Corporals in the French army do not rank as N.C.O.s. The latter are far better treated now than they were in my time, the change being entirely due to General Boulanger, and being one of the causes of his great popularity among the soldiers. Until he became Minister of War, non-commissioned officers could be sent to the _Salle de Police_ (lock-up). An _Adjudant_ could give a Sergeant eight days of _Salle de Police_, or fifteen days' C.B., and a Sergeant-major could give the Sergeants four days' _Salle de Police_ and eight days' C.B. Sergeants could even be sent to prison by the _Adjudants_. There existed a _Salle de Police_ separate from the one allotted to the men, to which Sergeants and Corporals were sent together, the only difference being that Sergeants were allowed a straw mattress and blanket, while the Corporals were only allowed one blanket and slept on boards. The punishments inflicted on Corporals are: (a) Confinement to barracks. (b) _Salle de Police_ (lock-up). (c) Prison. (d) Reduction to the ranks. +----------+-------------------------------------------------------------+ | | Right of Punishment by-- | |----------+------+-------+---------+----------+-----+----------+--------+ |Nature of |Serge-|Serge- |Sergeant-| Adjudant,|Capt-| Field |Colonel.| |Punishment|ants. |ant- | major |Sub-lieut.|ains.| Officers | | | of | |majors.| in his | and | | and | | |Corporals.| | |Squadron.| Lieuts. | | Captains | | | | | | | | |commanding| | | | | | | | | a | | | | | | | | | Squadron.| | +----------+------+-------+---------+----------+-----+----------+--------+ | | Days.| Days. | Days. | Days. |Days.| Days. | Days. | | (a) | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 15 | 30 | 30 | | (b) | -- | -- | -- | 4 | 8 | 15 | 30 | | (c) | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 8 | 15 | +----------+------+-------+---------+----------+-----+----------+--------+ Corporals are confined to barracks for slight breaches of discipline. For failing to answer the evening call, bad language,[11] disobedience, quarrels, drunkenness, Corporals are sent to the _Salle de Police_. For more serious faults, especially when on duty, Corporals are sent to prison. TROOPERS. The punishments inflicted on troopers are: (a) Extra work. (b) Inspection with the guard parade. (c) Confinement to barracks. (d) _Salle de Police._ (e) Prison. (f) Cells (solitary confinement). Punishments (_a_), (_b_), (_c_) were in my time very seldom inflicted in a cavalry regiment, being regarded as too mild for a trooper and only fit for men in the line. I am told that this is still the case.