The Portland daily press., 1870-11-01

IHE SURRENDER OF METZ According to
the statement of Gen. Won Zastrow, Bazaine
could, on the 10Th day of August, have avoided
beisg inclosed in Metz. He could, moreover.
after, he was there, readily have made sorte
and joined McMahon easier by far than McMa-
hon could have joined him. After most of his
cavalry horses had been eaten, of course it was
more difficult still. His movements ara said
to have lacked determination in the last two
sortes, and this is charged to plot in behalf
of the regency, according to which this army
was to try and remain in stdtu quo until the
conclusion of the war in western France, and
then to become valuable, with Prussia's con-
sent. for the Bonapartists' purposes. Bazaine
himself in that case was to be Governor of the
Imperial Prince and virtual regent Disci.
pine relaxed aud lie became very unpopular
and feared assassination. When weeks ra-
tlOns for all were on hand, on the morning of
the Mth OF October, five soldiers lay dead OF
starvation at MOniZauy, while the staff still in
dulged in luxurious meals, and four davis ra.
tioDs was given to the army that morning,
while they had received none for two days pre-
vious. This proves the charges current in
town that speculatOrs had seized much food,
ana that rational system of apportionment,
such as existed the last ten days, if introduced
at first and combined with requisitiops. would
have prevented much waste aud enabled the
fortress to hold out much longer. The staff
used to feed their horses ON bread at first. Re-
Gently prices had reached the following maxi
mum: Sugar, 30 francs per To-. /; salt, 15 francs;
one BAN, 800 francs; one potato, 45 centimes.
A little pig was caught near Grayelotte and
sold for 748 trancs.
For five weeks amputations have been per-
formed without chloroform or ether, and
wounds have been dressed without carholic
U.f nd
in the town alone during the siege, the greater
part from the lack of ploper care. The pre-
vaillng diseases were variOla, spotted typEus
and dysentery. Scurvy has lot prevailed
though even the sick have for over three weeks
received their horse steak and horse broth
without salt. 1t is reported that the discovery
OF salt spring at Shepelin was hoax, got up
nv nutting salt into spring to encourage the
army.
W ~nen the rendition became known the peo-
pie were furious The national guard refused
to lay down their arms, and on the afternoon of
the 2Sth dragoon appeared at the head of
body OF troops, who swore they would sooner
die than yield. The doors of the cathedral
we're burst open and the tocsin and death
Ene.'s E e. were rung nearly all night. When Gen.
shots were fired at him. Fin lily by the aid of
Two line regiments he quietly dispersed the
mob, but all night sounds of grief, Indignation
and terror continued. Respectable women
ran about the streets tearing their hair and
hinging their bonnets aud iaces under their
feet, and asking wildly, "What win become Of
our children?" Soldiers, drunk and sober,
wandered hither and thither in irregular
groups, with their capes off and their sabres
broken, sobbing and weeping like children and
crying, 20, ma pauvre Metz! There is no
longer France
The entire besieging army voluntarily gave
up their bread rations to feed the French cap
tlves This deeply touched the people of Metz
and did much to relieve their fears.