SSIONS IN AFRICA AND ASIA spread out towards the tropical and equatorial territories; it links the mother country and the other African colonies. Algeria, lying as it does between Morocco and Tunisia, is rightly considered the key position, and it has accepted a large measure of French culture. Syria, though in Asia, may be considered in this group ; it is administered under mandate and so is not strictly a possession.
The Asiatic group consists of Cochin China, Cambodia, Annam, Tongking, Laos, and the territory of Kwangchow. Historic reasons have made the relations of French possessions with the Govern ment of the republic very various. Algeria is under the Ministry of the Interior and is divided into departments, but it is not in all details of government like departments of France. The "old colonies" and the Algerian departments are represented in the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, and Cochin China is repre sented in the latter. The Conseil superieur des Colonies is an advisory body in Paris with representatives from the colonies. Tunisia, Morocco and Syria are under the Foreign ministry, the others under the Colonial ministry.
The French army dates from the middle of the 15th century, at which time Charles VII. formed, from mercenaries who had served him in the Hundred Years' War, the compagnies d'ordon nance, and thus laid the foundation of a national standing army. But the armies that followed the kings in their wars still consisted mainly of mercenaries, hired for the occasion ; and the work of Charles and his successors was completely undone in the confusion of the religious wars. Louvois, as minister of Louis XIV., was the true creator of the French royal army. The organization of the first standing army is here given in some detail, as it served as a model for all armies for more than a century, and is also followed to some extent in modern times. Before the advent of Louvois, the forces were royal only in name. The army was a fortuitous concourse of regiments of horse and foot, each of which was the property of its colonel. The companies similarly be longed to their captains, and, the state being then in no condition to buy out these vested interests, superior control was almost illusory. Indeed, all the well-known devices for eluding such control, for instance, showing imaginary men on the pay lists, can be traced to the French army of the i6th century. Louvois was unable indeed to overthrow the proprietary system, but he confined it to the colonels (mestre de camp in the cavalry) and the captains. Henceforward the colonel was a wealthy noble, with few duties beyond that of spending money freely and of exer cising his court influence on behalf of his regiment. The real work of the service was done by the lieutenant-colonels and lieu tenants, and the king and the minister recognized this on all occasions. Thus Vauban was given, as a reward for good service, a company in the "Picardie" regiment without purchase. Pro motions from the ranks were very rare but not unknown, and all promotions were awarded according to merit except those to captain or colonel. One of the captains in a regiment was styled major, and acted as adjutant. This post was of course filled by selection and not by purchase. The grades of general officers were newly fixed by Louvois---the brigadier, marechal de camp, lieutenant-general and marshal of France. The general principle was to give command, but not promotion, according to merit. The rank and file were recruited by voluntary enlistment for four years' service. The infantry was composed, in 1678, of the Gardes f rancaises, the Swiss guards, the old (vieux and petits vieux) regiments of the line, and the regiments raised under the new system. The regiment du roi, which was deliberately made the model of all others and was commanded by the celebrated Mar tinet, was the senior of these latter. The whole infantry arm in 1678 numbered 320,000 field and garrison troops. The cavalry consisted of the Maison du Roi (which Louvois converted from a "show" corps to one of the highest discipline and valour), divided into the Gardes du Corps and the Mousquetaires, the Gendarmerie (descended from the old feudal cavalry and the ordonnance companies) and the line cavalry, the whole being about 55,000 strong. There were also io,000 dragoons. In addition to the regular army, the king could call out, in case of need, the ancient arriere-ban or levy, as was in fact done in 1674. In 1688 Louvois organized a militia raised by ballot. This numbered 25,000 men and proved to be better, at any rate, than the arriere-ban. Many infantry regiments of the line were foreign, the greater part being Swiss.