Page:The rise and fall of the Emperor Maximilian.djvu/143

 their defective discipline and the ignorance of their commandants, might revolt at the moment when they received the order to disband.

Before making public the arrangement which will reduce our existing forces, you will carefully study as to what parts of the territory are occupied by troops whose withdrawal would expose the countries which they protect to the attacks of the enemy, in order to arrange immediately for the defence of these localities by fresh troops.

In a word, the great object of your attention will be to prevent the inconvenience which measures so important must bring with them.

When the disbanding and disarming of the unnecessary forces are once accomplished, the superior and other officers who are in excess will proceed provisionally to the depot, until their respective claims shall have been examined either for a pension or discharge.—Your very affectionate.

In these instructions we find the decided and concise style, and the good sense, of the former admiral of the Austrian marine, who had prepared the laurels won for the glory of his country at Lissa. If he had been aided by his own party, and if he had not been fatally deserted by France in obedience to the voice of the United States, Maximilian would perhaps have triumphed over every obstacle. But our head-quarters were almost his only support. The latter hastened to grant to the emperor the help of any of our officers whom he desired to have as coadjutors. M. Friant, the commissary of stores, gave peculiar satisfaction to the court of Mexico, who thought highly of his services. The emperor planned to call him in to his assistance.

Cuernavaca, May 16, 1866. My dear Marshal,—Now that you are generously placing at our disposal all the means in your power for organising the national army, I am about to ask you to add a fresh service to