The New York herald., 1870-07-22
BASE OF OPERATIONS or TEE FRENCH
FORCES.


FORCES.
The base OF operations for the French armies
forms an acute angle, running east by south and
south by west, with the headquarters at what We
might term the two extremities. We soy might
because In fact, Metz and Strasburg are not really
the extrcmities, the lines extending north OF
Metz at rhi0nvile and southwest OF Strasburg
at Colmar or at Belfort, II the cable kilograms
| correct AS regards BefOrt, however, it does not
seem possible that the right wing OF Marshal McMa
hon can be located so far south, the town being
less than seventy miles from Srasbure, ana rs, In
fact, less defensive position from invasion from
Germany than from invasion from Switzerland.
But admitting Belfort to be the extreme right OF
the French, we have the following fortified places
which the army covers:-Beginnlng at Belfort. the
hue rams east-nor rthcast direction a distance Of
twenty miles TO Mulhouse, or Mulhausen; thence
northeast for another twenty miles TO NelIr Blisacl
whence il takes Il northery course for thirty
miles to Sirasburg. Continuing north it first
strikes lagueaau some seventeen miles dis
tant, aud reaches the angle at Lauter
burg, eighteen mles distant to the northeast.
Here the lines makes sharp turn, and runs along
the Lauter river 10 Wissenbourg, nine miles north
west OF Lauterburg. Continuing west by south.
and consequently forming n digresson II mex.
meets Bltchc, some twenty-five mie5 0T continues
! westward for some 1lty-egllt miles TO Metz then
| turns to the north and goes up 10 Thion-
Vile, a distance OF seventeen miles, where IL ends.
| This would give total OF I'll miles for the military
| line; but If we begin at Strasburg Ignoring Bel
! fort, Muhouse and Neuf Brsach, the length is
reduced to about lil mlles-a line by no means too
long when we take into consideration the immense
force concentrated along IL and the perfec railroad
system which facilitates the moving Of troops TO
any part.
1t Will be noticed chat from Bitche TO Metz, DIS
tance Of nearly sky miles, there Is no fortified
| town. sonih OF tho line, however. are Phalslurg
Marsa anu others. which and protect the rail.
| road between Nancy sni Metz. Furthermore, while
| for the purpose connecting the fortified towns we
have linked Bitche aud .z, 1t u certain that the
| French army aligned along the road running
from Bitche 10 Sarrcquemines Folbach ana Thion-
vile, Which reduces the length OF line by some nj
teen or wv enty miles.
CITY OF METZ.
Nevertheless II seems evident that the base of
operations OF the Army OF the Moselle, commanded
by Marshal Ba1ane, is the city and fortress of Metz
This place Is OF the most ancient in France 1t
was founded before the Romans conquered Gaul ana
was known 10 ihem as Divodorum. This name was
afterwards changed to that OF Mediomatrici. At u
later date, In the 9Th century, IL was called Metts
OF Mes, which finally became Metz. Under tho
The conquest OF Caul by the Franks it continued an
important centre of population and under the dc
| scendints OF Clovis. King Of France, the city
became famous as The capital Of the Kingdom
| OF Ausrasia, which name was changed, first
| to Metz, ana second, in the ninth century,
| to that of Lorraine. The decline Of the house or
! Chariemagne was taken advantage Of by Henry the
! Foutth, OF Germany who conquered 1t. During the
! following century, however, the people recovered
their independence and remained Tree until 1862,
when they Claimed The protectorate OF France. twin
thus be seen that Metz and, for the matter OF that,
| the whoe Of what was formerly Lorraine is not and
| never has been German, but has always been
| French. It's conquest ana retention by Germany for
! brief while 800 years ago, Is the only claim that
| the Germans have upon 1t az their territory. For
| 3ls years IT has formed part Of France.
! Metz Is situated at the confluence of the Moselle
and Sci.le rivers about l7o miles by rail east by
north OF Paris II is arler Strasburg, the strongest
inland fortress IN France. Tie population - over
10000, which, with the regular OF 10 900 men,
| MAKES IL lively. busting place. The fortlcatlons
| are extensive and almost inpregnabic. Ihey com
prise strong wan, pierced by n.ne gates furnished
| with draSbrdges, and with numerous Ddst.oDs sur
rounding Ii. Four regularly constructed forts capa
! bic of resisting the most powerul OF modern pro
ectes cover The country on an sides so Thar their
| guns can sweep an attacking orce, which, 10y the
| way, must advance TO the walls over open fields
aud GRO deep and wide ditch, which
/ be A0ode1 with water IN shD Drt space OF
time. Three Of these forts were commenced by
yaupan, the greatest military engineer OF his are
! ana ~ whom France IL indebted for her yslcm OK
! for'rcsses. NauDan commenced. and German
laisne, another able engineer, finished them.
I Of the city from the Port des Allemands
to the river; another. protects the soutner,
! part. and the thid called the Rcdoubt du Fate.
| stands on an isiand connected with the city by a
.ubterEanean gallery ami Is regarded as one Of
! more modern cons rnct on, but The whole OF u EN-
/ rave been SO Improved sine Napoleon became EDl-
! pcror that all may be said 30 he new.
AS base OF operations for the French army OF the
Mosellc Metz s nsiniiabIy situated. IL IS connected
! by railroad with Paris, Nancy Srasburg aud Thion-
vile IN France ani by rail- TO Ooblcnz. Mayence and
| Manbcm In germany. Tdc wagon road to Mayence.
| which The railroad follows very closely, was made
direct communication between Mayence and Paris,
and Is known as the Kaiser Sirdsse Imperial road)
G asysass 70 t. ysa ;e Il S vsl
about $50 miles, but by the land route it Is not
than seventylye, the windngs OF the river
ncction with this fact 1t should be stated that the
Moselle Is navigablc from Its confluence with the
move upon Coblenz, 1t can, therefore, be accom-.
panied by gnnnoais, although it would be necessary
and TO reduce or pass the batteries at Treyes and
other points Along the banks.
| THIoNvILIE, BiTrHE AND wElssEMBOURG
few days ago we gave partial sketch Of Thon-
yille The town Is situated on the left bank OF the
! Mosele. seventeen miles north OF Metz and is
strongly fortified. II has population of about 1000
| and Il famous for The many times IL was besieged
during the wars between France and AUSTRIA:
| ThionvNe h on The railroad between Metz and
Mnicrcs ana rs the terminus OF the branch road "
LuEemburg, IN the duchy of that name ,
! Bitche is slnal place OF 1000 inhabitants lying
nearly sixty m e2st q Meif' IS ortess i,n mere
nai,e 10 aasint either by infantry or artillery. 1t
| ni6ihts more man hundred pieces OF artillery
| IL pentliuly supplied with water anu always con-
lalp, three years supply OF provisions Tor the gar
| rls6i.
! W.sembourg Is situated on the right bank OF the
Iauer river directly on the frontier oil Bavaria,
n,nc miles northwest OF Lauterbourg and about
! thirty miles n rih jrtheast OF Strasburg. It's
| population IL ajout 6,00o. The fortlncations hero
| are very strong and have. since the accession OF
| Napoleon been greatly strengthened Along the
Lauier river to the city OF Lauterbourg contint-