23 OCTOBER 1886, Page 3

General Boulanger is obviously intent on conciliating the private soldiers

of the French Army. He cannot yet give them victories, and the Chamber would be startled if he gave them champagne and sausages ; but he can give them more leisure, and he has done it. He has prohibited reviews and parades on Sunday, declaring that the soldier requires one day of rest in seven, and strongly discourages on that day any military duty not indispensable. Soldiers are even to be allowed, if well con- ducted, to spend the Sunday out of barracks. The order is in itself both kindly and judicious ; but the General is the nominee of the Ch3menceau party, and what will they say ? Will they not suspect him at once of Cmsarism and superstition, and growl that he ought, in deference to Republican tradition, to have given his holiday on every tenth day ? What is the use of abolishing military chaplaincies, and so making it difficult for the Catholic soldier to confess on the eve of battle, if the Minister of War is to tempt soldiers to go to church ? Seriously, anti-clerical fanaticism has risen to such a height in France, that it would not be surprising if the General's order injured his civil popularity.