Page:The rise and fall of the Emperor Maximilian.djvu/146

 oftener, every week, the minister of war, and the Commissary Friant, whose co-operation will be valuable in administrative questions.

I also intend to call upon the Commandant Loysel to take a part in these meetings, in which all the principal points will be discussed both of the organisation generally and also of the expenditure and the persons to be employed; he will also draw up confidentially an official record of our proceedings, without which we shall not attain either the order or promptitude which are desirable. If the marshal should be of opinion that would likewise be useful to summon General Uraga to present at these meetings, as a representative of the active portion of the Mexican army, he will be kind enough to let me know.

At the present moment, it appears to me that the military question is to be looked at in three essential points of view.

The immediate organisation of 20,000 national troops, the firm consolidation of the mixed corps who are styled by you the cazadores of Mexico, who are in my opinion the principal basis for the future army and for the systematic pacification of the country.

As regards the first point, it appears to me that we must avail ourselves of the few honourable corps now existing, such as those of Mejia, Mendez, Garcia, &c., so as to form a national nucleus, and that we must immediately dismiss all those men that constitute nothing but a valueless body of soldiery. This measure, however, can only be considered as the beginning of the matter.

In order to be in a position to form quickly some good battalions of infantry and a few good regiments of cavalry, I only see one way of proceeding, which will doubtless appear to you singular enough, and perhaps breathes the spirit of the middle ages; it is to choose reliable men, men possessing both your confidence and mine, one half of whom should be European officers of long experience, and to nominate them as chiefs of battalions and regiments; and then, after having summoned them to Mexico, and given them their instructions distinctly and clearly, to say to them:—'The responsibility lies upon you, choose your own officers, act, and you will be supported. But as a result you must give us the rapid and effective formation