Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-27
THE FRANCO-PRUsSIAN WAR.
Some Stupendous Figures-Hot Fighting
The Only German Flag Captured.

From Won Moltke's Memoirs.
The armistice following the fall of Paris gave
the committee of national defense time enough
to call a freely elected national assembly to-
gether at Bordeaux whose business it would be
to decide whether the war should be contin-
ued or on what conditions peace could be con-
Guided. The election of the deputies IN
impeded and uninfiuenced even in the parts Of
the country occupied by German troops.
The regular forces OF the Paris garrison.
troops of the line. marines and Gardes Mobiles
were to lay down their arms at once; only
12,0C0 men and the National Guard were to re-
tain them for the preservation of order. The
armistice; afterward they were to be regarded as
prisoners. As to their transfer to Germany.
where every possible place was already over
flowing with prisoners. that question was post
poned In expectation Of probable peace.
The forts were occupied on the 29th without
opposition. The French army gave up CO..
guns. l.110.000 stands Of arms and about l.6O0
ammunition wagons: the fortress surrendered
l,SG2 heavy guns, 1,6SG gun carriages. $50
Anbers. 3,500.U00 Cartridges. 1900 hundred
weight OF powder, 100000 shells and 100 001
rouad shot. The blockade of Paris. which had
lasted 49, days, was over. and the greater part
OF the German forces detained outside the
walls were released to end the war in the open
field.
woNDRoUs FIGHT IN THE SOUTH.
Meanwhile, in the south was fought that won
drous fight at Talant, near Dion. which the
Germans will never forget. The sixty first reg
lment. under Gen. Won Kettler, had stormcd
and taken the chateau of Valmy. or the Lam
gres road, and had taken Polly, walled and
strongly occupied, after memorable feats OF
arms.
Beyond this place the enemy were found to
have lntrcached themselves between Iaiant
which had been regularly fortified, and a large
factory building ON the high road Her, the
German advance was checked till the remainder
of the regiment came up from Nalmy. and the
defenders were driven in at various points and
back on the suburb.
1t WAS evident that the French were still at
Dion in fC1 force: but now, unfortunately, a
tragic episode took place, for the storming of
the factory was insisted on-a huge building,
almost impregnable for infantry unaided.
When all the senior officers had Teen killed a
hrst lieutenant whose horse had been shot and
he himself wounded. took the command of the
second battalion. No sooner had the fifth
company, only forty strong, appeared from
tine neiShboriag quarry than they came under
a hot fire from all sides. Their leader was at
once wounded, and the sergeant vino carried
the colors fell dead after few steps: SO did
the second lieutenant and the battalion ad-
jutant. who again raised the standard. 1t
was passed from hand to hand, first to
the officers, then to the men; every bearer
ieil. The brave Pomeranlans nevertheless
rushed on the building. but there was no en-
trance on that side, and at last the under officer
reiterated on The quarries with the remnant of
the little band. here. for the first time. the
colors were missed. OF their own accord they
Went out again in the darkness to seek them,
but Only one man returned unwounGed. 1t
was not till afterward that they were found by
the French, shot to ribbons. IL a pool of blood
under the dead. These were the only German
coiors lost in the war.
Thus war, carried on with such a vast ex-
penditure oil force on both.sides was brought to
an end by incessant and restless energy in the
short period of seven months Even in the
hrst four weeks eight battles took place, under
which the French empire collapsed and the
French army was swept from the field. Fresh
forces, massive but incompetent equaiized the
original numerical superiority OF tie Germans.
and 1t needed twe4ye more battles 10 secure the
decisive siege of the enemys capital TwenAy
fortified places were taken and not {. single day
passed without struggle. great CT small
lhc war had cost the Germans many victims:
they lost G.zi1 officers, l23, 453 nen, one iiag
and six guns.
The total losses Of the French were incalcu-