CHANGARNIER AND THE CAPITULATION OF SEDAN.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 151, 29 December 1870, Page 7

CHANGARNIER AND THE CAPITULATION OF SEDAN.

Brussels, Noveniber 5

(N. Y. "Herald" spccis-l.) -Correspondence, dated Brussels. Tnii rxjkiies a conversation with General (Jh.mgnrnier. The General declared tlinL Bazaine was not guilty of treachery in the surrender of Metz. He was incompetent to command a large army — numbers bewildered him ; he could not move men, could not operate forces ; he had no judgment, no foresight. He was also a selfish man — all for self and personal glory, and not his country's honour. Bazaine thought all the time that peace would be proclaimed soon, that Paris would never hold out, that the war would fall fiat, and that his military reputation would not be impaired. He hoped to march out of Metz at the head of 150,000 men, the cream of the French army, and make the public believe him a hero.

After Bazaine was driven into Metz, on the 19th of August, he could havo escnped had he marched boldly out with the entire army. During the; thirteen remaining clays of that month, the thirty days of September, and the first fifteen days of October, he could have done this with absolute certainty. Any sound military man will tell you the same thing.

There were fifty-eight days they wore in the strongest fortress in France, when this 150,000 and over of the bravest and most experienced soldiers could have made their exit, and exit in the field ; there would have been no more Sedans — Sedan Avas noted for troops who insulted their officers and who were insubordinate and ine indent ; what sort of an army is that 1 Look at the army in Mctz. The soldiers were obedient, and every command was executed. You see there were no Red Republicans in the Metz army. During the last ten days it was impossible, and no attack nor attempt at escape could be made ; we had no artillery, no cavalry, only sixty thousand infantry ; we could do nothing against these branches of the Prussians.

At the time of the capitulation, there were 135,000 soldiers; of these 25,000 were wounded or disabled, and 10,000 sick. The cavalry and artillery were useless, because they had no horses. The reduced force was 60,000 infantry. All our fine horses were eaten up, our bread gone, and we had no salt. Horse, Monsieur, is not bad eating, with broad aud &alt, when the horse is fat, but these horses were not fat, and we had neither bread nor salt — the taste was horrible. Could troops thus fed stand a great battle 1

Do not forget that during the last ten days of the investment the soldiers walked in mud up to their knees. The heavy rains and starvation made us surrender ; but, as I told you, during the fifty-eight days there were times when Bazaine could have taken this fine army to the field and saved France. He never made a serious efforo to escape from Metz ; every sortie was only a pretended sortie, for appearance, and nothing else. There were four high officers at Metz besides Bazaine ; they were all for inaction. I saw all the military manoeuvres ; they were all shams, Bazaine and his friends not acting as soldiers but only seeking then. 1 own future. These sorties were always conducted with small forces ; there was no plan, and they could not be successful.

The General subsequently expressed his belief in the restoration of the House of Orleans to the French throne. The Republic, he said, could not stand ; it is already divided in fragments; France has no Government to-day ; she needs organization and harmony ; the Orlcauists can give them to France. An Orleans monarch means peace, quiet, repose, and general happiness.

The correspondent is convinced, from other evidences, there is a strong movement at Brussels for the restoration, and Ohangarnier is one of the principal heads.