The New York herald., 1873-10-31

ne Rhine and 40 miles west II Metz. n stands
IN the River Meuse, In tq6 department. Of the
deuse, at point w6ef6, the stream, xfich nows
through the town in sva branches. begins to be
aavigable. 1t Is defended by citadel constructed
BY vauban ana by ten detached redoubts 1t is
not strong place. however syand is only reckoned
az Q fortress OF the fourth class. Its history is
briery told
verdun was besjked blythe Emperor Charles ",
who was compelled to retire; but in 1892 II was
taken by the Prussians, after bombardment or
fifteen hours and subsequently evacuated by them.
From 1909 TO 1914 Verdun was used as place OF
for Englishmen imprisoned by Napoleon,
after which its records contained nothing OF i'm
portance for more than half century, and at the
OF the late war it was quiet, sleepy.
old-iashioned place, which could number popula-
ton OF about 14OO0 Its garrison at the time Of the
siege consisted OF 1000 men OF all arms.
verdun was regularly invested on the 18th OF
September 1870, and on che evening OF tho 1ltn OF
October all obstacles were cleared away from the
ground living between the besegers and the fort
ress wnere the French had collected
STORES OF POTATOEs,
and whence they had been accustomed to recon-
noitre the position OF the German batteries.
Verdun capituated on the Sth November, when
the Germans captured two generals eleven
SUPERIOR OfllcerS anu anu
men. together with 1se guns, 900 infantry riies
and large quantity 0fmliitary stores.
IL has been said OF Verdun that, as fortress, 1t
is simply an anachronsm, since IL lies, like Sedan,
in a hole, and can be commanded from the neigh
boring heights by modern siege artillery. the
siege works 2, the town occupied Il lsze exactly
Prussia surveyed the place after Its capture and
remarked that It was too struggling for any per-
must have been respectable, for the besieged had
shelled and reduced TO ashes the dwellings in the
environs, occupied by the enemy.
The Captain OF the French gendarmes who re-
Gently arrived at verdun, dined with me yesterday
asked him whether anything had come within
the sphere OF his observations likely to disturb
the present friendly state OF the relations ex-
isting between the French and Germans, and he
said that there had recently occurred very
serious
mob Of about 5000 excitable people had col
ected in the street there with the view OF taxing
to death two mercantile men who had arrived at
Lunevile for commercial purposes, and who were
suspected OF having served In the German army.
1t appeared, as the Captain OF gendarmes was at
present advised, tnat these mercantile men had
been nearly torn to pieces by reckless and ex-
the Canaan. yery grossly misconducted them
selves, because IL was indecent for 5000 people to
fall upon TWO harmless travellers and attempt to
have ended badly, and one OF the mercantile men
had been already roughly handled, when the
French troops were called out and ultimately sue
ceeded in rescuing them. The mercantile men
were then smuggled through back door to a
place OF safety, and finally escorted to the railway
station by D strong detachment OF soldiers, who
protected them from further insult till they took
their departure.
Generally speaking, no hitch had occurred save
bitches OF Q pleasant character. AS walked down
the
STREET OF THE VIRGIN
saw some German nOn-commissi0ned 0ncers and
French police iraternizing, and observed pretty
French t0baccOnist, whose conversation was by no
means Of tnat rabidly patriotic sort which would
ofrer any frantic opposition to modest advances
from her hereditary enemies, several OF whom ap-
peared TO take extreme pleasure IN her gay dis
course.
The drum major OF German battalion ct Etain
has married French girl; and German officers,
now here IN garrison have brought French wives
tion OF the community at Verdun were extremely
ready to turn an honest penny in commercial
dealings with their c0untry's foes; and they ap-
peared 10 have SO many opportunities Of dong SO
that the rumor OF their gains had attracted large
cOncourse OF French pedlers, who lowered about
the cafes frequented by the German cadets and
volunteers, who had more money than experience.
] saw one Of them, alter having sold some trump
cry far beyond it's value 10 o bue-eyed lad fresh
from province on the Russian frontier, pack up
his wares rather quickly, as though In haste TO be
OF. He seemed rather ashamed Of himself, for
even French pedler fs seldom a rogue by ma
ture; and he looked nervously toward the window
10 see II one OF those grim, gray bearded majors
with his pInneer. a' Pefhaps that pedier mad been
trounced ior sucn doings in his day.
THE MAYOR OF VERDUN,
a very worthy gentleman, has kindly permitted
me to take a copy OF an address which he Is about
publish to his fellow citizens, declaring the view
which he takes OF the present state OF affairs in his
worshipful or official capacity Here is the address
OF this civic dignitary, and 1t announces q great
act:-
will Quit the territory Of verdun which is the last
pledge for the ransom OF France. -
80 our
have % sa one s on ou @
pe but sentimentthe Joy OF being restored to our
II anything could su add to our immense satisfaction
woSa s Us
and those which have this instant received from the
W. HAPPY DELIVERY.
date Iesnoc5hoSd certain snr who have
are separated from their mother country This grevols
remembrance tells us that have neither 70 celebrate
Alter The departure Of the Germans the
win ring Joyous peal Ai and p the f rcoored nag win ts
hosted one the towers the cathedral At this
e evening our public badnss viii pe e
To invite you 70 ouOw this s ,,, T. 70 hans
aftcr dark-wonId be to insult you Your patr ots.n
has need Of encouragement An extraordinary dis
trbution OF food VIII be made TO the poor. o,
The Mayor, BENOIT,
which. being interpreted signifies Benedict-by NO
means bad name for civic iunctlonary.
learn, toe, from personal friend OF Mr.. Mayor
that the Municipal Council OF Verdun has passed
the iOioWlng resoiutions w CelepTate tne uay VI
deliverance:-
large distribution Of provisions and small dstribu
ton Of money Wili BE- pads with Other comforting ssc
nevolence Offce), out OF the town funds.
As the German troops have left Verdun the
trcoiored flag VIII be hosted over the city gates and
elsewhere, and the city will be lighted up at the public
expense.
banquet will be offered by the town to the officers
and soldiers OF the first column of french troops which
enters the citadel.
Moreover, beholdr' let puts tenezD says the
friend oil Mr. Mayor. "Here is the telegram which
the Mayor has received from
THE FRENCH OF NEW YORK;
and he handed me neat manuscript copy Of the
following dOCument:-
Telegram to the Mayor OF the town Of verdun from
the french OF New York.
vERDUN YORK.
Received the 10th September, at twenty five minutes
past seven post meridian
MONSIEUR LIE MARE DE vERpuN MFUsR:-
Reconnaissance pour devouement; fecitations de Ia
liberation. LES FRANCAIS DE NEW YORK.
Now these words, being rendered into English
signify
To ruR MAYOR OF vERpuN UroN THE MEusE:-
Gratitude Tor devoton cungr atulation liberation
~ Al ANu