The New York herald., 1873-12-23
BAzAINE's FALL.
Final Scenes in the Military
Court.
DEMEAKOR OF TIE PRIsO6R.

From the London Daily Telegraph, Dec. Ill
PARIS, Dec. 10-Evening.
So many persons failed yesterday in the attempt
to obtain admission into the Trtanon that to-day
the anxious crowd OF sightseers was evidently de-
tered by the FEAR OF q similar disappointment.
Possibly also the sharp frost OF the early morning
had chilled popular enthusiasm At all events,
though this was universally regarded as the last
day OF the court martial, the morning train.
which leaves Paris at half-past eight, brought
comparatively few people. The mOmentous
session opened punctualy at halfpass nine
O'Clock. Maitre Lachaud was in his place,
looking more faugued and exhausted than
he did yesterday. The efforts OF the previous
three days. speaking, and especially yesterdays
address, had been very exhausting, and their
effects were very plainly marked on the expressive
features OF the eloquent counsel for the defence.
His voice had suffered to remarkable extent, and
was no longer able to give iull utterance to the
oratory which he had at command Driven In thus
upon himself the eloquent advocate seemed to re-
sort, more than usual to an impassioned action In
order to ind utterance to feelings Of which his
voice failed to furnish adequate expression.
Marshal Bazane was in his place; he looked very
pale.
MAITRE LACHAUD,
resuming his speech, attacked at once the stirring
| unfortunate circumstance that, in consequence of
| the speakers hoarseness much OF the oratorical
effect OF this most thrilling portion Of his address
| and its powerful perorati0n were lost. Argu-
| mentatvely Its strong points were two-F1rst,
that Marshal Bazaine was not brought within
| article 2l0 Of the Military Code, which prescribes
open feld;" second, that it was not the Marshals
! fault that the ags and eagles were not destroyed.
He gave the order-it was not obeyed.
1 m
twelve O'Clock, the sitting was suspended until
quarter past two When the Court resumed
the onlcial prosecutor replied to Maftre Lachaud
] by reading vouminOus document the recital Of
! out with the assertion that Maftre Lachaud's de-
| fence was beneath the height OF the sub
detail detail every argument and assertion brought
] forward in the Marshal's defence. He insisted
that not single accusation leyelled against him
| had been mpeached, and demanded again, in the
name OF justice and In the interest OF military dis
cipne, that the penalty provided by the military
trayed the highest trust which could be placed in
the hands OF marshal OF France.
! LACHAuD's TURN TO SAY THE LAST WORDS
In behalf Of his client He struggled bravey against
iorts to overcome the aoarseness Of his Voice
/ in order emphatically, and, indeed, vehemently,
to repudiate the covert i1slnuations and open
Generals reply. Most. passionately did ne pro-
test against the spirit that had animated the
1
throughout by bitterness Of feeling and violence OF
language. Taking, then, in detail the allegations
brought against his client, he recapitulated sum-
marlly most OF the principal arguments used in
mis- former speech, reviewing the Marshaps antece-
hopeessness % @ Of the struggle, the TACT that his his
| measures were approved by those who were assO-
ciaSed Win nun In the cGmmand T. ana nad re-
witnesses; that he had done his best and suffered
his utmost in order to avert the terrible catas-
| trOpne Of which it was sought to make him the
victim. Throughout this portion OF his address
Maitre Lachaud repeatedly referred to Bazaine as
concluded bis pleading by direct retort to the
peroration Of General Pourcet. The prosecution,
he said, had demanded tnat a Marshal OF France
should be dishonored in order to make an ex-
| ample OF him, and warning for all time to come.
polite as It would be unjust It would furnish a
| bad example and prove a disc0uragemet to those
young soldiers Of France who form the hope OF the
| country.
had during the delivery Of these speeches exhibited
much more interest in what was said than he has
| hitherto as general rule displayed and while the
offical prosecutor was delivering the terrible
several times to change Of color He made ire
quent notes, and at various critical points OF Gen.
books and other documents. Different passages
bearing on the points In question he marked for
Maitre uss Lachaud "a hat Immedaeiy behind the Mars Marsna
| sat Madame Bazaine, her handsome features not
disguised even by the terrible ordeal of anxiety
through which she had passed and was at that mo-
The speeches were now over, and In the midst Of
AN IMPRESSIVE SILENCE
which followed after Maftre Lachaud had resumed
| his seat, the Due d'Aumale turned to Bazaine and
inquired If ne mad anything to add to his defence.
The Marshal rose hurnedly, but with dignity,
and said til bear two words on my breast strik-
ing, as he spoke. the decoration OF the Legion Of
"HoNNEUR EFT pArRIE.'
have never wavered in my AZ years of SER
vice In devotion to my country. i have
never, either at Metz or elsewhere, forfeited my
honor. swear it in presence OF that Christi,
nftyN fh0 T,fnf hRfdt an fhan
head Of the Duo d'Aumalel: Then, collecting his
ner walked out Of the Court for the last time, SO
far this trial is concerned, for the sentence was
to be pronounced In his ABSENCE
THE JUDGES WITHDREW
1t was now halfpast four o'clock-the President
begged the supplementary judges to hold them
selves at the disposition Of the Council. It's mem
bers, the Due d'Aumale, President; General de la
ea era Prnceteaa en'sa and General Martinez e
cleared d' Of visitors by the sendarmes, who who
| formed a Gordon round 1t, 80 as to preclude the
court "a tSe andence BEING in the
time warned that they must make no sign OF ap-
probation or OF disapprobation when the verdict
was pronounced.
After long delberation
THE JUDGES RETURNED
| into court and pronounced their decision which
took the following form:-
IN the & ne Tsncs e. %sp M this 10Th day
DIVISION after dsbersas privately with clos close s doors
| on the following questons:-
Fa-Is Marshal Bazane guilty of having, the 28th
Of October 1870 capituated TO- the enemy and
dered the stronghold Metz of which he held
| command -in-chief without having exhausted all the
means Of defence Of which he disposed, and without
having done everything which honor and duty pre-
| scribedf
Scond-Is Marshal Bazaine guilty of having signed
the same day October 2a ls at the head OF his army
In the open field this capltuationY
Thfrd-Did this capitulaon result in his army laying
| down their armsf
fowihDd Marshal Bazaine, before signing this capt
ulaiion, fail 70 do everything which honor and duty
| prcscrIbedf
After the votes have been taken one after the other
beginning with that Of the officer holding the lowest
rank and after the President has his
Council declares unanimously that all the questions
| have been answered "Yes.n
Upon which, after having considered the conclusion
formulated Dy the Special Commissioner OF the
ment In his Rsquisore the President after having
fully read the text OF the law, and having again