Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-05-16

startling Revelations by n Disiin-
Eutshed Frouch stan Olicer.

i
Euishsd Pronch stan Ofueer.
A Paris letter to the World SAYS: At
length Frenehnan has been found with
neral courage enough to prove to his bot
headed fellew-couuiFymen that Marshal Bo-
zIne was net traitor, that he was not
guilty oil c0wardicc, and that the poor old
soldier who has had for the past eighteen
years TO bear the whsle brunt OF Frances
defeats IN 1sTe-ls71 had served bis country
with patriotism and true devotion. In Ger
Inaa and Austrian military circles the Mar.
sbaPs innocence Of the CHARGES against him
has long been q matter OF public not0riety,
| but hitherto It has been absolutely impossi-
bic 10 breach the subject TO Frenehmen.
The mere mention Of the old soldiers name
had the same effect on them that a red rag
has on bull, and was sufficient to cause
even the calmest OF them TO lose their self
possession.
The man who has had the pluck to attempt
vlndicatton OF BaZaine, and, what is mere,
has been completely successful In his effort,
is the well-known soldier aud author, Count
fHerisssn, who Is generally admitted 10 be
one oil the soundest aud most careful OF
French writers. The Counts attention bad
been drawn while travelling In Germany TO
the attitude OF the most eminent military
part in many discussions with them in rela.
ton thereto. On his return to France he
set to work 10 hunt up all the official docu-
ments connected with the case, aud, after a
year OF most dlligent research, cross exami-
nation, and profound study, be has finally
issued the result thereof IN a book entitled
"La Legende de Metz" which constitutes
most successful vindcatIon Of all the charges
brought against BsZaine. The work has
created ~ immense sensation, and hiss already
caused great Teyusion In the eX-MarshaPs
favor. The book has just gone through its
fourteenth edition, although only published
three weeks9gO.
Want Of space prevents me from doing
more than touch upon the main points OF the
Counts case in behalf 81 Bazaine. But
such as they are they will suffice to carry
conviction to the minds OF even the most
preiudiced persons. Moreover, It must be
borne IA mind that every fact stated Is based
on Official documents, which can be referred
TO for cOTrobOraton.
Ia the first place, it Is shown that trust
worthy aud positive information had been
conveyed 10 Gsmbetta At Tours 10 the eject
that B3zane's army had ouly bread for six
days. that typhus, typboid-isVer, and other
maajcs were raging to such an extent that
the sick could not be- cared for, that all
means OF transport had long since vanished, !
that the whole army from eating horscnesh
had been reduced 10 40 ansmlc, bleOdle-s
condition, which made any idea OF action
hopeless, and that tho troops were COM
pletsly dem0raliZed and would not light.
Gamse,la, who vas the all.po1eriul dictator
at the time, deemed II necessary 10 conceal this
Information, and 10 publish false news OF
mere cheering nature in order to maintain
the activity and courage Of the people.
Actusted by genuine though mistaken pa
tnotism, he even went 50 FAR as to issue the
following bulletin, which is cOuntcrslsped
10y VI. de FTeycinet, the present Minister ~
War: "The army OF Marshal BaIAnc,
abundSntly provided With everything, is all
mated by on inyincible confidence, and each
Of lis sorties from Metz is victory which
iphict' serious losses On the enemy ibis
astonishing bulletin was issued selely for the
purpose 81 gaining time and % being able 10
organize arother army before the fortress
fell. But neither Gambetla nor dc Freyciuet
had any conception OF the time required
or Of tue difficulties 10 be encountered IN
turning mere armed men lutO armies. By
the time the news OF Tho cspiiulaliOn Vi Ne'l !
reached Tours, on the 2S.h u October. 1870, |
nothing had really been done. Though |
Gambet'a was perfectly aware th q the place !
must iall, be was literally stupeEed by ibs |
actual news OF its surrender. lie confessed |
privately that When be first heard Of the !
fact he would have shot himself at once II |
pistol had been at hand. lie, however. |
quickly recovered his presence OF mind, and /
at once saw that there was but one Way out |
Of The difficulty in which be bad placed him /
self. The army OF Metz had no means " /
communicating the truth 10 France; there |
fore he could without difficulty make the |
nation beliefe that an his lie, about BlZluNs /
army had bsea true, AID that treacbery |
alone mad caused the surrender lie actually |
went so far at couou OF Ministers TO pro- |
pose decree Outawing all the generals u /
the armv u Metz, but hi, colleagues refused |
to sign IT, Seeing t1rreupOn that il would /
be easier 10 make one victim than many, be /
denounced BaZiine as the traitor The pe0- |
pie. ever on The qUi UiUe for some one 10 /
bear the brunt and burden OF their disasters, /
followed the DIct4t0r's lead without hesiia.
tin, while The mcNbers Of Bazline's army, |
on their return from captivity, were only /
too glad 20 divert attention from their own /
shorrcomingss and put the whole blame on |
the shoulders Of him Who had already been |
selected ~ the scnpegOat.
Tie whole matter was still further en- |
ycnomed by a man who has recently OBJ
taxed an uuenYi20ie notOrlely at Paris in
connection With the dcc0ratiOD-traiiic sean.
dal. General Count d'Andlau, who has
been expelled from the senate, from the
arlay, and from his clubs. whe has been de-
prived o. his decorations, and who IS branded
as conmou swiBder, and IS fugitive
from FreEch justice, WIS IN 1870 colo.
ael on BaZline's st2I IN MeiZ. In
Of gross misconduct ani
breaches OF discipline there Le was severely
and puEissed by The Marshal. lio
Teyeuged himself upon the latter BY PUBLISH
Ing an anonymous pamphiet-or rather
Doot--on tue fail OF Metz, which constituted
the basis and origin OF the cOurJ.nartial " bich
sentenced BaZsine. General d'AHdigu. who
40 the tiaie Of the trial revealed his author
ship OF the book, was one Of the principal
aud most yinsicuYe % the witnesses against
the Marshal. The fate Of the Other four
chef witnesses Tor the prOiecutisa is worthy
Of record and significant. N. de F2lo9urt
has since been condensed to ten years in
prisonnent for forgery and other crimes;
N. &c NillcnOisy IL likewise At the present
moment undergoing long term 81 penal
seryitude for some similar offence; NJ.
Boyenyal committed suicide, and Colonel
Rosstl was condemned % be shot for mu-
tigy. These are the men on whose sworn
evidence Marshal Bazaiue was sentenced in
The first place 10 death, aud to lasting DIS
grace far worse than death.
II will be remembered that the General
Due d'Aumale was president OF the court
martial. Count d'llerisssn advances proofs
Of the fact that the majority Of the gene
rails constituting the court were IN favor Of
an acquittal. The Duke, however, sum
noued his colleagues 10 a private meeting,
where he unotiir tally Informed then that
the Government were determined, no mtt-
Ter at what cost, to have a conviction, and
hat therefore Vt would be best to let IL be
unanimous. The sentence OF death aud
he verdict OF guilty were only secured on
The distinct understanding that an equally
unanimous appeal should be addressed 10
the president OF the republic requesting
him not TO execute the sentence.
la conclusion Count d Hersson points out
that tue man who is reported 10 have fea-
tbered bis nest in Mexico aud elsewhere. at
he expense OF tue honor OF bis country, is
now, at the age Of eighty, in state Of abiect
penuTy.