The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1888-09-27
Ex-MARSHAL BAZAINE.

The Exllod Commander OF ths Rreneh
Forces in tho Franco-Prussisn War Dies
In Madrid. Z
LONDON, Sept. PA Dispatch from
Madrid announces that ex. Marshal Bazaine
died in that city yesterday. The cause Of
death was heart disease. He had been i'll
for several days. The funeral will take
place to-day.
The death of ex- Marshal Bazaine has
created great surprise, although it was
known that his health had been very bad
since his serious illness Of year ago.
Nothing had been said or published about
him lately. and the announcement Of his
death recalled him to many persons who
had entirely forgotten him. His exile had
been spent for the most part in q condition
bordering upon squalor, and the little
money which came to him from time to
time was contributed by some of the few
persons who adhered to the belief that he
was the victim of circumstances and the
ingratitude of the country he served faith
fully and we'll.
[Francis Achille Baza!ne, ex.Marshal of
France, was born February - 1911, and en-
tered the French army as private in 1881.
He served in Algeriu in 1892, and in Spain
against the Carlists, where, for distinguished
courage and ability, he was promoted to be q
. AleutcnOut anu tuou captain, 0uu also re"
ceived the cross of the Legion OF Honor. In
the Crimean war he was made o General OF
Brigade and General Of Division. He was pro-
noted to be Commander Of the Legion in 1856.
In 1859 he served in the campaign against
Austria. When the French invaded Mex co in
1862 he held high command and succeeded
Marshal Forey as head OF the forces in 1868,
when he received the grand cross. The next
year he was made Marshal OF France. In
1859 the Emperor Napoleon promoted him to
be Commander-in-Chiefo Of the Imperial Guard.
The war with Germany, 1901, furn shed the
scene of Bazaine's highest distinction and of
hiss historic disgrace. At the outbreak OF hos
Titles he commanded the Third Army Corps
near Metz. When the battles OF Worth and
Forbach had been fought, disastrous'y to the
French army, Marshall Bazaine took command
OF tho main armies OF the empire.
On August ID, 1871, no began o re-
treat from Metz and fought and lost
the bloody battles OF Mars-la-tour and
Gravelotte before being forced back into
Metz. This stronghold was invested promptly
by Prince Frederick Charles, and on October
q, 1870, Bazalne surrendered. One hundred
and seventy thousand private soldiers. over
1000 officers, fifty Generals and three Marshals
of France were made prisoners OF war on this
occasion, the largest number of men ever
taken ut one time. Bazalne fed to England.
Th awful blow to the military pride of the
French people was followed in 1873 by the trial
OF Bazainc by court-martial for having failed to
DO his duty. He was sentenced to degradation
and death. Mcmahon, President OF the French
Republic, commuted the sentence to imprison-
ment for twenty years in a fortress.
Bazaine was taken to tae Isle Sainte Margucr-
lite. in the Mediterranean sea. from whence he
escaped after nine months Imprisonment He
visited Germany and England, then removed
to Sp0n and made his residence at Madrid,
where he had since resded.l