The opponents of the Republic raised a debate in the
French Chamber on February 24th which might have had serious results. General GaLieni, Governor-General of Madagascar, an officer said to be the secret hope of the Reactionaries, is dissatisfied with the military position of the island, and has asked for four thousand more troops, and especially for artillery and engineers to fortify Diego Saarez. General de Galliffet has accordingly despatched the men, taking his infantry from the Soudanese and Senegalese battalions and from the Foreign Legion, and the artillery from the Regular Army. The Opposition complained that Regulars had been "sent to die of digging ditches in the tropics" as seven thousand men died when the island was first occupied. The Ministry explained the facts, and affirmed that the Regular Army of France had only been depleted by a hundred men, who, again, had all asked to go. The Chamber, therefore, gave them a vote, but the majority was only 255 votes to 207, and of those present fifty-three refused to give a ballot. The reason of the bitter fight, of the heavy vote against the Government, and of the abstentions is that the Deputies are afraid even of a false charge of sending conscripts to Madagascar. The electors hate the very name of the place in which their sons die of disease or are invalided, und would assuredly punish any Government which sent Regulars there on anybody's demand. This is the first of French colonial difficulties, the second being that no French colony pays. These are facts ; but we regret to see an alarmist correspondent of the St. James's Gaz'ette representing the reinforcement of the Madagascar garrison as a sign that the French mean to invade Natal from Madagascar. That is the very delirium of panic. We want all possible preparations made for home defence, but do not let us exaggerate our
dangers. Remember, too, that alarmist Frenchmen doubtless believe that our troops on their return from Natal will be sent to overrun that eminent health resort, Madagascar !
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