Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1871-10-14
Marshal Bazaine's Treachery.

Paris Correspondence to the New York Evening Post
The capitulation of Metz was owing
entirely to the treachery of Marshal
Bazaine, who refused to make any sor-
tie, and who yielded up the city against
the wishes of the inhabitants 1t is
limited that he did this in the hope OF
saving the Napoleonic dynasty, think.
ing that by thus giving Lorraine to the
Prussians they would aid in the restora-
ton of Napoleon III. 1t is believed
that they acceded to this plan, but
subsequently found the public feeling
against the Emperor so strong that they
could not carry out the scheme, but
they kept Metz.
The presence of the army of Bazaine,
which most people have thought was
for its defence, proved the ruin of Metz.
The city is so strongly fortified, that
with proper provisioning it could have
held out for years but the immense
army, during its long enforced idleness
before the walls-for the forces were
not in the city at all-devoured all the
provisions. Metz supplied Bazaine's
army and yet, after the capitulation,
the Prussians found provisions in the
camp and sold them to the citizens.
This was after the latter had been for
days subsisting on horse-fesh doled out
in limited rations.
So great was the dissatisfaction of the
authorities of Metz with the policy of
Bazaine, that they went so tar as to
organiSe revolt, and proposed the re-
moval of the marshal. This, speaking
in military sense, they had not the
slightest right to do; but the difficulty
in finding leader who would be accep-
table to the army to take Bazaine's S
place prevented the consumption of the
plan. Overtures made to Changarnier,
who was with the army, though holding
no command, was rejected. Frequent
communications passed between Bazaine
and the municipal authorities, and the
bad feeling existing between them was
not concealed.
The marshal, too, was we'll aware that
he was suspected of treason. He kept
from the knowledge of the citizens the
facts of Sedan, and the people Of New
York-nay, of every town in the United
States-knew of the fall OF Napoleon
and the surrender of his army a week
or more before the beseiged inhabitants
of Metz heard the startling news. Then
a piece of German newspaper was
brought into the city in a straggle's
boot, and from the stray fragment the
allimportant intelligence was cleaned.
The mayor Immediately demanded in
formation of Bazaine, who acknowledged
what he could no longer conceal. The
vote of dtcheaace was known in Metz
only after longdelay, and Immediately
after the reception Of the news the
National Guards tore TIE imperial
eagles from the public buildings. Up
to this date. however, the word "impe-
riale" has not been removed from the
doors of the different apartments in the
Palais de Justice.
Metz is to-day in heart French city,
though her streets are filed with Prus-
sian troops and she is within the politi
cal boundaries of Prussia. The people
are perfectly outspoken in their deter
mination to fight again for what they
deem their nationality. "There is my
only son." said mother to me, pointing
to lad of Is, " and expect in a few
years to see him in the army which will
make us French again" :" If we have
to remain Prussians,' said citizen
merchant, ave will leave Metz forever
Already the wealthier people have re-
tired into France Sixteen thousand
persons have left Metz since the siege,
besides the 10000 country people who
foolishly sought refuge in its walls on
4 hn - hn ~