The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-11-02
THE STORY OF THE FALL 0FMETl
The capItulation a Necessity.

A special correspondent telegraphs from
Saarbruck on the goth ul,. at A. NJ:
Ihave fastened to this point through terri.
bile storm. which swept down trees and telegraph
posts and sYelled and overnoWed the rivers. The
surrender Of Baz line took NOBODY Dy surprise. IL
was certain ever since the departure Of boyer.
For several preceding days the French picket5
were drawn in, and firing entirely ceased, the
Germans advancing close to the French lines,
and talking In q friendly manner with the enemy,
and occasionally giving the poor, enaciatec rel.
lows portion Of ther @ rs e a ago az
nearly exhausted that the men were put on the
shortest possible rations. This, added to the I'M
favorable weather. and the rapid increase Of sick.
ness, rendered the army desperate.
large delegation OF men went to Baz iine.
They were not insubordina'e, but desired to be
led out to assault en- nasse, stating they prefer
red to die on the field rather than by starvation.
Bazaine spoke to them kindly and nflectonately,
and declared lie was ready to die with them any
where. He represented the hopelessness OF doing
anything In the present weakened condition, be-
ing almost destitute OF horses eVea II they cut
through the line. He stated that terms lor an
and he noped soon to relieve his brave men from
the terrible situation. This suieted the army, but
the rules we're 80 relaxed tnat several o0qles
went over to the German lines without opposition
save themselves from starvation. and enable
those remaining to subsist few days longer. On
Tuesday il become known that capitulation was
about to take place. After preliminary messages
General on the part OF aarsha Bs
Frederick Karl, met to arrange the terms OF sur.
render, the terms Of which had been agreed up3n
by King William.
for an immediate march by q large portion Of the
investing army, and the sending OF supplies OF
food to the captivating forces. This was neceB-
sary TO prevent the horrors Of actual starvation.
Princes headquarters. there was 9, great rush Of
applicants for permission to enter Metz. All were
positively refused. had an opportunity. how.
freely with many OF the officers and men. One
thing marked was certain general feeling
against the present provisional government, aoa
many were severe & sgainss ,s sne smPeror' ' H, 0ut
paint was made that Marshal Bazalne did not
mass his men at an early stage OF the siege and
cut his way out at any cost. But the Marshal Is
generally very popular with his army. gather
from oficers terrible accounts OF the su4erings
experienced BY the army, garrison and people,
especially the latter, during the Investment OF
the city. For many days only four ounces OF
bread were served to each mani and even TINS
many thousands failed to get. Horse 1esh IN
small quantities was distributed, and this was
their only food.
It is believed that the sckly emacated condl-
tlon Of the horses occasoned much SICKNESS
among the troops. One informant, who had been
In town the day before declared tina women and
children were dying In fearful numbers Tor actual
want OF nourishment The large army OF SICK
and wounded Is not only without food, bnt shelter.
Dead horses and remnants which formed q great
nuisance in many cases, were burned TO prevent
Infection. Seeing the emaciated concltlon OF tle
men who were classified as nealtny, IL ls Only
wonderful that the place held out so long. Tne
capituation puts very large amount Of ammu-
milton as well as valuable arms IN the possession
OF the, Germans, and renders further resistance
on the part OF France utterly hopeless. Reports
prevail that tile army will not be sent TO Germany
Tor few days. This created an impression that
peace is expected, and 80 intended to be accom-
and perhaps Imperial regency. The possession OF
the forts will be given to-day.
Large reuuisItions have been made on the
surrounding country for rltl0nS ror the prisoners,
and provisions have already been forwarded from
Belgium. Large quantities OF provisions are 60
inr forward. Marshal LIE BGuf as prisoner pre-
fers goiug to Germany, and refuses bis parole.
The health of the German army is toleraoly good
Application has been made to Belgium to allow
the transport Of prisoners, provided It IS found
necessary to seud them 10 Germany. IL ls stated
that BsZaine is going to WilhelmSho1e with
Changarnler, after q visit to Versailles. From
the condition Of the army 1t s certain That b.
Zaine could not hold out thre' days longer.
An absurd story Is told OF the expulsion, prior
tn the surrender, OF ten thousand men, women
and children from Metz. provided with fags OF
truce, with q strong force or French soldiers
pressing them forward on the plain, where the
whole mass was ared upon by the Pru'slans, who
created immense havoc, DC. The unhappy peo-
Die were expelled, 1t is stated, because there was
no food for them. The World correspondent
sends this story, "wlth his protest against &C.
ceptinp It as probably true, and expressly to H.
lustrate the efforts making to explain the surren.
der OF Marshal BaZaine.H