absolutely necessary by the defeat, dispersion, or investment of the Regular Army, will probably deeply annoy the remaining General officers, already fiercely irritated by the superiority of civilians, but it was absolutely needful if new men were to be found. There is not apparently a good officer anywhere out of Paris, though General Bourbaki is on his way to Tours. All the Generals at Gambetta's disposal are old men, used to regular work, and wholly unable to put down insubordination. The present commander of the Army of the Loire, General Aurele des Paladins, was en retraite before the war, and the few men of the Line left, seem to distrust all Gene- rals alike. New men must be employed at any hazard, till victory gives some one a commission soldiers will acknowledge.
