The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1871-07-02

GEN. CHANaARN1ER's EXPLANATION IN
THE ASSEMBLY.

GEN. CHANGARNIER'S EXPLANATION I,
the ASSEMBLY.
Then POOR old Gen. Chsngarnier-bowe,
ed the tribunal and began his speech, il
reply to question that had been asked, il
explanation of the causes which led to tn
capieuiation Of Metz. He spoke with grea
emotion, and it was painful to see him ant
60 listen to him. He briefly sketched tn,
when Bazaine took command of the Army
OF the Rhine, in the month of August
gown TO the date of his being shut up il
meIz. Neither bis facts nor his comment,
were favorable to Gen. Bazaine, and the
Impression left by his speech was that the
haze done much more under q. general o.
| greater skill and dicisiop. He praised
1azalne Tor bis conduct at Gravelotte, and
the French army for its gallant struggle
against superior numbers at Borny, but he
,ain oiamed the want Of activity and foresight
retire upon Metz, prevented the then easy
accumulation of cattle and other stores
rom the fertile plains of Champagne. "On
the @6th," he said, Z" the general in chief
held . council of war. When a generai-in.
cnlef has energy. he merely summons his
dwelt upon the sufferiugs of the armv Of
Metz, which he declared to have been very
great, and he clearly gave it to be UNDER
$1,000 thaS, in his opinion, Baxaine, with
sucl troops as were under his command,
might have repeatedly broken through the
oe.eagoe.ng army: Changarnier's object
was to vindicate the honor of the French
army. and he could not do so without in
caApaeing ats commander; but he did 80 in
no omaiignant spirit, and only as far as absu-
ioteIy necessary. All private consdera-
sions yield, in Changarnier's case, to ar
uent rove OF Ills country the only passion,
as he on former occasions said. which stili
remains as strong as ever in his breast.
10 defend the honor of the army he loves
30 well, and of which he ever was 60 bright
ah ornament, he would not spare his own
ofother, we're that brother to blame. "On
the 3lst September" he said, "an attack
was ordered, but the enthusiasm transmits
te9 from the General-in-Ch to the last
'ldier did not animate us. Nevertheless.
tae action began we'll. AT night the enemy
received relnfOrcements, and onr army re-.
treated many could not understand why.
l thought, and l still think, that we shouid
nave sndeavored to reach the Vosges and
ehe Valley of the Upper Seine." The
General spoke of his mission to Prince
FREDERICK Charles to ask for an armistice
with leave to revictual aud permlssion tn
transport the beseiged army to Algeria.
He referred to the reports circulated that
the Prince received him i'll and spoke dis
interview" he said, ''lasted three hours
had those reports been we'll founded, it
would have been much shorter" The
Chamber loudly applauded the Generals
quiet dignity. He declared that Prince
Frederick Charles condoleR with him, and
showed sympathy with the misfortuues |
which, as a soldier and Frenchman. had |
fallen so heavy npon him. AS a mark of
respect for the army that had fought go |
battalion was to have been al !
Owed to march out of Metz with the colors
lying and to embark for Africa. This
honorable condition was not carried ont.
because ESQ far as it was possible to undsr,
stand the General, whose emotion rendered
his part Of his speech particularly indis-
,inct) the French commander found f. i'm.
possible to select q battalion for such re-.
ease and distinction, where all bad done
heir duty alike. When he came to speak
y, y she parting from the army of Metz,
touched the Chamber, which an
,lauded him and called out for a suspep-
ion of the sitting, while not few of the
numerous ladies In the galleries wept for
y ympathy with the poor old mar but be
mastered himself, and concluded his speech
hen near its end. Marshal Bazaine, lie
ala, had made many mistakes, and had
lad the great misfortune not to be present
e tue battle of Borny but it was false
hat the soldier who commanded at Grave
otte had voluntarily led the army to it's
uin, and he impiored the Chamber not to
rant its esteem to the man who had cast
!pon him 30 odious q suspicion. On quit
ing the tribune many deputies pressed
onward to shake him by the hand, several
+ the ministers congratulated him, and NJ.
thiers shook hands with him very warmly.
liter few words from Count Rampont,
eporter of the committee which had de-
Ided that an inquiry should be made into
he Metz affair, NJ. Theirs got into the tri-
une, and said he had been glad to hear
ieneral Chapgarnier defend one of the
ravest of French Generals. Marshal /
'azaine had long demanded an inquiry in :
D his conduct, and this was an act of ius.
ice which could not be refused him. The :
uestion was whether the Chamber would ]
lake the inquiry itself or leave it to the i
overnment. This brought up the Minis I
IF Of War, who cited a law by which :
very commander who surrendered a fort :
led place must be brought to a court +
'aTtial. Not only Marshal Bazaine, but 3
10 general who had capituIated at Sedan, i
'ust therefore be brought before such q =
'urt. 'Ana at Paris" several voices ex- a
aimed. make no exception" replied t