The Captain who applies for the infliction of the punishment, as well as the Major who commands the squadrons to which the trooper belongs, lay their case before the court. They then retire, and the trooper is brought in and makes his defence. The court then deliberates and sends its decision to the Colonel. It must be remembered that the court merely gives its advice, and this is sent to the General commanding the division of which the regiment is a unit. Should the court recommend the trooper to be sent to the _Compagnies de discipline_, the General can decline to act upon their advice, but should the court decide that the trooper ought not to be sent there, the General is bound to abide by the decision. This seems, at first blush, an equitable procedure, but when we remember the almost unlimited power possessed by a Colonel over the officers of his regiment, it is easy to realise that a _Conseil de discipline_ usually sits for the mere purpose of carrying out the well-ascertained wishes of the supreme regimental authority. FOOTNOTES: [1] For full particulars see "Loi du 15 Juillet 1889, sur la Recrutement de l'Armée." Librairie Militaire L. Baudoin, 30 rue Dauphine, Paris. [2] All who for any cause are considered unfit for service have to pay a yearly tax of 6 francs, and an additional tax proportionate to their means. [3] Soldiers pay one-third of ordinary fares on French railways. [4] French cavalry regiments have five squadrons. [5] It was 8 P.M. in my time. [6] The vagueness of this should be noted. [7] Which means that an officer so punished cannot travel out of his district without leave. [8] Colonel Picquart's case. [9] L'avis du conseil ne peut être modifié qu'en faveur de l'officier. ("Service Intérieur," p. 220.) [10] It therefore stands to reason that a court-martial could not legally try Colonel Picquart. [11] _e.g._, saying that Dreyfus is innocent. Reading a newspaper--whatever it may be--is also a serious offence. CHAPTER I I have already explained that twenty years ago, when I served my time in the ranks of the French army, French military law differed from what it is now. It is true that--speaking generally--every able-bodied Frenchman was then, as now, compelled to undergo five years' active service, but for young men who had graduated at a University there was the loop-hole of escape described in the Introduction. Having no ambition to serve for five years as a private, I naturally determined to avail myself of the benefit of the law, and accordingly in the month of August 1879 I went over to the headquarters of the military division of Paris, and there, after producing all the papers required by French red-tapeism,[12] I signed a voluntary engagement for a period of one year (_Engagement conditionnel_).