The French Assembly is advancing with the new Army Bill.
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principle of compulsory and universal service has been accep d,_ though a delay of one year may be granted in certain cases ; an the period of service is to be twenty years, live of which will be- with the colours. General Trochu resists this, and advises three years, believing that the longer period will compel Government to reintroduce a system of substitutes. The Left intend to support this modification, but not, we imagine, General Trochu.'s second proposal, which is to raise the Corps d'Armee by regions, as in Prussia. That system, though far the best in settled countries, would in France have the disadvantage that entire Corps d'Armee would be of one political complexion, the divisions of Brittany, for example, being Conservative, while those of the South were Red. The Assembly and General Trochu both appear to cal- culate on a standing army of 400,000 men, with power to raise it at short notice up to a million.
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