New-York tribune., 1870-11-15

the army to the camp Of chslons where y misht have
gathered together the deor7s Of Marsha Ts plan. then
communicated TO Paris was at first letter
H9Mnc rn OF Iiyrr informed the Emperor that upon
mature consideration the Council nsu ueuo ., .. ~ @
heen FOO basty i'm approving the retreat OF c army upon
Cbnon ince the abandonment Of Lorraine could only
deporae effect So on G %pT m ne hi,
project For the moment therefore, the Emperor yielded
to this counsel.
ooscKALMENr OF THE GERMAN MOVEMENTS
The effective force OF the Army of Metz was brought
ND TO 10000 by the arrival Of Marshal Canrobert with
two divisions and the and it received orders for
its concentration around Metz In the hope that 1t might
able 20 fall upon of the Prussian armies before
they had effected their junction. Unfortunately. "a II In
I've wanting, not only the concentration of the army
retarded by the combat at Spicheren and by the Dad
Ignorance in which we always remained concerning the
position and the strength OF the hostile armies SO wen
did the Prussans conceal their movements bcnind INC
formidable shelter Of cavalry which they depoyed be-
fore them in all directions. that NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. .no
most M sr trS was was nor in
where chief efforts should be directed on the lan
OF august as also on te & iS' Y No o"d det With no one
doubted at Graveotte that verdun could easy hy,ep p
informed than We These melancholy opeIAnss on i tno
campaign must naturally enough Rsve set that he
was held responsible for the wretched situation OF the
army while that army charging Marshal LeDpn
zato1 ~ He decided therefore to give me command to
Marshal Bazaine, whose ability was recognized on al
sides and 10 suppress functions OF the post or MAJOR
General While these events were taking place. several
Generals implOred the Emperor to leave the army,
nication with Paris would be cut off,, and that
then locked up in Metz and separedh p ~ from ane
itated for conducting the affairs OF the country or OF
giving them proper direction and that revolutionary
sgtations mi gh from this situation. These con
alterations had indsputable weight which did not
the who he dS ss nos %sn ON 70 TO Se
left bank This movement. of which Marshal Bazaine
on as mnch as possible but the bad weather and the
ineumbrance of baggage delayed us prompt one nct
Suon Arrived at and S ony pokns for
partial engagements, which might retsrd the march
II 'Gs S Gm the morning Of the 10th Of August
and passed by Contains and Etain without meeting
cession OF disasters had produced in Paris strong i'm
preston and the Minister'S uneasy at this state OF
tRemseves from the constitutional authority belonging
the Emperor only, since he had simply given " tne
voked the Chambers without even reference to the
Emperor and from the time Of their assembly 1t was as
il always in public calamities the Opposition which
saw It's influence increase and which paralyzed the
patriotism Of the majority and the progress oi the pv
pronounce the name Of the Emperor and he, who had
quilted the army. and had only relin9uished the COM
discovered that it would he impossible for him to play
| out the part which belonged to him.
| THE COUNCIL OF WAR AT CHALoNs.
As soon as he reached the camp of Chons the Emperor
|
latter had been nominated by the Minister of War com
mander OF the troops at the camp. These two general
officers were summoned by the Emperor to council
at which there were present PRINCE Napoleon Gen
thaut the Commander OF the National Garde Mobile II
was decided that the Emperor should nominate Gen
rOchu the command of the army in Paris; tiat the
troops collected at ChAons should be directed toward
the Capital under the orders OF Gen MacMahon that tht
National Garde Mobile should 60 the camp OF St. Maur
Vncennes. and that the Emperor should goto faflS
| where his duties called him. . ,
IaarD hvt
excited animated opposition. Several objection.
put forward Paris" it was said "is In perfect
state of defense its The army oil
Chalon ought TO be employed IN breaking tne inc o6eR
to the tranquility of the capital the character of Gen
TrOchu inspires confidence in fact the return OF te
opinion" Nevertheless it was decided to carry ont the
orders of the Emperor while the proprey OF succorne
Sena informed the Minister Of War that the march
ward Metz would be one OF the greatest anc
Practically, at this period, the Prussian armies oceu
pied the two sides Of triangle o. which we had e
blockadng Metz with 10000 men The Crown Prince o
aDa TeaS and
the army the Crown Prince OF Prussia who, at tn
a Bar-e-Duc. The Marshal therefore declared that h
not willing to expose troops still imperfects orgaI
face enemy very superior in point OF numbers; an
b he announced that he going to make his way t.
soissons or to Paris. 1t only" said he, "under tn
walls Of the GRa % o that sa my 70 o s SsS am
serious resistance" In consequence OF this the arm
was led toward Rheims, the 2lst, and took up it
position behind that city But the language Of reaso
was not understood in Paris it wished at all haz
ards give public opinion the empty hope that Marsha
Bazsine could still be succored and the Duke OF Mean
received from the Council OF Ministers, to which ha
been Joined the Prvy Council and the Presidents of tn
two Chambers a most pressing injunction to march to
wards Metz. Marshal MacMsho6, a man, above al
things of duty obeyed and resolved to run the chanc
which was placed before him. Anything which resen
bled sacrifice for the public good recommended itsei
his noble soul and he was attered by the idea that
by attracting toward himself all the forces of the enemy
he for the moment delivering the capital, and givln
il time TO finish its means OF defense
THE EMPEROR YIELDS CONTROL TO THE REGENCY
As to the Emperor, he made opposition. II cOu
enterinto his views TO oppose the advice OF the Gov
ernment and of the Empress Regent who had shown s.
intelligence and energy in the midst OF the creates
dihcutes although he perceived that his own infuenc
being completely nuihed, since he was acting mel
ther head Of the Government head OF the
army, fully sensible, however, that II he met with sue
cess all the merit would in justice he ascribed TO th
responsibility would fall upon the head or the state
will be Improbable here 10 consider OF what ele
Corps, formed principally out Of regiments iron
Africa had given proofs at frelschwelier o
nari6Tity Of the enemy had been able to conquer Wv
idly impressed by the defeat and by the tremendou
effects OF the Prussan artillery these troops came awal
from the field battle with dissatisfied and mutinou
feelings which the retreat upon Chaons, long and mces
! aggravated. Marshal MacMahon did not shut his eye
TO this fact and considered that, before leading then
|
repOse and time enough 10 strengthen themselves afte
their defeat. These the Oldest OF our veterans
Covered with the which rightuly belongs to ht
soldiers Africa they had amply justified it, The spec
tace their discourage by the rest OF the
| army was therefore, doubly to be feared.
The Fifth Corps already specially feeling its effect
Exhausted, like the other by forced marches which had
taken il Btche the VOsges by Neufchatear
and the Haute Marne to the camp at Chalons having
lost without fight portion OF its equipments anC
almost all its baggage the Fifth Corps had appearance
OF Indifference and dsOrganzab0n OF nature to inspire
the most lively anxiety The Seventh Corps whose tardy
organization scarcely finished, had certainly moi
| encountered the trial the two foregoing
! but, in consequence of the long march from the
| rear, which had brought 1t from BelfOrt. through
Paris TO the camp OF Chalons, IL did not show such