The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1870-08-25

History and Topography.

From the New York Herald.
The town Of Metz being most important IL
a strategical point Of view, rapid glance al
its history and present capabilities Of defence
will he Of interest. The ancient capital Of
the Mediomatrici-a people Of Celtic origin
it became one Of the most important cities
Of Gaul. Ruined in 45l by the Huns oil
Attala, it soon recovered aud was the capital
of the Merovingians At the time when the
empire Of Charlemagne was dismembered, in
$50, Metz was part of Lotharingle, from
which the name Of Lorraine spring.. In 900
the Kings of Germany and of France dis
puted the possession of this province, and it
ultimately remained with the former. In
1892 the Emperor Henry III. gave it to Ger
ard, noble Of Alsace; but the Emperors
reserved to themselves the three b;shoprics
Of Metz, Toul and Verdun. In l444, on the
demand Of Rene H., the town was besieged
by Charles VII, and saved itself by paying
a ransom Of loo, 900 crowns. In 1852 Henry
H., took possession Of the three bishopriea,
and since that time they have belonged to
France. Their posseasinn is the key to The
military possession of Lorraine. The Emperor
Charles Quint, attempted to retake the town
with an army Of 90, 600 men, commanded BY
his best generah; birt the Due de Guiae shut
himself mp in the town and withstood the
siege for sixty-6ve days. On the Serponoiae
entrance gate, which is passed through On
leaving the railway station, is an inscription
in commemoration ofthe event. Charles Quint
was forced to retire, with his army reduced to
one-half by sickness and hattie. In 1876
Vauban was sent by Louis XIV. to fortify
the town-and the enoeiaSe with his bastions,
which have undergone but slight alterations,
we're erected. In 1876 the works were per.
fected by Cormoutaigne, and the forts xoeelle |
md Belle CrOix were constructed. Sipce
the year 1914 the system of intrenched camTs |
has gained ground. Cologne, Pars, Nay
snce, Verona and other places are mr. |
rounded with forts, which would keep the |
,nemy at distance and shelter entire armies |
,ctween the forts and the esneinie. This
principle has been adopted 1t Metz with great
AIsCE1uI0eut W tue T tenc0 en&lnee1e.
In order to understand the important part |
hat Metz will take in future waIs, some de-
cription IS necessary Of the splendid work
.xecuted BY the engineers in order to permit
4 the demolishing Of the aids de boabes, n
he acute angled hstions have been termed
y Marshal LIE Beuf Meix Is situaied At
be confluence of the Moselle and the Seille.
I is 10 metres above the level of the SEA. |
n the right the place is commanded By the
atteries Of Gueulen and Saint Julien, On an
ltitnde of about $50 metres; on the LEFT the
aorc distant heights Of the Moselle are $50
Metres. Since 1856, in order to give more
II to the town, the St. Vincent ftuot
as demolished and puahed forward On
be right hahk OF the Noselle. II would
over, in case Of siege, the bridge II boaAs
ecessary for the service Of tie Earsisua.
n the LEFT bank, in advance Of theSt Vim
mt front, is the Fort Anselle Of which tie /,
Ktremitis Of the four hassions touch he
ver. On the right bank, facing Tie 90,
,e town was defended only By ne Foet De
ellie Ctoix, erected BY CoEmontaisse. On