Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-10-09
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Marshal Bazaine's Trial.
The trial of Marshal Bazaine has be-
gun at the Trianon, and the little palace
is crowded daily sby leading persons in
the social and official circles of France.
We are assured that the Court is made
up among generals highest in rank and
reputation in the army, and is presided
over by the Duo d'Aumale, who is desig-
mated by public rumor as the Lieutenant
General of the kingdom, who is to guard
the throne for the coming of the Compile
de Chambord. The prosecution is con-
Quoted by representatives of the govern
ment, selected for their ability and
eminency, and the defense is conducted
by Maitre Lakeland, the ablest advocate
in criminal cases now at the bar of
Paris.
Marshal Bazaine is accused of the
gravest offences known to the military
code, viz of the unjustifiable capitula-
ton of fortress, and of unjustiiable
surrender of an army under his con-
mand in the field.
His life, as well as his rank and reputa-
tiona involved in the issue of the trial.
But this is not the issue in which the
public opinion of France and the world
is most concerned AS the New York
Tribune well puts it "Bazaine is the
apparent defendant, but the real one on
trial at the Trianon is the Second EN-
pire. The negotiations between Metz
and Chiselhurst and Wilhelmshohe the
mission of Regnier and Boyer the state
of the army which was shut up in Metz;
Of the army which was beaten at For
bach and that which surrendered at
Sedan all these details are of infinitely
more interest to the reader of history
and the student of politics, as indicating
the condition of morality and efficiency
to which twenty years of Bonapartism
had brought its servants, than as prov
ing the loyalty or treachery of Marshal
Bazine. The whole has little interest in
the question of his fate, bat ct this
hour, when France is about to fix her
own destiny for years to come, she will
not fail to follow with q painful atten-
tion the developments to be made of the
character and the tendencies of that sys-
TEN of government to which she sub
mitted quietly for many years and rati-
fled by repeated plebiscites
BaZaine, IL il seen, becomes an import
ant parsonage in the world, and his pre-
vious record is matter of interest.
Previous to the war so disastrous to
France and so destructive to the military
reputation of her chiefs, his record as q
soldier was a brilliant one. After fin
ishing severe course of study at the
Ecole Polytechnique, he entered the
army in 1881, when he was twenty
years old, was sent to Africa the year
following, and in the arduous service of
the campaign there, so distinguished him
self that he was promoted to the rank of
Lieutenant in 1886, and received the
cross of the Legion of Honor on the bat
tle-feld for his bravery and skill. After
serving in Spain in the campaign against
the Carlists, he returned to Algeria with
the rank of Captain in 1889, and took
part in all the most notable expeditions
of the war there. When the Crimean
war broke out, Capt. Bazaine was pro-
NOTED to the command of a brigade of
infantry, and during the siege of Sabas-
taPol, conducted himself with such
bravery as to merritt honorable mention
in the dispatches of Marshals Canrobert
and Pelissier He subsequently was
made a Division General, and command
ed the French portion of the expedition
which reduced Kinburn. At the close
of the war in the East, he was appoint
ed inspector of several expeditions of in
fantry, and had the dignity of Command
er of the Legion Of Honor conferred on
him, and subsequently. in 1863, received
the Grand Cross In 1862 he took com
mand of the Mexican expedition, sue
ceeding Gen. Forey, add so far as mill
tary force could effect them, was sue
cessful in attaining the objects of that
ill-starred campaign. Marshal Bazaine
commanded one of the main divisions of
the French army when the Franco
Prussian war commenced. Only a
small portion of his command took part
in the battle of Forbach, where Gen.
Frossard was 50 thoroughly defeated by
the Prussian Commander Won Goben.
One of the charges against the General
is that he omitted to advance to Eros
sard's aid in sufficient strength to bo Of
any use.
The prosecution, we are informed by
cable, lays great stress on Bazaine's
failure to move from Metz when in
formed of MacMahon's advance. and
claims that there is proof thai the former
personally received the notification on
the 23d of August The Marshal's friends
have hitherto alleged that it was not re-
ceived until the goth, when it was too
late. The report generally stigmatizes
as insufficient all the efforts made from
Metz to cooperate with MacMahon. and
charges Bazaine with purposely remain
ing in the city to await political events;
with endeavoring to shift the response
biliiy; with propagating unfavorable and
Withholding favorable news, and ether