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Mobile Guard

If the depot battalions could be mobilised; if they could be transformed, as was the intention of Marshal Niel, into marching regiments, if even of but two battalions; if increased levies could be obtained for this purpose at the commencement of a war, - it could certainly be still possible to reinforce the field army - only, in the first place, the greater part of the work must be improvised; and, secondly, it would be necessary to replace by something the depot battalions in the duties which they now performed-that is, of training the new reserves, garrisoning fortresses, &c.

This something was to be the Mobile Guard, which was created by the law of the 1st of February 1868. It was, in case of war, to undertake the guardianship of the strong places and of the coasts, and to perform the duties of the Imperial police in the interior. This Mobile Guard, or Mobile National Guard, was to be recruited, 1. From the collective male population liable to serve, who had been found to be capable of bearing arms, but were freed by lot from service in the Active Army ; 2. From those exempted on social grounds ; 3. From those who had been drawn in the contingent for the Active Army, but who had purchased substitutes. The time of service in the Mobile Guard was fixed at 5 years. The real contingent for it cannot be estimated at more than 74,000 to 75,000 men. This would give, during the 5 years, about 370,000 men. These general instructions prove clearly that no great things could be expected from the Mobile Guard as a regular military organisation. The paper organisation was commenced by the Government in the north and in the east; in the south and in the west, even this was opposed with a resistance which developed into anti-Imperial demonstrations.

As long as Marshal Niel lived, the work of organisation was carried on, and the exercising of the Mobile Guard began in June 1869. After the death of the Marshal, when General Lebceuf undertook the Ministry of War, and to spare the citizens was declared to be the highest State principle in military matters, these exercises ceased. The appointment of officers still continued, but in direct opposition to the maxim which lays down that untrained troops require the best officers if they are to render good service.

The total number of the Mobile Guard was reckoned by the French Government-too high, as is clear from the foregoing - at 550,000 men. It was to be divided into 318 very strong battalions of 8 companies each, and into 128 batteries of garrison artillery - six companies of pontoniers included. At the time of the death of Marshal Niel, there existed in tolerable formation on paper 142 battalions and 91 batteries. Clothing was ready for about 100,000 men ; and the same number-namely, those of the two youngest annual classes in the eastern half of the Empire-had been slightly exercised. As from this time forward nothing more was done, these numbers give also the state in which the war of 1870 found the institution of the Mobile Guard.