The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1877-09-07
Oanaan Reasha and Marshal
RazIme.


The extraordinary story to the
effect that ,OsmAn Pasha, the com
mander OF the Turkish military
camp ut WidIn and the Turkish
commander In the battles near
Plevena, IL Marshal Bazaine. the
celebrated. French soldier, revives
interest in the romantic career OF
q very remarkable man.
Marshal Bazaine was born at
Versailles, France, in 1911. eiHs
entered the army private by his
own choice in 1881. His fret
campaigns were in Africa. From
1885 to 1888 he was. in Spain I;
from1840tO 20, in the Crimea then
two yearsi in Italy. SIX years in
Mexico; againin Africa sad then
in the Franco German war. He
rose from private through all the
intermediate grades to the rank of
Marshal (iS64l, and was ono of
Louis Napoleon's .favorites. He
was continuously in the service of
France for thirty i've, years and
participated in thirty two military
campaigns. Ha was one of the
most trusted and most experience
ed soldiers OF France, and at the
time of the Franc0-P rnsstan war
was to have commanded one Of
the two armies OF invasion. But
when the Emperor. took the field
in person Bazaine was given the
command Of 9 corps. After the
defeat OF Marshal Mem ahon, Ba-
zaine succeeded to the command
of the army OF the Rhine. This
was on the 18th of August, 1910.
From that date the conduct OF the
campaign was pecuiary and on the
9th OF October Marshal Bazaine
surrendered Metz, an army of
100000 men, and 1900 pieces of
artillery. .
The surrender was d great
humiliation to France. Bazaine
had ,declined to recognise what
he termed the Insurrectionary
government at Paris holding that
there "was no government; there
was nothing" He was accused
of intriguing "a behalf the EN-
peror, and OF treason to France.
He was tried in1S73 on the charge
of having capitulated with the en-
envy without having exhausted all
the means. of defense, was found
guilty and sentencedto be degrad-
ed and shot. The sentences was
commuted by President Nc ahon
to Imprisonment for twenty years
without military degradation.
His prison was ON the Isle ST.
MatGuerette, and remained there
untilgAugust 9th, 1874 when aided
by his wsfe, a most devoted WON
an, he escaped. 9 The escape was
planned and carried out by Mme.
Bazaine. The apartments occupi-
ed by the Marshal opened upon a
terrace, which was built upon q
PERCEPTIONS cliff overhanging the
sea. Although q sentry was post
ed on this terrace, the Marshal
gained the edge of the precipice
on the night Of August 9th and
descended by a knotted rope to q
boat in which was his wife. Nine.
Bazaine, taking the oars herself,
rowed directly to. q steamer lying
in wait, and the two went to Co
logne, where they awaited the ar
rival of their children. The Mar
shall wrote letter to the French
Secretary OF war stating that he
wOnld not have attempted to es-
cape but for the humiliating con-
dition of his, imprisonment, and
taking the position that his trial
was not rightly conducted, as the
members of the court were not
his peers - "b
After time Marshal Bazaine
and family disappeared. There
were many stories told as to their
whereabouts, but none more prob
able than the one that identities
him with Osman Pasha. ~
The Turkish Government, hay.
ing availed itself OF the services
or such IN experienced soldier,
would be very likely to place him
in command of a great camp like
that at Widin, where his exper.
fence aud military training would
have the best effect. If ,Osman
Pasha is Marshal BazaIne the cpl.
sodes of the Russian campaign
but add interest to the romantic
career of4kcneof the veteran sol
diersof France y 4