The New York herald., 1870-10-30


see the United States of the World. While,
therefore, we contemplate tho probable failure
OF another republican effort In Europe, let us
look forward hopefully and joyfully TO the
golden future-the better times that must
como.
Osr Special Tclegram Repsrt fron Nets
Bazaine's Csudltiou. the Capssulasisa
and sarrendor.
Our enterprise In reporting tho initiation,
progress and latest scenes Of the great
war struggle between France and Prus-
sis is just now crowned In . very worthy
manner by the publication Of volumlnous
special telegram, In which the most important
military event Of the day-ths oapitulatlon
and surrender Of Metz by the French-is de-
tailed. The writer dated at Saarbruck yester-
day morning and forwarded his despatch to
London; 1t was transmitted thence BY ocean
cable to New York, delivered here the Same
day, and appears in our columns this morn
ing. As feat Of science, with science made
tributary to the uses Of American daily
hitherto unequalled, so far as we can recollect,
except In the one instance in which we our
selves telegraphed the result Of the battle Of
Magdala and the absolute defeat Of King
Theodorus of Abyssina from Africa to Egypt,
thence to England, and from there to New York,
supplying the first news Of the triumph Of
Queen Victoria's troops for the information
Of her Majesty and the British people. This
journalistic work was completed almost within
the term Of one day, and stands unparalleled
in the history of what we may justly term the
electricity of the great leading morning press
II was grand occasion, availed Of for o
worldwide enlightenment.
Our special war telegram Of to-day is, how
ever, Of far more important consequence. 1t
confirms the report Of the capitulation and sur
render of Marshal Bazaine at Metz, and thus
reopens the military "grave of France" which
was closed some few years after the ''deadly
Waterloo" It will be seen that this action Of
Bazaine was rendered absolutely necessary in
face Of the existence of the most melancholy
military necessity. Starvation stared the
French army in the face. Death from wounds.
sickness, and that slow and deadly consuming
emaciation of the physical system which en-
sues from an insufficient supply of food
reigned around him on all sides. Regimental
discipline was lost sight of in the pressing exi-
gencies of the feror nature of the stomach.
The French soldiers went over off post to the
Prussians, and the Prussians, acting under the
impulse of the heart Of gallant C:sistian sol
ders, supplied them with food from their own
scanty rations. Insubordination at length
made its appearance among the French. A
corps deputation waited on Bazaine and de-
manded that he should lead them against the
enemy: that he should invite the inevitable
death, instantaneous and professional, and
thus foil the grim spectre which attends on
starvation. The moment was a very trying
one. It constituted the crisis of Bazaine's
career; it made the serious point Of French
history. The Marshal met it firmly, bravely.
He announced to his starving soldiers that ne
gotiations looking to capitulation of the fort
ress were actually in progress at the moment,
and that they would no doubt be successful
They were so. Changarnier carried the French
message, Prince Frederic Charles met him, and
King William approved of it Immediately. Joy
was difused on all sides.
Our special writer was accorded permission
by the Prussian commanders marked COM
pliment to ourselves-to enter the fortress of
Metz He did so. The ghastly scenes which
he there witnessed, as will be read in his
special telegram, cannot be forgotten easily.
Their present narration may tend to prevent
war in future. Women and children had died
in numbers from sickness produced by having
eaten the flesh of wornout and diseased
horses. A man was fed with four ounces of
bread for twenty-four hours, and frequently he
could not have even that allowance. Camp
hygiene and discipline had been abandoned,
and Bazaine was at the head Of huge skele-
ton, a corpse which had been merely, during
weeks past, at least, galvanized by national
recollections, and moved by remembrance of
the now ''faded glories" which they cover
The Prussians hurried on the work. They
found a very valuable amount of arms and
army equipments in Metz. These they took
possession Of The captive army had food
Immediately. Commissariat officers were set
to work in order to obtain additional supplies
from the surrounding country. The French
prisoners will be taken to Germany, through