The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-11-26
FIRST EDITION N
FALL OF THI0NvILLE.
The Town and it's History.
Vicissitudes Of Fortune,
General .Sherman's Army Report.
Our military Strength.
THIONVILLE.

THIONvILLE.
Its Fall-Ths hsi5 m PG,nt ru5p on ,hs s ne of the Mo-
In common with Metz, the fortress OF Thonvlle
was invested by the German forces Immediately
after the defeat OF Frossard at Forbach although
was not for some time after BaZane n ad been shut
up in the former place that Thionvle was COM
pletely hemmed in by the invading army. During the
siege the French made several desperate sorties,
and now and then attempted to interfere with the
operations OF the German army investing Metz.
But all their efforts were futile and since the fall Of
Metz the capitulation Of Thionvile has been merely
question Of time About the 18th OF the present
month the Germans commenced to press the siege
with greater earnestness than before the town was
bombarded and the condition Of the besieged rem
dered precarious by the breaking out Of fires in
sequence of the bombardment. The fire of the Ger
mans since that date has apparently been steadily
maintained, aud the formal surrender took place
yesterday morning, the report stating that the town
had been burning for three days.
The fall OF Thonvile is event of signal i'm
portance. The town is situated on the left bank
OF the Mosee, seventeen miles due north Of Metz
and ten miles southwest OF Sierck, which stands
lust on the old French frontier near the dividing
line between Rhenish Prussia and the neutral terri
tory of Luxembourg Thionville was the northern
point OF the French defensive line OF the Mosele,
and its fall places that river entirely in possession
OF the Germans. The capture Of Thonvile places
in German hands all the territory claimed
rectincation Of the frontiers, with the exception
of Bitehe, a small fortress the border near
Rhenish Bavaria; Phalsburg, in the Vosges Noun
tans 25 miles northwest OF Strasburg and Belfort,
the extreme southern point Of the original frontier
line OF the French which is situated on the southern
spur Of the same mountain ridge, about 43 miles W.
N W. OF Basle, in Switzerland
The Fortified Town Of Thionvilie
was the capital Of the arrondissement.of the same
name, in the Department Of the Mosele, and had in
1856 population Of about 10000, besides the ord
nary garrison Of 2000 1t is directly the line
Of the railroad running north from Frouard, point
the Paris and Strasburg Railroad, through Pont-
a-Mousson and Metz, and thence to Luxembourg, in
neutral territory 1t is also the southeastern termi-
nus OF the railroad running through Montmedy and
Mezieres, parallel with the Luxembourg aud Belgian
frontier. Previous to the war, it had large trade
in timber, grain coal, and iron, the furnaces and
forges in its immediate vicinity producing the latter
commodity to the value OF about 500,0 900 per year.
The History of ThionviiIe.
1t was to Thionville, says the historian Frede-
gaire Pepin the Little, in 753, sent his grand
son Charles at the age OF twelve years, to visit
Pope Etienne ii. Charemagne loved to stay at
Thionville. He there passed the winter, after he
had beaten the SaXons. He rested there after the
conquest OF Lombardy He there celebrated the
fessts OF 'Noe and Paques," to relieve the grief
caused by the death OF his Queen, Hidegarde.
He there called an assembage of the chiefs
OF the nation to submit to them the will
which divided his estates among his three
sons. Thionville took the part OF the
Count of Luxembourg under the sovereignty OF the
Emperors, when that battle occurred between
EbaDge and Uckange, where the slaughter was
SUCH says the historian Bertes, that the blood of
the combatants, running into the Teusch and thence
into the Moselle Redeemed this river as far as Thon
vile. Perhaps no city has changed masters as often
this one 1t belonged to the Saxons in 14i3, the
Duke OF Bourgogne in 1874 ten years la ter to adis
las V, King OF Hungary and Bohemia to the Dukes
OF BOurgogne from 1867 to 14I7, to the Imperial
House OF Hapsburg up 1899, to the Kings OF Spain
up to 1643, and at last to France of which it orig
nally formed part.
In 1892 Thionve was bombarded and then be-
sieged in due form by the Austrians and Prusslans
1t was commanded by General Wimpnen, and the
defense which he made has become one OF the
most memorable in the history OF France. The
town was invested by strong force on the 29d o
August, but on being summoned to surrender q en-
eral Wimpnen responded :-"Burn the town, If you
please but you cannot burn the ramparts The garri
son was weak one but it heartily supported by
the citizens. General Wimpfen having received
ntimations OF an intended assault by the besieginG
forces, made sorte onthe 10th OF September, Gu
thej working parties OF the enemy to pieces, pene
trated into their very camp, and then retired unde
the guns OF the fortihcations. The siege was theI
turned into a mere blockade, the besIegers en-
trenching themselves and the French becoming
the assailants. General Wimpnen gav'
the enemy no peace, harassng then
continually, and on the 2lst of Septembe
made q furious assault upon their outworks, brok
up their magazines, and returned TO the town VIII
large amount OF booty. Desparing OF the reduc
tiOn OF the place, the besegers next attempted Il
brbe the heroic French commander to surrender T.
which Wimpfen responded :-"Au right gentlemen
accept; only please make your offer in writing
and get it attested by notary public" Failin
again. the enemy abandoned their hopeless task
and raised the siege on the 10th OF October.
In 1914 General Hugo, commanding the place
brayely sustained the attack of Prussian arm
corps, and forced them TO retire with considerabl
losses.
The FortifcatiOns of ThiOnviIIe.
During the thirteenth, fourteenth, and dfteent
centuries, Thonyie was the best fortified place /
the Luxembourg country. One sees there yet tn
tower Aux Puces, which serves as magazine
some houses built against the castle preservin
traces OF the old wall. The shape of th
place is irregular heptagon, with hal
moons, countergards, and lunettes. The actu
fortfcatons those of Vauba
and Of Cormontaigne, which have preserved tf
bastions, rebuilt of brick, anterior to 1648. tn
town is inclosed by regularly laid out werks wit
six bastons and raveins and covered by ten az
vanced lunettes. The river is bridged here, an
forms island in the centre, which is strongly 70
titled. The bridge is also defended. by a stron
bridge-head, with three bastons and two rayelin
Commanding elevations on either side OF the rive
invite the enemy batteries.
After running the gauntlet Of political change Il
centuries, Thonyie now passes again under Gel
man sway, and its vicissitudes are doubtless at q
end.