The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-10-28

hoped that his presence would insure the success OF
equally delighted under the persuasion that re-
sisting the Emperor would be the more glOri0uI
his Wounds how is Rey don't
force an entrance? The breach is so great and the
ditch IeveIed. Ia Gods ,s name what are they
Guise had contrived broad ramparts behind the
breach filed with mines and formidable artillery,
and defended by ten thousand OF the most intelligent
and bravest troops in Chrlstendom. This reply set
Charles raving. "Ah," he cried, 81 see well that
have no more men. may as well give up my En-
pire, all my undertakings and the world, and shut
myself up in a monastery, for ] am sold and be-
was a Prince who bore monarch's title. Gods
death! before three years will turn monk"
~, The monarcns dspleasure produced no re result M
sword, and by the weather, was compelled to raise
the siege. Il retired in the night time, secretly
of war, and provisions. The Prince of Laroche-sur
Yon, in the ardor OF pursuit, overtaklng some COM
panes of horse, offered battle. The oficer in COM
mand, turning to him, said d:-"Ah! how do you sup
pose we can have the strength to fight? You see
we have not strength enough to nee." Touched by
this remark, the Prince let them continue their
flight.
During the defense 1t became necessary to destroy
within and without, more than thirty magnificent
churches some OF which contained the tombs OF the
Kings OF the Carlovingan race. Several medals
were struck OFF In memorial of the deliverance of
Metz. One represented device OF the Emperors-
the columns OF Hercules, with the Latin word ultra,
signfyiDg that by his expedition into Africa this
Prince had carried his victoriously far beyond
Ln6 countries W0eTe d6TCuleS 0du Deen. 10 JnlS
device they added chained eagle bound to the
columns, with these words:-"NOn ultra ntetds" The
play upon the word 1netas was very ANNOYING to
Charles V, for 1t sgned both the city of Metz and
the columns OF Harcules
Charles v, after having seen the best army he
ever had waste away before Metz, came near max
ing himself master Of the place the year following,
by singular stratagem. The monks had convoked
general assembly, to which the religious people OF
several nations were invited. In order to provide
for their subsistence, it necessary to bring in
large amount of provisions from the surrounding
country. Among the caaka of wine and beer theV
brought in good many filled with arms;
and and large number Of German Ii.u.,Gl soldiers rs
monks. The garrison of Thionvle, which was nu-
merous, had to appear before Metz on given
meet them The plot was to attack upon the rem
nant left in the place by the soldiers disguised as
joined in the plot. They were at once to seize the
gates and hand them over to the Emperor's troops.
the Conspiracy. and Obtained possession of ali its
details AS he was man of both head and heart,
ne allowed the signals to be given to the Germans
fell into the ambush he had prepared for them. The
whole force was killed, made prisoners, or dis
persed These traitors met the fate they deserved
Metz remained, until the outbreak of the pre-
sent war, under the undisputed control of
France, The revocation of the edict of Nantes
inflicted upon it a severe blow, from the effects
of which it never fully recovered. During the
wars of the Revolution and of the First Napo-
leon it became place of great Importance but
it was even then too formidably fortified to
warrant an attempt at capture. In
fact, Cormontaigne fortified the
town SO thoroughly that but slight additions
have been made to its defenses since his time.
When the invasion of France in 1892 occurred,
the German commander, the Duke of Bruins
wick, avoided the fortress by passing to the
right, and during the invasion of 1874 Blucher
also passed around the city, leaving a single
Prussian division 10 watch it and employ the
attention of the garrison.
The Part of Meiz In the Present War.
At the outbreak of the present war it was
essential that Metz should figure as one of the
first objective points of the Prussian forces, as
soon as their advance had commenced. The
ex-Emperor Napoleon LII arrived at Metz on
the afternoon of August %, accompa
MED by the Prince Imperial, and the
general headquarters of the French army were
established there, where were also the head
quarters of Marshal Bazaine, in direct command
of the left wing of the French forces. The
affair at Saarbruck followed on the I'd of August
and on the 9th came the crushing defeats of the
| French at Woerth and Forbach. After the
| latter battle, the Prussian right fol
| lowed up Frossard's corps until it wa:
safe under the guns of Metz. The abandonment
| of the line of the Moselle being determined
| upon, the Emperor left Metz on the 18th o.
August, and on the same day Marshal Bazaine
| in supreme command of all the forces in the
neighborhood, endeavored to get all his troops t.
the west of the Moselle, preparatory to starting
for Verdun. The Prussians, however, fell upor
his army as it was crossing the river, and
severe struggle ensued followed by desperat,
and protraeted encounter on the 10th, a few
| miles west of Metz, and on the 18th by still
| another, known as the battle of Gravelotte, the
result of which was the driving of Bazainet
entire army back into the fortifcations o
| Metz.
Then began the siege, or rather the blockade
of the city, and from that day to the day of tn
surrender, Metz was practically isolated from
the rest of the world the blockading army nun
bering at times 100000 men, and successfully
repulsing every effort that was made by tn
French commander to break through its lines
Several attempts at sorties were made, with tn,
same result. On the 23d of September Bazain
made serious attempt at raising the siege, fol
lowing it up on the 24th, but in vain. On tn
9th another sortie was made, another on tn
Sd of October, and still another of a formidabl
and desperate character on October Z
but each attempt at penetrating tn
Prussan lines resulted in disaster and defeat
Meanwhile, Marshal Bazaine figured occasion
ally in the negotiations for peace and an armis
tice, and General Bourbaki was permitted b
the Germans to pass through their line
on mission to the Empress, whic
4 resulted in nought. But, although tn
7 devoted city was securely hemme
in by the besieging army, there was no attemp
made to reduce IL In the manner that Strasburl
was forced to capitulate, and it is probable tina
the place could have held out for some time We
before surrender became the only alternative
| with starvatiOn. For authentic reDOrts of thu