FRANCO'PRUSSIAN WAR RECALLED.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1296, 12 September 1914, Page 4

FRANCO'PRUSSIAN WAR RECALLED.

SHORT, SHARP, DECISIVE, END OF AN EMPIRE. It is interesting, at the present juncture, to recall the Just great, struggle for supremacy between the military forces of Germany and Franco. The course of events in the short but terrible war ot 187 - -71 .astonished Europe by its unexpected character, revealing at onco the solidity of Prussian strength, and the hollowness of Imperial power in France. War was declared on July 15, 1870, and it had been the intention of the French Emperor to cross the Rhine at Maxan and push his armies between the North and South German States, so as to force the fatter into neutrality. This required superiority in number and mobility at the very outset, besides good generalship, and in these rospecte France found herself in every respect inferior to the Germans. The Gormans, whose arrangements for mobilisation were so perfect as to bo completed by July 30, had 518,800 men, with 1584 guns, and were divided into three armies—the first under General Steinmetz, the second under Prince Frederick Charles, and the third under the Crown Prince. It took the French to the beginning of August to got together 270,000 men, and these were deficient in transport mid equipment. It is interesting at this stage to note that latest statistics of Gorman and French forces place the war footing numbers of the respective nations at, Germany 4,350,000, and Franco 2,500,000, though probably the highly trained or vigorous first lines of each country would bo respectively about, 1,500,000 and 1,400,000. EARLY DISASTERS.

The French Emperor assumed chief command, and had 128,000 men between Metz and the frontier at Saarbruck, sonic 47,000 under Marshal McMahon on the eastern slope of the Vosges Mountains, and 35,000 in reserve at Chalons. General Douay’s advanced brigade of 5000 was defeated at Weissenburg, and the Gormans pressed on to Worth, where McMahon had taken up a strong position with his main body (45,000). The buttle, fought on August 6, was disastrous to the French, who fled in confusion through the Vosges Mountains. On the same day the battle of Specheren was fought between 67,000 of the German Army and 32,000 of Frossard’s corps. The French were forced to retreat, but this time in an orderly mann°As the result of these disasters, tho Emperor found it necessary to retire towards Metz, and, after a fierce and undecided rearguard action at Borny, on August 14, entered that fortress on tho following day with 176,000 men and 540 guns. Iho Emperor then abandoned tho chief command to Marshal Bazaine. SURRENDER OF METZ.

At least 72 hours would have been necessary to complete tho withdrawal from Metz under the circumstances, and the Germans had already placed some cavalry across the road near Mars-la-Tour. On the 16th they were vigorously supported by other troops, and succeeded in stopping tho westward movement of tho French. Next day the French concentrated on the Gravolotte position 11 miles in extent. On August to, the pitched battle of Gravclolte was fought. and resulted in tho French being driven back on Metz. Hero they were surrounded, and, after several gallant but unsuccessful attempts to break out, surrendered on October 27. f On August 25, the Governor got news of McMahon’s movements, and at once turned the direction of their march so as to intercept him. Tho effect of want of discipline and contradictory order* had greatly delayed his march, and he was much harassed by the enemy, until finally, on August, 30, the fifth corps, under ()e hailly having encamped near Beaumont without talcing the precaution ot protecting themselves by a chain of outposts—-in spue of having been attacked tho previous day was sur prised and driven northward on tv-nan. The French troops were in a terrible plight, and suffered severely from the German artillery. The laP.cr had nearly 500 guns playing upon the- defenders, who wen crowded into Sedan and under its walls, and at 5 p.m. the white. Hag was K-..-toil on the citadel. Next day the Emperor who was with his army, surrendered with 83,000 men. Thu. mtnm a, month the regular aiimts of Franco had been rendered powerless to check the German advance. But in the mean time tho Gardes Mobiles had been calk'd out, and With the remains of Ale Mahi-n’s army, formed. at Chalons, a body of 120,000 men. with 324 guns, much uiorga- bred and almost without discipline, proclaimed a Republic amid tumultuous excitement* 0 Before vffe close of September, btrasburm one of the last hopes of Franco had capitulated, and Paris was completely invested by German troops. By October 5, tho Prussian King had taken up his head quarters at Versailles. Gigantic efforts were made to raise armies in the provinces for tho relief ol Paris From Paris, where almost every able-bodied man was enrolled in the ranks, frequent sorties were made, and bloody battles fought in the villages to tho oast afd gout.h—Lc Bourgct, Lo Hay, Cham- " “nv Bougival. Rainey, otc.-several of which were taken and retaken more than °Tho citv also underwent a bombardment for several days, from which, however, it suffered little, and it was not until com ne.llod bv hunger* on January, 1011, a”® l L four months’ investment, that negotiations were, opened with the enemy at VorSUi Tho united efforts of the different branches of “Thu JProviMona 1 Government of Defence, ’’ respectively installed at i. <u s and Tours, then succeeded 111 an armistice, and a portion of the sninv entered the citv, winch had till tnen been cut off from all communication with the outer world, except by balloons and carrier pigeons, and finally threatened by ‘“"Germans entered Paris but. remained onlv a few hours, and with the concurrence of Germany, the French nation proceeded bv a general election of representative, to provide for the exigencies of the country- .