The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-29
PARIS, June Ii, 1871.

The business before the house was motion Tor me
appointment OF a committee 70 Investigate the con-
duct OF the Government OF National Defence at Tours
and Bordeaux. The speech TOOK up the greater part
OF the sitting, ana 1t Is not over yet-hc gallant
member is to fnlsh 1t to-day. TIE speech may be
divided into two distinct porrions-thc first relating
to the extraordinary revolution OF September a. sew
eral hitherto obscure points IN connection with
which 1t fully explains: the second devoted to 4 re-
cital OF the difficulties and hardships which the CEN
era In charge or the defence OF PARIS had TO contend
with The following translation OF the first portion,
almost uer5uttfa, from the London Standard, forms
page OF history lu OF interest," which has seldom
been laid before yohr readers--
am not among those VINO Systematically run
down the history of our past and WHO are forever
insulting the empire. l cannot forget thai the EN-
pre- was acclaimed 10y the almost universal vote Of
the country When Ia was 1t tae height OF lis pros
perity addressed IL with sincerity and llfmuess-I
VIII speak OF IL now with thar respect which great
misfortune should command. "a few voices, "Tf6s
0en.') But, gentlemen, you VIII acknowledge that
] have been virtually released IRON this obgauon,
though do not mean 10 depart nom II. The En-
peror IN manifesto published Ill tas country at the
time OF the elections Tor the Assembly, had spoken
OF the "empire deserted By those VINO should have
defended it, This, gentlemen, appeared 10 me an
insult all the more uncndurabe, an the more crae,
that at The ceveath hour Il was the empire which
deserted those who should have defended IT, tsen-
TIE ROOT or TIE EVIL.
Gentlemen. the deterioration OF military spirit, OF
discipline hleiarchcal rules, and o. tlat iee g
OF respect which is the ROOT oI discipline that deter
Grafton, say, mas large share N every one OF our
revolutions. ! make no exceptions Tor know or
no revolution that good WORD could &c spoN zen Tor.
They have M excited afabfitoa. yiucni compet-
non, ami IL has often happened trat men woo were
fulfilling modest bui useful an8 honorable dCiy
have been violently tlrus ~ iaa rh7ks hct were
entitled TO occupy Tc!s ois0r1tfT stsif - tbings
was lnaugurated By The reyoutiUa NJ 100 me tsres
were sown then; the reTolniloz 90 've ft'ttei taa
harvest. which was reapcd ~ ~ fSt4s#tta. ~ Tue
coup dSat. The coGs. lce1EN EHNrl most
mischieyous, as ~ utterly is1e@ sae IRA.
dlton winch was 70 hA&N4. priced ~
the military generation oi UH e4oca--st..,
that the army was the support - tie established
government and persisted VITA iis oNcstarDw. Ia
the political commissions 70 wAich have referred
tie army overthrow, a. least toned N overthrow
ing, the existing government and became tine sup
port OF the new regime. Hence profound pertnr-
baton IN the aolds OF the army which was rather
more be pitied than blamed Tor ii suffered from
faults which 1t did MOI commit ana had no power
to prevent.
In 1867. wrote little book; 1t meant to show
that If war broke out as was convinced 1t would.
we should be taken unprepared. Comparing The
respective positions o. Prussia and Austria, |
pointed out that Austria haa succulnDed because the
Prusslan army-prepared long tine beforehand by
Its government ana always IN state Q. conceHtra-
ton-had surprised the Austrian army, incomple.ely
prepared, ana in tile very act OF concentration ~,
iamdm az 4 q coaceandlon,. fur.n er stated
that If We old not maintain peace for tue purpose OF
reorganZlng the army, ana make preparations which
were sale 10 exist, out did not exist IN realty we
were liable 10 be surprised IN the ac OF preparation
and concentration. we We're, unfortunately, 50 sur
prsei ana that is the origin o or disasters Oh the
general IN the army IN Paris awaiting orders wAen
the fearful tdlngs arrived o. tie events OF Wissca
burg, Becuoncn ana Fo.bacn. AT that tune, gen.
temen,
roREsAw THE AWFUL cons EQUENCEs
these events woGlG have for the armies winch were
stin round AlclZ IL they continued TO remain there
much longer | then perceived the imminence Of
The siege oi PARIS ana eDdeavored 10 maze known
my opinions on that point 10 the Emperor 10y the
channel OF OF The most influential officers about
him. l Wrole letter which VIII lake the liberty
OF reading 70 you rs 1t shows how greatly the mill
tary situation would nave improved II the army OF
Marshal Bala.ne had then retreaied from Metz on
Paris tine gallant General read the letter: II
stated n substance that, however great might
be the imporance OF Inc events which might
occur between Metz and Nancy, those which
were likely to occur in and round Paris
Were equally SO, both rom a military and
political point OF view. Dangers OF special charac
Ter might explode tnerc at any time, and call into
play passions OF the most violent kind. Wnen the
enemy's masses would surround the capital IL would
be necessary 10 AVIAN themselves OF all the organ
Keo forces. ana display the greatest vigor and
energy. But II
TIE DEFENCE OF PARls
was to be OF any use II was absolutely ndlspensa-
OF relief, which every organized corps III the coun.
try should be called upon TO form.l Thai letter (M.
Irochu went on 20 say was Culed the 10th OF Au-
gust. II was read ut
THE CONFERENCE or GENERALS AT WHICH THE EN-
PERoR WAS nREsENT
md unanimously approved OF. Orders had even been
given Tor the army u Metz TO tall back when ad.
vices from PARIS minated that Its retreat would be
attended with serious political dangers, and Tue
army OF Metz remained III the position where 1t
was subsequently 10 perish. ! enter into these de-
tas 10 MAKE you understand that bnc idea OF stand
ing siege Ia Paris was grounded ON The existence
o. an army Of relef-that that army wes the army
OF Marshal BaZane $50. 900 trained sOldieis which
the army under Marshal MacNahon would nave
joined This would nave given army OF
250DOO men around Paris which would have been
their principal r0tRf 0'di gUi. Under such con-
dtions Paris could never have been invested might
have held the enemy III DEy iof an indefinite period
and probably saved France. WHAT wanted, more
over, TO make clear was tnat Tor the want OF that
army the defence OF Paris was gravely compromised
vf.e1y MIN I'd 1 tEyg
once orders 10 take the command or the Twelfth
corps, winch was being organlZed at the Camp Of
Chaons out Of the Marine infantry, provisional req
inents anu farlsan mobiles. arrived AZ me CAa-
Ions Railway STATEN on the evening OF August IT,
AT the very same time the imperial train entered
the railway station coming from Met1. The officers
who acCoupSnei the Emperor informed me that
the safety OF tie imperial Train had neen endanee
by the enemys columns between Met1 ana Nerdun
Thus al that tlme the turning movement on the
part OF the Prussians which ioresaw ANA dreaded
was nearly completed. On me Following day.
August II. the Emperor summoned the generals 10 q
conference. at which attended; ana here begins
An uNKNowN CHATTER ~ THE HISTORY OF TIE
SIEGE OF PARIS
IL may be necessary 70 say that VIII not mention
a single fact for winch have not living witnesses
written proofs. There were present at that con-
ference the Emperor, Prince napoleon. Marshal
MscMahon. General Begtault IN command OF the
Mobiles OF tie Seinel General Schnltz (chef OF the
stan OF the Twelfth Corps and myself THINK thar
while the conference was IN progress General de
Courson tPreiet du paaisl came into the room and
remained The emperor ASKED Tits little council or
war what they thought OF the state OF affairs and
what was tile BEST thlng 10 be done. Unanimously,
and through the channe OF Prince Napoleon, who
spoke FIRST with the greatest nrmness, and also
through me, the councA expressed itself In the fol-
lowing teNtuai terms
BAzAISg AT THE HEAD OF THE ARMY.
The Emperor has abandoned the government by going
take The command OF the such disance His Ma
Jesiy mas jut abandoned the command OF the and
liven up to Marshal Bszane He is alone the camp
shalOns without he abdcated
government ana the command Unless His Majesty WISHES
" abdicae altogether, either the
eminent or the commlsnd Of the army.
THE EMPEROR TO GO BACK TO PARIS.
His Majesty ackno w1edged that this statement was
In conformity with facts The council added that 10
did not think II possible for The Emperor TO resume
the command OF the army, and therefore thai the
only course was TO resume with firm hand the relns
oil government. Tins view met with the Emperors APP
probation The Prince Napoleon added thgt In order
that the Emperor should resume the Of power In
safety mis- intention should be noaned TO the
Partisan population by general oiicer VINO should
precede HIM and take military and moral precau-
tons to prepare the public for his Malestys arrival
Turning toward me the Emperor asked me would
undertake that MISSION. rephed:-