At a moment when the government is considering abandoning one of its colonies, I think it is my duty, in the interests of the nation and in particular of the French army, to lay before Your Excellency my proposal for speeding up the pacification of the Regency of Algiers and ensuring that it will continue to be held. Experience has shown that French soldiers are little suited to endure the fatigue of warfare under the burning African sun. It is not that they lack courage, but the climate is so much against them that they quickly succumb and in far too great numbers for war to be waged for any long period in this continent.