The New York herald., 1871-03-24
Ee UnbOs0iMs Himself 10 IL
Herald Correspondent.
THE LATE CAMPAIGNS
Arming the People and Why
the Cause Was Lost.
FEARS FOR THE REPUBLIC,
GssxnbedtasS Defence ESes
fore the World.
BORDEAUX, Feb. 2s, 1871

BORDEAUX, Feb. %, 1871
Having got a letter of introduction to M. Gam.
BETA, the great ox-Dictator I went round 10 his
apartments Rue Cours dc Trente Juliet where ne is
supposed to be engaged In writing up history OF
the war and defence OF his administration since
the battle OF Sedan and the revolution OF Septem-
Ger. was first told by the domestic who came to
the door that NJ. Gambetta could not be seen under
any circumstances, ana that 1t was no use trying
sent up my papers however, and was then told
that he would be very happy to see me in a few
minutes ana was ushered Into large room on this
first floor, which was literally jammed full OF de-
spatclies and papers relating to the war; Tables
chairs and sofas were covered with them, all tied
up In little packets with the inevitable rel tape ana
scattered about in the greatest confusion, ana
showing that they had only just arrived and
been unpacked. After waiting a few moments.
thinking what a history was contained in thoss
crazy little parcels. and how every scrap is leaf in
the history OF the greatest events ever recorded
was calico up stairs and conducted into the pre-
sence OF the man who for the last six months has
directed the destnes OF France with an iron hand
and resolution that in the darkest hour never
falteIed.
He was at bis desk writing, bul rose Immediately,
expressed himself very glad to see me ana invited
me to be seated. He opened the conversation In
very business-llke manner by asking me IN what
WY ue oou'u ~ =. :. so'sios " ny:
TIE INlERviEw.
CoRREsPoNDGNT--I have come NJ Gamberfa
authorized by the NEW YORK HEaALD-the most
widely circulated paper in the United States-to put
its columns at your disposal for anything you may
have TO say with regard to the present unhappy po-
sltion OF France. have just come from the army
OF General Bourbaki, and II can give you any in-
formation relating 70 that disastrous campaign VIII
be most happy to do 80. .. .sN
GAMRErTA-I am very mu,h obliged to you, str;
but know too much Of that unhappy affair already
He,as! 1t makes me sick TO think OF It. Were you
there during the whole campagn9
CORREsPcNDENT--I was.
GAMBETrA-How did 1t impress you?
CoRREsroNDsNT-Most fayorably. unttl the attack
upon Montbeliard.
GAMBErTA-And then9
CoRREsPoNDEST-WitnOut any apparent reason
the army went right to the devil.
GAMBErTA-Just so-of course, OF course: a stupid
thing. The old story-want Of perseverance, want
OF tenacty. The French have always been so. II
we don't succeed at the first trial are lost There
was no reason IN ine world why that army should
sheep There Was no necessity TO retreat at
all. The country about Besancon was rich enough
to support the whole army three months. Ten thou
sand resoute men IN that country OF mountains and
marrow roads would nave defended every pass and
kept out the whole Prussian army. But Bourbaki,
because he uld not succeed In his first attempt upon
Month hard, went crazy, and his officers were
almost as bad us ont totts lerdu Ia t6te, tous,
II ;Sa Wa not Bourpaki afraid Of
were at dole.
GAMshyrA-Yes, he was completely uuhinged;
ana, although l teiegraphcd him SIX times tnat
there was no danger from that quarter, that there
were only $4,000 at Dole-a mere handTni. who
could rot do him the slightest harm-he insisted
that he was lost, and would listen to nothing.
The old fault, It has been repeated time
at Parls-everywhere. Why did he not stay in the
country instead Of running OF into Swtzerlands
ena the WHY s no ea sa 70 de
the country, give his army time 10 rest. and when
IN that country might DEFY the whole Prussan army
for months.
CoRREspoSpENT-Dld he not lack provIsonsq
GAMBErTA-No, sr. That's all nonsense there
were plenty of provisions have the proofs, anu II
The army was starved 1t was his own fault. In not
compelling his quartermasters to act more promptly.
IL IS well known fact that many or the regiments
had mad more food than they knew what to do with,
sent enough PROVISIONS there; II his quartermaslers
ald ~ no aistriodte them properly he has ony himself
CORRESPONDENCE have understood that Bou-baki
0rdeIed General Bressolles TO hold Beaunees Danes
an Iohaies. Mouiins at all hazards these positions
beng tlie KEY to the valley Of the Doubs Why were
they abandoned without even awaiting the attack Of
the enemy Il Bressoes or BourbakI to blames
GAMBErTA-l 90 not know yet Bressolles has
shown me contradictory dispatches from Bourbaki
ordering him to hold these positions ana 10 eyacuae
them, and have as yet received no explanation
from Bourbaki. AS the affair now stands Ii wears
very suspicious look.
uAaSEifi4yftH HS vas not treason but lncapac,ty-
simple ,ld1 stupidity. w.. In M
eoS y S Hs ss By your
s pevs r. semynt nHs,yneay s91nsssd h 4
must succeed. have received more than Ave hun.
dred letters from ptlitary men, all t0diseIliHg il ana
'oo s dii ohanzy lose the battle
OF the 18th at lie Mans, after having maintained his
positions up to that moment with every appearance
GAMBErTA-He allowed himself to be turned a.
Pontlleu. He had placed Colonel Laand at that
point, with six thousand Mobiles with instructions
TO hold It at al hazards, 1t being position OF the
greatest Importance, protecting as It did his left
loading rides; but the position was naturally
q very strong one, ana tncy were supported
Tended the position easily, and In case they had
been pressed might have sent for relnorcements.
them believe that their guns worthless agansf
the needle gun OF the russians, so tnat at the first
even dscnargng guns and leaving their wo peces
Of artillery IN the hands Of the Prussians. When
Chaazy received no,ce OF 1t ne ordered the position
men could have defended it against ton thousand.
IT.. you t9nk France IN condi
GAMBETrA-Id do II the people would show only
ordinary courage rage and % energy they would yet drive
don't want the republic to save France and they
have therefore, thrown every possible obstacle In
the way. They prefer tnat France should be lost
rather than saved by the republic. They have nor
only discouraged The soldiers by every possible
means. but they have imposed the resistance OF
inertia to which is something immense TO every
effort that could be made and they hope BY signing
dish0norable peace to turn popular feeling against
the republic. And you Will see within very short
time tnat these very, men who are now crying
''peaCe, peace" Will be the first to denounce the
republic for having concluded a dishonorable bar
gain with Bismarck. II they had let me
go on TWO months longer l am sure
would have succeeded I would have had Two
millions OF men under arms, well armed and
equipped; would have carried on pililcss war
against the Prussans who are as tired as we are,
and who would have been glad 10 20 home and de.
fend themselves l am satisfied that II the Amerl-
can people were placed III exactly the same position
as the French they would drive out the invader In
thirty days.