The War of 1870

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 73, 15 August 1914, Page 6

The War of 1870

SHOUT. SHARP, DECISIVE. KN'D OF AN EMPIRE. H is interesting, at the present juncture, 10 recall the hist great struggle for supremacy between ' the miliary forces of Germany and Frame. The course of events in the short but terrible war of 1870-71 astonished Europe by its unexpected character, revealing ;.t once Ibe solidity of I'riis.-jaii 'slYength, and the lioiiowne-.s of imperial power in Fiance. War was declared on July 15, 1870. 'and it had lieen die intention of the. French Eiup, ror to cross the Rhine at Maxan and push his armies between 'the North and South Corniau -States, so as to force the hater into neutrality. This required superiority, in number and niobiluy at the very outset, be sides good generalship, and in these re'speets France found herself in everv respect inferior to the Germans. The Germans, whose arrangements for mobilisation were so perfect as to be e<>mplet"d by July 30, had 518,800 men. with 1554 guns, and wer L > divided into three armies—the first under General Steinmetz, ihe second under Prince Frederick Charles, and the third under the Crown Prince. It took the French to the beginning of August to get together 270,000 men, and these were deficient in transport and' equipment. It is interesting at this stage tc note that latest statistics of Geimiau and French forces place the war footing numbers of the respective nations nt: Germany 4,350,000, and France •2,500.000, • though probably the highlytrained or vigorous first lines of each country would be respectively about ' 1,500,000 and 1,400,000. EARLY DISASTERS. The French Emperor assumed chief command, and had 128,000 irfen between Metz and the frontier at Saarbruck, some 47,000 under Marshal McMahon n the eastern slope of ihe ■Vosges Mountains, and 35,000 in reserve at Chalons. General Douay's advanced brigade of .1000 was defeated at Weissenburg, and the Germans pressed on to Worth, where Mc-Mahon had taken up a strong position with his main body (45,000). The battle, fought on August 6, was disastrous ,o the French, who tied in confusion through the Vosges '.Mountains. On the same, day the Battle of ■Spocliercn was f: -fight 'between 07.0(1(1 of the German Arnr.y and 32.000 of Fi'ossanl's corps. The French were forced to retreat, but this time in tin orderly manner. As the resuK of these disasters, the Emperor found it necessary to retire towards Metz, and. after a fierce and undecided rearguard acticn at Bornv, on August 14. entered that fortress en the following day with l'li.OftO men and '540 guns. ' The Emperor then abandoned the chief command ;o Mar-hall Bazaine. SURRENDER OF METZ. At least 7"2 hours would have been meessary to complete the withdrawal from Mot/, under the circumstance-. :nd the Germans had already placed -om.e cavalry across the jroail war •M::rs-la-Toiir.' On the Kith they were ! vigorously supported by o.hoi troops. I and succeeded in stopping the westward movement of the French. Next day the French concentrated on the Oravelotte position, 11 miles in extent. (% August 18 the pi.chod battle of Gravelotte was fought, and resulted in the French being driven back on Metz. Here they were surrounded, and after several gallant but unsuccessful attempt.; to beak out. surrendered uii October 2,". Thus wi.fiiu a month the regular armies i f France hud been rendered power.ess to check the German advance. But in the meantime the Gardes Mobiles had been called oil!, and with the remains of McVlahoii's army, forme;!, at Chalons, a body of 120,0!IO 'men. with :k!4 guns, much disorganised and almost entirely without discipline. With the-e 'it was de.crmined' to attemjit .to join hands with Bazaine bv a northerly marc!:, which was commenced ou August 21, without intelligence, reachin"; the Germans, part of whose second anmy was again in motion towards Paris. On August 2.)tli. the Germans got news of MacMahon's movements, and at once turned the direction of their march so as to intercept him. "iV. effect of want of discipline and contradictory order- had greatly delayed his march', and Ihe was much harassed by the enemy, until finally, on August HO, the fifth corps, under J)e Failly having encamped near Beaumont without taking the precaution of protecting thetn-fi-'lves by a chain of outposts— in spite of 'having been attacked the. previous day—was surprised and driven northwar l ni Sedan. The French troops were in a terrible plight, and suffered severely from the Gennan artillery. The latter had nearly 500 guns playing on the defenders, who were crowded into Sedan and under its walls, and at 5 p.m. flic white Hag was hoisted on the citadel. Next day the Emperor, who was with bis army, surrendered with S3.WW men.

PARIS IX REBELLION. On the 4th, Paris was in rebellion, the Senate dissolved, the Fmpress-Uegeiit a fugitive on her way to England, and France jiroelaiuuTi a republic amid tumultuous excitement. Before the close of September. Strasbnrg, one of the last hopes of France, has capitulated, and Paris was completely investeo with German troops. By October 5. the Prussian King had taken up h.i- quarters at Versailles. Gigantic ell'orts were made to raise armies in the provinces for the relief of 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 the east and south—Le I'.nurget. Le liny. Champignv. Hougival, Rainy, etc., several of which were taken and rc-iakeu more than once. The city also underwent a bombardment for several days, from which, however, it suffered little, and it was not until compelled by 'hunger, on January 1871. alter a four months' investment, that negotiation.- were opened with the enemy at Versailles. The united ell'orts of the different branches of -'The Provisional Covernment of Defence," respectively installed at Paris and Tours, then suci-ccdcil in bringing about an armistice, ami a portion of the investing army entered th» city, which had till then been cut oil' from all communication with the outer world, exeeot by balloons and carrier pigeons, mid finally threatened In famine. Tlhc Gcrm-ans entered Paris, but remained only a few hours, and with the concurrence of Germany, the French nation proceeded by a general election of representatives to provide for tin; exigencies of the country,, ~-'