The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-01-31
Story of the Fallen City.
BRIEF SKETCH OF THE FRANCo-PRUss1As

BRIEF SKETCH OF TIE FRANCo-PRussiAN
WAR.
The N. Y. Herald of Sunday contains "
connected and interesting review OF the war
now practically closed by the fall OF Far's'
which'seems naturally todivide itself into Two
grand acts The first begins with the decla.
ration of war and the outbreak into open con-
flict of the long smouldering national hatred
and jealousy of France and Germany. Then
comes. on the I'd of August, the first crossing
of swords at Saarbruck. telegraphed to Paris
as a"French victory" and immmortal in his
tory as the scene of the "baptism of fire" OF
the Prince Imperial. The following day the
Germans entered French territory, and from
that time down TO the crowning disaster OF
Sedan, the war is but one dreary chronicle OF
French humiliation. On the 9th of August
the troops of the Crown Prince attacked lie
Failly's corps at Weissemburg and over
whelmrd it by sheer ,rce of numbers. lie
Failly retreated, and. his forces having made
junction with MacMahon's corps, took up
a position at Woerth. On the 9th OF August,
the French sustained the two crushing de-
| feats of Woerth and Forbach. In the former
the Crown Prince utterly routed MacMahon,
| and in the latter General Steinmetz inflicted
an equal disaster upon General Frossard's
corps. For eight days after these reverses the
| war paused, and on the 18th Marshal Bazaine,
| who had been stationed with the Gardes at
| Metz. was appointed Generalissimo of the
| French armies. He decided to retreat 10
| CholNnc with hic Ia and CnIQnIi0 q r.
my; but the decision was made too late On
the 18th as his troops were crossing the Mos
ellie, he was attacked by Steinmetz, and two
days afterwards it was seen that by rapid
movement the Germans had got between the
French and Chalons. The French made a
desperate attempt to force passage, but in
vain. On the 18th of August the great battle
of Gravelotte was fought, and upon its end
ing in a disastrous French defeat, Bazaine
found himself compelled to shut himself and
his army within the defenceS of Metz.
Meanwhile, MacMahon's army had recov-
cred somewhat from its first disaster, and hav-
ing been reorganized, set off to relieve Ba-
zaine by a roundabout route. But the efforts
eliminated in the battle of Sedan, which took
place on the 31st and ended in the surrender
OF the whole of MacMahon's army and of the
| Emperor himself
Scarcely had the fallen Emperor been de
spatched to his prison at Wilhelmshohe, and
the captured army consigned to the fortresses
of Germany, than the Crown Prince at once
began his advance upon Paris. That advance
was made without check. In about {
couple OF weeks, on the 18th of September
their advanced lile was only a few miles from
Paris. A day or two of sharp skirmishin'
succeeded; but the defenders of the city wsr
in no position to risk battle, and the Crow
Prince was permitted to draw his lines close
and closer round the walls, un iii, on the 19tl
of September, the investment was complete
and Paris was isolated by glittering girdIe O
Prussian bayonets from the outside world.
Vigorous measures had, however, been tax
en- by the Parsians to make desperate ant
protracted defence. Following upon the dis
aster OF Sedan and the captivity OF the EN-
peror they had, in the name of France, re
nounced the empire and amid the widest en-
thusiasm of patriotism declared republic
On the 4th OF September government of ma
tional defence was appointed, headed by Gen
eral TrOchu, and composed Of Jules Favrt
Gambetta, Rochefort, Jules Simon, Mon:
!, Cremieux. Picard and few more obscur
names. Under these leaders preparations 70
defence were strenuously pushed forward
immense quantities of ammunition were mar
ufactured. volunteers were enrolled and drille
| for military service. When at last Paris wa
completely cut off from the rest OF the worlt
her citizens realized for the first time wha
isolation meant, and their schemes for main
tanning communication with their outsid
: friends and tor Guiding the vigilance of th
Prussans by the adoption o. balloons an
pigeon expresses, and other means of conso
Iatlon for their unfortunate condition are f
miliar.
For the first two or three days after the bt
ginning of the seige there was heavy skirmisf
ing, and one or two attempts at stor ming tn
forts by the Prussians; but these affairs WEI
OF little Importance. the occupation OF Vel
( sallles, the most celebrated OF the French pal
aces, as the German head quarters, create
the greatest sensation. The siege had scarce
ly begun when an attempt was made to brin
t about the close OF hsstililies. M. Jules Favr
, was commissioned by the government to Sc
: Bismarck and endeavor to negotiate reasons
l BILE terms OF peace. After some not very dig
niged wraneling on both sides, extending owe
, several days, the negotiation fell through
. Favre was willing to end the war ON a bas
of money compensation by France to Gel
many, but refused o assent to the cession {
t an inch of territory. About this time it wa
clear that Paris was city divided against II
self. Two different forms of authority ha
3 been created. The first was the Provision,
Government before referred to. The secon
| was the Central Republican Committee. con-
; posed of four delegates from each arrondsse
| ment, of eighty members in all. This com
mittee was organized under the auspices
International Association of Working
soon began to inspire fear both o.
government and the boul
-" was headed b. M