The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-01-03
BAZAINE'S DEFENSE.


Under this title Marshal Bazaine has brought
out Mt Simion's in Berlin, a brochure accompanied
by map of the intrenched camp of Metz. The
following is an analysis of this pamphlet After
describing the battles of 14th, 10th, and 18th
August which rendered the retreat of the army
upon Verdun impossible, the writer continues
as follows:-
The commanders and chiefs OF the particular
armies met at Guimont, and were OF opinion that
the army ought to remain at Metz IN order to &C.
cupy 100000 OF the enemy give France time to
organize resistance ana exercise the armies already
in formation in order that in case the enemy could
not be conquered at least to render his retreat
fatal, AS to Metz, the fortress had need Of army
to defend it, to complete its forts, its ornaments,
and its outward works They reckoned that with
out the support OF an army Metz could not hold out
fifteen days, Unfortunately, neither the civil nor
military authorities had, while it was yet possible
taken the precauton to augment the supply OF pro-
visions in case OF long Investment
The civil authorities also neglected to send out
strangers and useless mouths, and the prescribed
measures not to terrily the population were also
neglected. In consequence, after the investment
we had to live on the scanty provsionmeOt of Metz
and the few villages which we possessed. 1t was
therefore decided in the meeting of 26th August in
order to raise the spirits of the troops, to make
demonstrations to haTass the enemy and thus to
augment the provisions. ON receipt of telegram
from the Emperor saying, "Recelved your despatch
OF 10th at Rheims, an advancing by MOntmedy,
l shall be by tomorrow on the Atsne, will then
arrange circumstances in order to come to your
ad' this plan was modified and the combatS
OF 31st August and 1st September were fought
Thiohylle. The position became worse and worse
every day, and all efforts to get into communica-
& non Win me %oterhment , were IN VAIN AZ least
communicate with it, l sent four several ways
copies of the following despatch:- The army wants
10 know what going on in Paris and in France
We are with At communication With the INTERIOR
and the Ocu dsional rumoIs brought by prisoners
most disquieting. We require instruction and news
We are surrounded by considerable forces which we
have in vain tried to pierce on the 3lst August and
lst September" My dispatches remained unan-
returned.
on the 10th October there was a council of war
held at headquarters, where it was unanimously
agreed that General Boyer should 80 to Versailles
TO try and learn the true situation the views OF the
Prussan authorities by means OF military COnVen-
tion, and to know the conditions which would be
made with regard to the army Of Metz and gene
raj peace. The text OF the protocol Of the council
Of war reads thus after Marshal Bazainc had re-
viewed all the eliminating points of the situation,
he added that in spite OF all his efforts to COM
munisate with the capital no Official news from the
Government has reached him, and nothing has been
done to cause presumption that a diversion by
French army TO rescue the army of Metz was on
foot. The amount OF provisions has decreased to
800 grammes day they could last till the goth of
october, including two days of biscuit reserved for
the soldiers The ration OF horse flesh might be In
creased TO 600 and later to $50 grammes, horses
being considered as lost seeing the impossibity to
feed them. Moreover, the sanitary condition, with
l90OO sick and wounded, and the want OF medca-
ments, beds, lotions, and, above all, medicines,
was most dangerous. sEvery kind OF epidemies have
already tainted the town. The weakness caused by
insufficient nourlshment would only augment the
illness. Already all the lazarettos were dlled aud
sick had TO be taken in by the inhabitants and
twas evident that If greater number of wounded
was sent into the town there would be nowhere
TO put them, and they would threaten the public
It was decided First, to hold out under the
walls Of Metz as long as possible; second, not to
undertake operations the result of which appeared
to be nothing; third, to negotiate within the space
OF fortyeight hours with the enemy, at the concu-
sion of an honorable convention; fourth, in case the
enemy offered conditions incompatible with the
military honor, passage by means OF aims should
(signed), GANRoBERT, FaossARD,
LEBGUF, ADMIRAULF,
DKSVAUX, SOLEULE,
CoFFIEIEREs, LEBRUN.
BAZAIEE,
General Boyer left for Versailles and announced
on the 18th OF october the success OF his mission.
The Army OF Metz ought TO go out freely with arms
! and baggage. These questions were entirely de-
! pendent on the political question.
General Boyer painted the situation OF France as
| IL had been depicted to hm-the mpOssbility OF
| communicating with the Government OF Defense
! without the c]nvocation or constitution, which
alone could guarantee the future treaty, and the
! adjournment OF this meeting by the Government de
| faetO, whom Prussia would not recognize, tue
power of the Constitution OF the plebiscite OF 1870
| representing still the Government OF right by
| seven voices against five 1t was resolved that the
General should return to Versailles, and from thence
go 10 England in the hopeof obtaining by inter.
Venton OF the regency less hard conditions. 1t was
unanimously resolved that General Boyer should
abstain from any political prejudice whatever, mis-
aim being to deliver the Army OF the RHINE and
keep II for France.
but learned afterward that these loyal efforts were
without result, the Prussian authority proposl Ing
unacceptable conditions; and on the 22d of October
learned from Prince Frederick Charles that the
negotiations were without result. on the morning
OF the 25th / put this communication before the
council OF war. The council wishing TO be com
pletely informed, General Changarnier went to the
headquarters OF Prince Frederick Charles TO ask
not TO captuate, ,but for armistice with revctual
ment, or for the army 10 leave, departing instantly
for Algeria The situation could pot expect bette
ending We haG TO be resigned 70 all idea OF forcing
the lines, the eIemy having vanished, and the sacri
fee OF thousands OF lives would have been in th
case without result.
The council OF war met on the 2sth, in the morn
ing learned the result OF Changarniers mission, an'
had tn make a definite resolve. It was decided tina
! General Janas should 90 TO the quarters OF tn
| Prince, with full power 10 act. | had given tn
order TO collect all the eagles in the arsenal and 4
destroy them, but this order not executed in a.
thecOTps new order was sent out for their de
| stTuction, which caused loss OF time and the con
ventiOB being signed it could not be executed
Besides, military trophies OF no value il the
are not taken on the field OF battle" An append
joined TO the brochure contains the imprecatlons
Bazaine against the Provisional Government.