Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-02-01
ROSSelI and Joan of Arc.

been given, was one Of Joan of Arc,
as strategist. In this celebrated
French heroine, he discovers the highest
qualities of a general, and he contrasts
his operations against the English with
those of Mcmahon and Bazaine against
the PURSUANT in the late war, much to
the disadvantage of these commanders.
He considers that her plan of the cam
paign for the relief of Paris was not only
conformable to the rules of war, but
superior to them, and gave tokens of
the genius of great captain. Had she
not been thwarted by the ignorance of
her lieutenants and by intrigues at
Court, she would in all probability have
driven the Err rlish out of France. Had
Napoleon III. and his Generals followed
her strategy, the Germans would not
have reached Paris. There is striking
analogy between the situation of France
as it was in 1929, and what it was in the
latter part Of 1870. In 1929, the centre
of the English power was at Paris; in
1870 the centre of the German forces
was before Paris. In 1929 the base of
operations Of the Anglo Burgundians
included, on one side, the States of the
House of Burgundy, and on the other
the coast of the English channel. The
English were also operating in Guienne,
but this may be left out of considers
ton. In 1870 the base of operations
of the Prussians extended only from
Metz to Strasbourg, closing the defiles
of the Upper Vosges. Joan of Arc did
not attack in front the principal force
of the English. She began oy inter
rupting their communications with the
Burgundians, by marching upon Rheims,
taking care to keep a wide distance be-
tween herself and the English forces
at Paris. She thus placed her army be-
tween the English possessions and lin
France) Burgundy, and made her
self master Of the great route which
cuts transversely the basin of the Seine
She did not waste time or strength in
laying siege to the large cities she
passed, but contented herself with
threatening them and the Burgundians;
who, being thus separated from their
allies. fell back by way Of precaution.
Having by this bold and brilliant
manmuvre got possession Of the strongly
fortified cities of Rheims, and paralyzed
the Burgundians, she suddenly retraced
her steps and fell upon the English
lines at Paris, cutting the communica-
ton with their main depots at Rouen
and Calais. However, her previous ex-
plot of raising the siege of Orleans, for
which Rossell gives her so much credit,
owed much of its success to the super
stition of the age, for the English sol
diers believed her to be in league with
the powers of darkness, and possessed
of magic spells, while the French looked
upon her as delivering angel sent es-
pecially from heaven to drivet the foreign
arms out of France. The former were
disheartened and cowed in proportion
| as the latter were animated and conf
dent, and it was not until Joan, who
had been wounded and manifested GER
tain feminine weaknesses, that both her
adversaries and her followers were un-
deceived Nevertheless, she deserves
immortal honor for her gallant exploit
/ 1t was the first turn of the tide in favor
Of the French, and was followed before
many years by the liberation Of France
! Had Mcmahon made as determined ar
effort for the relief of Sedan, as Joan
did for that of Paris, the aspect of the
war might have been different. But in
1870 the French Generals, instead Of
following the example of Joan of Arc
by attacking the forces besieging Paris
avoided doing so, and carried on then
operations so far to the south or tc
the north that the Gel mans never fell
any uncasiness about having their lines
or communications with their base cut
According to .5ossell, there were tive
fatal errors, displaying a total absence
of strategic ability, and he takes pleas
ure in pointing out to the French Gen
erals their inferiorlty in this respect tt
the illustrious Maid of Orleans" AnC
if it be argued that the circum stance
under which warlike operations ar
carried on nowadays are different from
what they were in her time, it can b
replied that in 1929 the army of Franc
was in far more disorganized condition
than it was in 1870; but the enthusiasm
which Joan inspired, and the genius TO
command which she displayed, speedil
remedied the prevailing disorder, an
'inaugurated victory whereas, il
1870, not man appeared who was equs
: to the emergency. In the days OF tn
feeble Charles VII, France WAS in TIA
most deplorable condition, harrassed b
the english, who held Paris and tn
. north and west provinces, and by tn
Burgundians, who held the east, almos
to the gates of Paris, torn by interns
dissensIons, governed by a weak-minde
King and profigate pobles, withou
. money, credit or commerce-in fact sh
could scarcely have fallen lower. /
this desperate strait she was not onl
saved from destruction, but restored t
health and strength by the geniu
courage and patriotism of two youn
, women, one, the beautiful Agnes Sore
whose influence over Charles VII. wa
exerted for the best interests of tn
Q country the other the heroic Joan {
q Arc, who caused him to be crowned s
Q Rheims. Contrast this with the histor
0 of 1870: France, at the head of Europ
q reputed to be the most powerful natio
on that continent, prosperous, and Pc
sessing unlimited credit, the pleasur'
r ground Of the world, her immense arm
v ments cause of anxiety to her nelgl
/ bors; her capital the centre of art an
fashion in fact, greater contrast wit
b 1929 could not be imagined, and Ross
;. may well be forgiven for the enthusiasts
d which he felt for the heroine who raise
f her country from the dust, in 1929, al