The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-02-02
ROSsell and Joan OF Are.

Among the remarkable papers left in
the world by the unfortunate Rossell,
of whose military genius, untimely lost
to France, so many striking proofs have
been given, was one of Joan of Arc,
as a strategist. In this celebrated
French heroine, he discovers the highest
qualities of 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 English out of France. Had
Napoleon | III. and his Generals followed
her strategy, the Germans would not
have reached Paris. There is a 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 considera
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 by inter
rupting their communications with the
Burgundians, 10y 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 10y 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 a delivering angel sent es-
pecially from heaven to drive the fore IN
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 an
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 their
operations so far to the south or TO
l. Il 4 r,1.
any uncasiness about having their lines
or communications with their base cut.
According to Iossell, there were two
fatal errors, displaying total absence
of strategic ability, and he takes pleas
ure in pointing out to the French Gen
erals their inferority in this respect to
the illus,rious Maid of Orleans" And
if it be argued that the circum stances
under which warlike operations are
carried on nowadays are Different from
what they were in her time, it can be
replied that in 1929 the army Of France
was In a far more disOrganized condition
than it was in 1870; but the enthusiasm
which Joan inspired, and the genius for
command which she displayed, speedily
remedied the prevailing disorder, and
NiCboly NhNA1't5, III
1870, not man appeared who was equal
to the emergency. In the days of the
feeble Charles VII, France was in the
most deplorable condition, harrassed by
the english, who held Paris and the
north and west provinces, and by the
Burgundians, who held the east, almost
to the gates of Paris, torn by internal
dissensions, governed by a weak-minded
King and profligate mobiles, without
money, credit or commerce-in fact she
could scarcely have fallen lower. In
this desperate strait ,he was not only
saved from destruction, but restored to
health and strength by the genius,
courage and patriotism of two young
women, one, the beautiful Agnes Sorel,
whose influence over Charles VII. was
exerted for the best interests of the
country the other the heroic Joan of
Arc, who caused him to be crowned at