The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-30
DANGER TO FRANCE.
Bllghtlns Influence Of Politicians In Their
Interference With the Army.
Tho Defeat Of tho Army Of the Loire-Paladines
6lamsd-Wild Outery for His Execution
0ambetta's Neddling = Why the
Army Was Bsatsn-Political
Engineering Results

On Monday the authorities here were on the verge
of panic, and people were excited so fur that Q
demonstration" was looked for from moment TO
moment that Is to say, 1t was looked for by that
very large number Of persons assembled here who
are most at home In Paris and who seemed 10 have
forgotten that the people Of Tours not exactly as
the people Of the now beleaguersd capital.
GROUPS WERE GATHERED IN THE STREETS
discussing the alarming news, which seemed TO In
volve nothing less than the destruction Of the Army
OF the Loire and the advance Of the Prusslans down
the right bank OF the river. People OF course dis
GUESSED such news with more or less excitement, and
at the end Of their discussions arrived ut other
conclusion than that Of cnrslng loudly, deeply and
Unfortunately, any one and every one whom they
could by any night OF fancy hold responsible for the
disaster. M. Gambetta came In for the greater part
OF the denunciatton, as the man whose name was
most known and even d'AurelIe de PaadInes was
not without his share.
ALARM AT TIE DEFEAT OF THE ARMY.
Perhaps the apprehcnsons Of the people nom the
consequences OF the defeat were not greater than
were at one moment those Of certain members OF
the government. 1t is not generally known. but it
is true that the orders were actually written and
made out In que form decreeang the removal OF tho
government from this city to Bordeaux. This was
on Monday Some packing, am assured, was done
in the different departments, and trains were made
up at tho station but before the act had taken out
ward shape there was council OF the Ministry and
IL was determined to stay, M. Gambetta oyerrulng
to this effect all OPPOSITION.
ANOTHER SEMI DESPERATE PURPOSE
was abandoned In the same way but on this occa-
sion the Secretary OF War and the Interior was me
champion and supporter OF the semLdespeIase pur-
pose. The proposition was Tor nothing less than
tue immediate trial, and II possible military eXeeu-
ton OF 'Aurelle de Paladne and MARTA Pailleres;
AS the English government once shot an ADMIRAL
ITO encourage the othersn so II was thought here,
apparently, that the execution OF the commander OF
Army of the Loire would restore what was lost at
Lougy and balance the victory OF The Prussians AZ
have SAID, the head Of the government at one mo-
nent favored rhis course. There seems to
have been almost o moment Of frenzy. Nj.
Gambetta returned TO Tours at three A. M.
en- Monday after MS Intellectual effort TO
Sauav s A amy % se caa
personally to the difficulties surrounding tnat at
tempt. Physical exhaustion and great mental de-
preston combined to PROSTATE the Minister, From
this state Of prosratl0n he passed. at ten A. NJ, az 1t
Is reported. to state OF absolute fury in which was
conceived the idea Of executing the head OF The army
Fortunately this embryonic purpose was also gwen
up, and there remains OF it, as also OF the PROPOSE
ton to simply
only the Innocent decree appointing committee to
inquire into the causes which led TO the evacuation
Without any disposition to anticipate this commit
tee, viii here state plainly what those causes were.
N e e the
tive conflict between the civil ana the military au
thorltlcs. General Paad1nes intends 10 CON-
mand mis- army, and tho civli authorities
do not altogether assent. Some days ego
M. Gambetta, without consultation with the
General, directed military movement which with
drew large division Of men from the Army OF the
Loire and sent them to lie Mans, which the Prus-
SLAMS seemed to threaten. General Paladines mme.
diatey resigned his commando; but his resignation
CrGmieux made little visit to the army, ostensibly
to make some public inspections, but in reality TO
induce the General to Withdraw his resignation. lie
Withdrew It, but declared that IN case OF further
interference he would resign though were in the
middle Of battle.
There was, however, further Interference; but he
could not rebel against it, since, IN fact, he mad
already accepted 1t when he made this declaration;
and was this further interference that madc neces
sary the retreat from Orleans. In the Army OF the
Loire there are good engineers, but they not mill
under orders Of the army commanders. rheyare civil
engineers who have hitherto been attached TO the
Railroad Construction Bureau OF the government,
and they are preferred to the army duty through
the favor of Mr.. Freycnet sort OF righthand man
! TO the War Department. and formerly himself rail.
camp before Orleans, and made II In defiance or the
proteetations OF PaaGines and Barral. Both these
soldiers declare that the position could not be held
that 1t could be turned on either flank, and that an
| army which was persstently kept In IL IN defiance
| Of turning force would be simply sacrificed nnd
add third to the chapter OF marvellous surrendcrs.
| RESULTS.
So when the Army OF the Loire suffered reverse at
Lougy the "a inst ana retired upon the fortified
lines behind IL, these lines were part OF that lnde
fcnslble camp and General Paladines had to choose
| whether he would stand and look upon measures
| whether he would abandon Orleans He abandoned
1