The New York herald., 1870-11-08
CHANGARNIER'S STATE
MENT.
TELEGRAM 70 THE NEW Yoax HERALD.

TELEGRAM 10 THE NEW Y1ax HERALD
A Herald Correspondent In Interview With
the General-uis Residence in Brussels
A Card from tho American and Immediate
Reception Personal Appearance Of the
Famous Commnuder--creetinGs- for
France Of To-Dny-The story Of Me'z-
Chnngarnicr on Buzainc's Posi;ion-Enects
Of tho siesc-His Army Reduced by Starva-
tion and Inaction.-rhe Cavalry Dis
mounted Horses Eaten and Artillery
giorionlcss-DreadfnI Suffering, and Sur
render n Neccssity-Facts aud IEcidenrs-
That the Orleans Dynasty Will be Re-
stored.
LONDON, Nov. !, 1870.
The special correspondent OF the HERALD In Brus-
sells forwards the following telegraph letter from
that city, under date OF the 9th inst.:--
He wrltes:-To-day had protracted and very
interesting personal interview with General Chan
GARNER. | found the General living in suit OF
modest apartments situated IN secluded quarter
OF the city. lie wishes TO avoid public observation
and popular attention NJ mpch as possible.
Arriving at the house handed IN my card, In
scribed Correspondent OF NEW YORK HERALD
direct from Paris" was admitted to the dwelling
Immediately, and In very few moments subse-
quenty ushered into the sitting apartment OF Chan
GARNER.
General Changarner appears to me as being about
seventyseven years of age. He IA OF middle height
In general bul,d and confguration OF body. as well
as the mould and expression OF his countenance. he
resembles the Hon. Fernando Wood, OF New York.
He stoops his head which is sprinkled over with
few gray hairs, when walking He has, In truth,
painful east OF countenanee, without Its being In
dicatve of any great amount OF intelligence par
ncular force Of mental power. His military cast is
that OF sslder who hos much service and en-
dnred fatigue and rough usage. He enjoys the per.
sonal demeanor OF the French people IN particular
degree, being very polite without exhibiting any
anectation in MS address.
Having exchanged salutatlons with the veteran,
| said:-General Changarnier, I am special CORE
| spondent OF the NEW YORK HERALD one OF the
corps OF writer's now employed by tina, journal In
! various parts OF Europe. AS an American feel
seriously interested in the progress aud probable
issue OF the war between France and Germany.
have taken the liberty TO call upon you u this
capacity, and would like to speak with yon on the
aspect OF affairs; OF Metz, OF Paris of the repub-
Iic &C.
| General CHAN6AgSIEE-f salute you sir. shall
ha nJaa IN t,Iy
| happy France-sady and sorrowruly unhappy Mon
Dieu Mon Dieu never expected TO see day
such as this even In my oldest years. Tell me, sir
about Paris.
military point or view, Is strong, even to-day The
Inhabitants are engaged in the manufacture or
| 100000 Chassepots and $50 brass cannon. breech
leaders, OF large cabrc. The city has $500 horses
within It's walls and general supply OF provisions
calculated to last for the use OF the population to
| the 18th OF January next The people OF PARIS are
very coura yeous; but / believe, sir, that the end
| must soon come.
| then added. now. General, what about Metz ?
Did the fortress surrender through necessity was
there trcachery inside.
General CHANGAaNiER-No, sir; there was not
treachery. Bazane did not sell himself TO The
enemy. He had no need OF money. His work was
far from ne,ng AN act OF treason to France Mon
Dieu There was no treachery it was absolute ne
cessty.
CoRgEsPosDENT-About The military capacity Of
Marshal BaZaine?
General CHARGARNIER- There is the point II Is
said by many tnat the Marshal is really Incompetent
TO command a large army that the number OF his
own force bcwdered him. that he could not move
tie with effect, could not operate such an army
with any chance OF dnal success; in fine, that he
has really no judgment foresight in great mill.
tary emergency. 1t is also alleged that he Is sci
nsh man ali for himself ana his own personal go.
rifcation, and not very enthusiastic for the
honor Of nis country. Bazaine, as it is said,
sir, thought all the time that II peace
were proclaimed soon between Prussia and
France Paris would never attempt to hold out; (;
tha, the war struggle would fall nat, and that his
military reputation being uDinpaired. he would
march from Metz at the heal Of 10000 of the very
cream OF the French army, and thus force the public
10 believe him hero.
CoRREsPoNDENT-Tha Is the precise explanation
CuARGAi;SIER--Nearly so. as I viii show you
afterwards. BaZaine was driven into Metz ON the
10Th OF August He could have escaped soon after
had he marched boldly out with his entire
army duung the thirteen remaining days OF the
month OF thirty days to September l.. ana for
nlteeen days Of October. This is an absolute
certainty. ANY man possessing sound knowledge
of military affairs viii tell you the same thing.
Look ut the facts. There were fifty.e,ght days
elapsed with BaZalne shut up In the strongest fort.
ress OF France, where her 10000 of the bravest and
most experienced soldiers could merely exist. Once
In the field with such an army there would be no
more Sedan. Sedan was made notorious for this
that the troops nsulted their officers; were insub
ordinate as well inefficient. What sort OF
an army is that Look, however, sir, in Metz:
the soldiers remained entirely obedient 20 orders
Every order was executed on delivery. They did
not have In Metz another army-an army OF .Iscds'