The Sun.
London, England, 1870-11-02 00:00:00

SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1870.

THE WAR.

CAPITULATION OF METZ.

TERMS OF THE SURRENDER.
The following is the protocol agreed upon between the
commanders of the respective armies. It was published
in a Metz journal, which appeared with a large black
border

"Between the undersigned, the head of the staff of
the French army under Metz, and the head of the staff
of the Prussian army before Metz, both furnished with
full powers by his Excellency Marshal Bazaine, Com-
mander-in-Chief, and by General-in-Chief his Royal High-
ness Prince Frederick Charles of Prussia,
" The following convention has been concluded :
Art. I.—The French army placed under the orders of
Marshal Bazaine, are prisoners of war.
Art. 2.—The fortress and the town of Metz, with all
the forts, the material of war, the provisionments of all
kinds, and everything that is the property of the State,
will be surrendered to the Prussian army in the state in
which it is at the time of the signature of this convention.
On Saturday October 29 at midday, the forts of St.
Quentin, Plappeville, St. Julien, Queuleu and St. Privat,
as well as the gate Mazelle, on the road to Strasbourg,will
be made over to the Prussian troops. At ten o'clock on the
morning of the same day, the artillery and engineer officers,
with some non-commissioned officers will be admitted
into the said forts, to occupy the powder magazines, and
to discover the mines.

Art. 3.—The arms, as well as all the material of the
army, consisting of flags, eagles, cannon, mitrailleuses,
horses, war chests, equipages of the army, munitions, &c.
will be left at Metz, and in the forts, at military offices
established by the Marshal Bazaine, to'be remitted imme-
diately to Prussian commissioners. The troops without
arms will be conducted, arranged according to th eir regi-
ments and c irps, in military order, to the place appointed
for each corps. The officers will then re-enter freely into
the interior of the entrenched camp, or at Metz, on condi-
tion of giving their word of honour not to quit the place
without the orders of the Prussian commandant. The
troops will keep their knapsacks, tents, coverings, &c.
Art. 4.—A1l the generals and officers, as well as the
military employs having the rank of officers, who give
their parole in writing, not to bear arms against Germany,
or to act in any way contrary to her interests until the
end of the present war, will not be made prisoners of
war. They will preserve their arms and personal effects.
In recognition of the courage of which the army and the
garrison gave proof during the campaign, it is also per-
mitted to those officers who choose captivity to take with
them their swords and personal effects.
Art. s.—The military surgeons will, without exception,
remain behind in charge of the wounded. They will be
treated according to the Convention of Geneva, as will be
the personnel of the hospitals.
Art. 6.—Questions of detail concerning the interests of
the town are treated in the appendix to this protocol

Art. 7.—Any article which is doubtful shall be inter-
preted in favour of the French army.
Done at the Château of Freseaty, Oct. 27th, 1870.
(Signed),

L. JARRAB,
STIEHLE.

BAZAINE'S PROCLAMATION.

The following was issued by Marshal Bazaine as general
order No: 12 to the Army of the Rhine :

Vanquished by famine:we are constrained to submit to
the laws of war, and yield ourselves prisoners. At divers
epochs in our military career, brave troops, commanded
by Massena, Bieber, Gouvion Saint Cyr, have endured
the same fate, which in no way impugns military honour,
when, like you, men have gloriously accomplished their
duty up to the extreme limit. All that it was loyally
possible to do to avert this end has been attempted with-
out success. As for the renewal of a supreme
effort to break the fortified lines of the enemy,
in spite of your valour and the sacrifice of
thousands of lives which may yet be useful to the
country, it would have been fruitless, on account of the
armament and the overwhelming forces that guarded and
supported those lines. A disaster must -have been
the consequence. Let us be dignified in adversity, let us
respect the honourable conventions which have been made,
if we would be respected as we deserve. Let us avoid
above all things, for the reputation of this army, such un-
disciplined acts as the destruction of arms and of material
since according to military custom the places and the
armaments shciuld be restored to France when peace is
signed. In quitting the command I beg to express to the
generals, officers, and soldiers all my gratitude for their
loyal assistance, their brilliant valour in the fights, their
resignation under privations, and it is with a broken heart
that I separate myself from you,
Marshal of France, Commander-in-Chief,
BAZAINE.