The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-11-11
EUROPEAN wARNEws.


|, 4 W iChsHOarstsr 1ntvviesred.
= [Nsw Yvrk Hersid spccial.1 The Herald cor
respondent ut Brussels. on Saturday, inter-
viewed General Changarnier on the subjects
Of Metz, Paris and the Republic. In reply to
the question, "Did Metz surrender through
trsachery Z" Changarnier said, "No, Baxaine
did not sell himself lie had no need Of money.
His Hoyk was Oar from an act Of treason. There
was 10 treachery, and no necessity for It."
cspondent-"What do you think OF Ba-
xaine,s military capacity 7"
General-"There Il is-Baxaine's inc pacity
to commspd large army. Numbers bewilder
hin. He oDuld not move men he could not
operate fbrccs To had no judgment no fore
sight. He was also selfish man. All for self
and personal glory, not for his oountry's honor.
Bazaine thought all the time that peace would
be proclaimed soon, and that Paris would never
hold out. and that the war would fall dat, and
that his military reputation would not 30 I'm
paired. He had hoped to march out Of Metz at
the head Of 10000 men, the cream Of the
French army, and make tho public believe him
hero. Amer Balaine was driven into Metz,
on the 10Th of August, no could have escaped
had he marched boldly out with his entire army
during tho thirteen remaining days OF that
mOntn, tnc tuIy uhy III oSPsemsS's ouu wv
first fifteen days in October. He could have
done this with absolute certainty. Any sound
military man will tell you the same thing.
Look at II. There were ffty.eight days that
they were In the strongest fortress In France.
when this 10000 and over OF the. bravest and
most experienced soldiers could have m,ds their
exit. and once In the field, there would have
been no more Se,ians. Sedan was noted for
troops who insulted their officers, were insubor-
dinats aud inefficient In Metz the soldiers
were obedient, and every command wn exc
cuted. There were no Red Republicans In the
Metz army" .,y-s r-.-..... .r...
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES was the accurate
number Of soldiers at Metz at the time Of the
surrender
General-'Therc were $4,000 soldiers. or
these, $1,000 were wounded or disabled. and
10000 sick. The cavalry and artillery were
useless, because there were no horses. These
reduced the effective force to 10000 infantry.
Our fine horses were eaten. our bread was gone
and we had no salt. Do not forget that during
the last ten days Of tho investment the soldiers
walked In mud up to their knees. Heavy rains
and starvation made us surrender. But during
the ffty-eight days there were times when Ba-
zaine could have taken this ine army to the
field and saved France. Look at the sorties Of
Bazaine. He never made serious effort TO es-
cape from Metz every sortie was onlya pre-
tended sortie, for appearance, and nothing else.
There were four high officers In Metz besides
Bazaine, and they were all for inaction. saw
all the military maneuvres they were oil shams
Baiaine and his friends were not acting rs sol-
diers, but only seeking their own fortunes. Let
me say moro of Balainc. He was not ut the
battle on the 18th Of August. He was far from
the field. So also was King William, who sent
q bombastic account to the Queen stating that he
was on the field. was there myself. and slept
under the historic tree that night, now known as
L'Arbp DIES Morris" ... ....
The conversation then turned on the situation
Of affairs In Paris and the prospect Of the res
toration Of the 0rlcanists. The general express
ell himself warmly In favor Of the restoration
Of the Orleans Princes, which would bring
peace, quiet, rcpose and general happiness TO
France, and asserted that the Republic had
alreaiy proved q failure by our dissensions.
lie declared Napoleon dead. and thought that
but neither Paris nor France would ever reoog-
nze him. 4f
Il French official on tho Situation.
LONDON. Nov. 7. A correspondent Of the
World had conversation to-day with the
French Charge d'Atfairs at London. lie said
that the members of the Government at Paris
rejected the conditions by Bismarck because
they were confident Of the ability Of France to
repel the invaders, preserve all her territory,
and save the honor Of the country. France
now Is savagely in earnest. Every day she
grows stronger and more conscious Of her
strength. Prussia can no longer get food and
forage by simply oyenwing the population.
They get nothing without fighting hard for II.
As winter advances the Prussians' difficulties In
obtaining supplies will become greater, while
the armies OF Bourbaki and Kcatry will have
no trouble in receiving every thing necessary.
An attack on the forts defending Paris will
be possible before tho 10th, and no
bombardment Of the city will be possible until
the forts are taken.
The forts are armed with more powerful guns
than any planted against them. The Prussians
have few guns Of heavier calibre than ca pound
ers. Should these now open fire, the guns from
the fort would soon silence them, and even
should the fort be finally taken, the grounds be.
meath them and the encienie are honey-combed
with miner fllcd with powder, ready to be cx-
plodcd by electric wires, and oil the roads lead
Ing to the gates are defended by barricades.
The masonry Is constructed with scientific skill
and mounted with guns Of the best description.
The whole number Of men now around Paris Is
300, 900 Of whom 100000 are armed, and have
arrived In high state Of discipline.
The drilling Of new levies Is proceeding rap |
idly. SO that 100000 troops additional, In eI-
,ellent condition, will soon be ready and capa- |
Bile Of taking the field. The supplies OF food will
certainly be ample until the first Of January.
At the final interview between Bismarck and
Fayre. the former for the first time declared that
10 would not consent TO the admission Of food |
INTO Paris during the time Of the armistice.
The Provisional Government Of France refused
o consent to an armistlce without this condition.
which Bismarck had intimated would be grant
d. The real cause Of disagreement, however,
vas the utter refusal Of the French Government
o promise cession of territory.