The New York herald., 1871-02-27
Peace Concluded In Rrancc-Rcvicw Of the
FraucO.Prussiau War.


| pose that the National Assembly will
ratify the conditions. While we write busy
| preparations are making in the German camp
anticipatory Of their triumphal march through
| Paris to-day, homeward bound for Fatherland.
| Now that the roar of battle is hushed and the
quiet ofpeace reigns througho ut the late theatre
OF war, the pres ent may be regarded as an OPP
perfume moment to review the colossal struggle
which has just closed on the soil OF France
From the obscurity of small State Prussia has
reached an emnence, by reason OF her great
military successes, which renders her now one
Of the foremost nations of the earth. The
comprehensive military organization which
for years it has been the aim of Prussia
to perfect, has guided the nation, by
the genius of Won Moltke, to those grand
achievements which have led to the union of
| all Germany into one vast empire. When we
reflect that of all the nations of Europe for
the last half century Prussia has seen least
of actual war, her recent successes appear
most remarkable. The case was different with
France. While Prussia was quiet, unobtru-
sive, working steadily as it were for her own
Internal development, France was seeking for
glory and military prestige in the four quarters
| of the globe. In Algeria, in the Crimea, in
China, in Mexico, not to mention numerous
other campaigns, the eagles of France were
Haunted defantly, and in nearly every instance
with unvarying success. Yet while quiet
reigned il Prussia her generals and statesmen
were by no means idle On every battle field
she had intelligent spectators. Her military
students were close observers. Taey studied
war closely in order that, when the time came,
their study might be turned to the advantage
Of the State. Detecting weaknesses in the diff
ferent systems, they noted them; perceiving
mishaps, they traced their origin observing
| alterations, they made inventories of them,
and from the knowledge thus acquired by
intelligent observation in Europe and in Asia,
in Africa and in America, came forth that
marvellous success which has everywhere vim
dicated the superiority of the German military
| organization in the campaign just concluded in
France.
The march of the French to the frontier was
| more like parade than the advance of an
army preparing to invade an enemy's coun-
try, but the hesitation of the French armies
gave the Germans an opportunity to make
their preparations and consolidate Jn the
2Sth of July the Emperor arrived on the FROM
tier to take command Of the army. Five days
| later the frontier was crossed and the heights
OF Saarbruck occupied on the second day
after this the battle of Weissenburg was fought,
and though French valor shone conspicuously
| in the contest the French were defeated with
much loss and the admirable strategy of the
| Crown Prince compelled General MacMahon
to change his plans. The victory won, the
Crswn Prince pushed on and gave battle to
MacMahon at Woerth. The forces of the
Germans in this battle numbered nearly four
to one. MacMahon had about thirty-five
thousand men, while the army OF the Crown
Prince numbered over one hundred and
twenty thousand. Again victory sided with
the Germans. The defeat of the French at
Saarbruck about the same time told heavily
against them. General Steinmetz engaged the
French under Frossard, completely defeating
him and forcing him to retreat with loss Of
one-third of his whole army.
| After the battle of Woerth the forces Of the
Crown Prince, weakened by the struggles they
had gone through, did not Immediately move
forward. There was pause, only tenn
| porarily, however, on the part of the Germans
| The French continued to fall back. Marshal
MacMahon had retreated on Saverne and was
making for Nancy De Failly was moving to
junction with MacMahon; Douay remained at
Belfort, and Canrobert had arrived at Metz
with two fresh divisions. The corps OF
Bazaine, Ladmirault, Frossard and Bourbaki,
with the Imperial Guard, were around Metz.
Napoleon was also there, and recognizing from
the recent defeats that a new departure must
be taken, he resigned his position as Com
mander-in- Chief of the Armies. At a council
of the generals, at which the Emperor was
present, the supreme command was vested in
Marshal Bazaine, in conjunction with Marshal
MacMahon. Bazaine, on assuming command
determined, if possible, to retrieve disaster
The battle Of Courcelles, which was fought on
the 14th of August, Immediately after
Bazaines accession. will long be remembered as
the first of series of the bloodiest battles of
the campaign. The Prussians were COM
manded by General Steinmetz and Prince
Frederick Charles. The battle lasted all day,
and though the Prussians toward evening were
reinforced by thirty thousand fresh troops they
were driven back along the whole line.
Bazaine at nightfall remained in possession of
the field. Both armies claimed the victory.
The losses were heavy on either side. The
next day followed the battle Of Mars la Tour.
Bazaine, while moving on to Verdun, was
suddenly attacked by the Third Prussian
corps. This attack opened the days
conflict, which ended only at nightfall
| In, thia hattla the Eranch fo,,nht with forooa