M. de FreAcinei'has made a change in the Ministry of
War vita& does Wot suggest a strong belief in the continuance of , peace. He is himself Minister of War, as well as Premier; but
/ he has appointed General de Miribel "Major-General of the Army,"—that is, Chief of the Staff, with powers such as were
exercised by Count von Moltke. General de Miribel is entrusted with the full control of all armies in the field, and has within his powers, says the decree, "the mobilisation of the Army and its concentration in case of war, the employment of railways and canals, the military telegraph, aerostation, the organisation and direction of the services in the rear, the organisation and general instruction of the Army, the preparation of the great manceuvres, the study of foreign armies and of the different theatres of operations." The decree makes him, in fact, the real head of the Army, though subordinate to the Minister of War, who, again, must take certain orders from the President. General de Miribel is the favourite of the Army, and, though a Royalist, does not interfere in politics. He was more trusted by Gambetta than any other regularly trained officer.
