The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-01-24
The Military situation in France.

Gambetta still maintains his defiant position.
Notwithstanding the numerous defeats which
of late have been sustained by the armies Of
France there is a disposition evinced to con-
tinue the struggle fight to the bitter end,
and If possible secure success. The war
now, on the French side, has assumed
the phase Of forlorn hope, with the chances
altogether In favor of the German armies.
Men may be raised in France, armies may be
furnished with all the implements Of war, but
the contest seems so altogether hopeless that
the warmest sympathizers with the French
people have begun to regard the situation as
hopeless. What, then, do the speeches of
Gambetta amount to? They cannot discipline
an army, nor can they stay the victorious tide
of German success. Caanzys army is almost
hopelessly used up for further offensive opera
tons; Faidherbes forces have been defeated
so disastrously that the struggle in the north
has assumed so melancholy a phase that for
some time, at least, nothing can be expected
of 1t, and Boulbakis campaign has ended In
so Ineffective a manner that II he Is able to
save his army from humiliation he will be &C
complishing as much as his most ardent adj
mirors expect frsm him.
Trochu In Paris has shown In his recent
sorties that he has been able to do nothing.
To the north Of the doomed city, as well as in
the south, defeat has attended sae Operations
Of the French arms. st. Denis has been
silenced-another proof Of the thorough
investment Of the capital and. of the eff
cheney OF the German armies. With such
successes as those which are recorded
In the kilograms published in this mornings
HERALD we may at any moment expect to hear
of the capitulation Of Paris. Trochu asks for
IN arnstice, which Moltke denies. The ap-
plication of itself implies the weakness Of the
pent-up Parisians more forcibly than any argu-
ment we could urge as ~ evidence Of the fast
waning strength Of the French. The defeat of
the Army Of the Loire, upon the success Of
hopes, has operated 80 unfavorably on the
besieged Parisians that they have no heart to
continue the struggle. The creation of
triumvirate, composed of Generals vinoy,
Trebault and Clement Thomas, to take the
place of General Trochu, cannot mend matters
We think, however, when the war closes that 1t
can be shown that General Trochu lacked the
selfreliance necessary to secure that success
which the French armies aimed at, but which
they were never able to attain. 1t is now too
lete to make changes, and the homely adage of
the late President Lincoln, that 1t is unlucky or
was bad policy to swap horses while crossing
q stream, so applies to the present situation
of affairs in France that none will attempt
to deny its force.
Looking all over the situation in France
to-day we cannot see the slightest glimmer of
hope for the French cause. Beaten in the
West, beaten in the East, beaten in the North
and almost paralyzed in Paris, we cannot see
even loophole for French escape. Gambetta
may rave, Trochu plan, Chanzy speculate,
Bourbalsi attempt and Fsidherbe reorganize,
but what do all these amount 10 in face
of the practical results which everywhere
follow the operations of German arms. No
one knows better to-day what the French
require than General Moltke; no one, not
those even among The French themselves,
can so thoroughly appreciate the advan-
tage Of the acquisition Of time to the
French as the German Commander-in- Chief;
but that time so much needed by the
French cannot be had, and the want
Of it Will bring defeat to the French armies as
surely as to-,norrow's sun will rise. In face,
then, Of the disasters which In all probability
must result If the struggle is continued, would
1t not be humane on the part Of the leaders
who now conduct the affairs of France to bring
this dreadful and useless sacrifice OF human
life to closer The day cannot long be delayed
when France will have to yield; all hope is
gone, further resistance is vain; continu-
ance Of the struggle is criminal and France ia
now helpless. Were the sentiments Of the
French people to-day truly interpreted, in the
face Of the calamities which have befallen them,
we have no hesitation In saying that the ex-
clamation would be, coming from the hearts Of
the people, s'Let us have peace"
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