New-York tribune., 1880-09-26
BTSMARCK And MOLTKE At SEDAN.
Prov n u,v E,eurh pamphlcf.


From a nor French PGmphIeL
The following conversation some what abbreviated
in the translationl which took place betwcen Connt
Bismarck General Moltke and General de Wimphen
prior To the surrender of Sedan. is taken from
forthcoming pamphlet by NJ. Georges Bastard. en-
titled "Bazeilles':
General Wimpffsn-I am anxious to know upon
what terms his Majesty, the KING OF Pfassia, de-
mands our capifuaiI0D.
General Molfke-Thev are very simple. He de-
slrcs your Whole army 70 be surrendered WIN arms
and baggage. As a mark OF appreciation n their
valor the officers will be allowed to retain their
swords but they viii remain prisoners OF war ike
the rank and tile.
General W-These terms are hard, indeed, Cen
eral. It TO me that after the courage 1t has
displayed the French army deserves better treat
ment than that. Would not the following terms be
acceptable to you: The surrender Of the town OF
Sedan with all its artillery the French army. IN
clndnq the Emperor and his Generals to be allowed
TO retire with It's arms It's baggage aud Its colors.
upon the condition Of not serving against Prussia
during present war; that army to be transferred
to q certain part of Franee-at the option OF Prus-
sia--Or Algeria, until the conclusion Of the treaty
General Moltks declared that these terms could
not possibly be accepted.
General WI have just arrived from The deserts
of Africa. Till the present moment my military
record has been above repr0ach, but now In the
middle of an engagement am suddenly intrusted
with tile command of au army aud hnd myseif IN
voIycd in disastrous capitulatiou, OF which am
forced 10 bear the whole responsibility. have not
even had The satisfaction Of directing the Datte
which preceded tins capItulafion. You who ike
myself are a general commander, will readily uh-
ders and the bitterness Of my lot. lt lies IN your
power 10 lessen the gall by granting more honora-
bic terms. For my part cannot accept tie TERMS
YOU demand BY appealing to my army SNAIL
either succeed IN forcing my way through your
lines or IN defending myself III Sedan.
General Motke-l hold you IN great esteem, and
| fully appreciate yOur position but yet | cannot
acqucsce to your request. Your chances OF making
a successfu. sOrtie SlIm. True, yOuT troops
are excellent; your crack infantry regiments are
av,lr lg
artillery ~ we'll served and has done much damage.
But on the other hand, great portion OF your III
tantry IS demoralized. and we nave taken 5V,oVO
unwounded prisoners! You have only $4,000 men
remaining and with them you VIII not be able 70
cut through Our lines. have surrounded you with
an army OF l4O,0OO men and 300 cannons, OF which
300 axe already pointed against the city. The rest
VIII 0e III heir respective yOstions tomorrow Morn
Ing. II yOu want to convince yourself an 10 the
truth Of my assertions VIII allow one OF your OIL
70 inspect the POSITIONS occupied by my troops
As far as a defence Of SEDAN Is concerned. that IL
iupOssible; you have PROVISIONS for only forty
eight hours, and your munitions have run out.
General W.-Even from - political point OF view,
think il would be more IN Your interest to accede
to the honorable captulation which the army com
mard his right t0ex .ect. You undoub .ediy wish
70 conclude early peacc. France being tue most
generous and ciiva,rOuS of nations IL cDns quelty
the most graf fni for any consideration shown It, II
you giant such terms as Slll Halter the vanity OF
the army the whole Nation viii thereby feel battered
Tie jittcrloss If Gelea will be dnllns led IN the
eyes CT tde people, and peace once cDncudcd under
guaranty Uf durability. by pursuing y0Gr rigorous
measures however, You will surely excIte anger and
hatred IN the breasts OF our soldiers
and YOU VII risk kindlinz the flame OF intermin-
able war between France and Prussia.
Count Bismark-YOur arguments seem trcible nc
first sight general. but tuey Will not endure close
examination LATHE conn ience should be placed IN
gratitude. and especially IN that OF nation. One
may believe IN the gratitude OF monarch or IN the
thaukiui1ess of his tainly. There arc even oc-
casi0ns when the latter mas be implicitly trusted
in tins respect But repeat nothing is 70 be ex-
pecte, from n nations gratitude. Ii the French
people were bike other peop.c; II they hii durable
Insituil lions, and like us Germans. respected them
II t4cy had sovereign well seated on his
throne then we cOuli perhaps place faith
that of his son. Bat for the last eighty years
the changes OF Government have been - frequent
that for a ne ghboriGg Power to build hopes upon
the friendship Of Frerch monarch woua be sheer
madness (; il would be building upon arr Besides
10 is folly to imagine that trdnee could ever forgive
Us our victories you arc an irritable, an eBvOus a
lea ious and a proud people. You have always made
war upon us out of Jealousy aud this time you at
tachcd us b cause You wore ei4ylons or our victory
And you would forgive Us for the disaster OF Sedan
Never!
General W.-Your Exceileney is mistaken in your
opinion Ok tie French g pie. France Is ready 10
proclaim fraternity amOug nations. What has be-
come for instance Cf tLar lnveterate hatred which
divided France and England Are Lot the English
our hes. friends ~ present Thus VIII it be VITA
ermany if YOU act generously and If dormant pas
sioas not aroused by unreientlng severity on
your paIt
10 this reasoning Count Bismarck opposed his
usual strong arguments, and concluded by haSly
fGsing to grant other terms than those lie had at
first proposed.
General W.-WelI, l am totally unable 10 sign
sucn a capitulatIon you demand; we w.ll there
fore reopen hCstil,les.
General Castclnau-The time has come, think,
for me to deliver the EmDerOrs messale. he IN
structed me to inform his Majesty the King Of Prus
sia thas he only surrendered his sword aud his per-
son IN the hopes that the King would be touched by
so complete submission. and that he woult accord
ingly grant the French army such terms OF capGa-
latOn as IL had right to expect for its courage.
Count Bsmarck-W hcn sword did the Emperor
surrender, Bis or that OF his country
General Castenau-H.s own only.
C. unit Bsmarck-ln that case We cannot change
our terms.
General Wmpffen to General Moltkc-I will take
advantage of your first OIeT. General and VIII send
an officer To view those formidable positions of
yours When he returns l viii decide whether to
accept or reject your terms.
General Moltke-lt s useless TO DO that. You
have but little time left for reelection, 1t being now
midnight. The armlstice is at O'Clock.
General Wimpffeu-You must, however. under
stand thai cannot take 80 important step upon
my own possibility. | must first consult with
my colleagues.
Upon Count Bismarcks advice, General Moltke
consented t0 wait ton General inptien's answer
until O'clock the next morning
The result is known.