The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-02-19
TIE FRANoo-PRussIAN WAR.
Stupendous Figures-Hot Fighting
The Only German Flag Captured.

The Only German Flag Captured.
From Von Moltke's Memoirs.
The armistice following the fall of Paris
gave the committee Of national defense
time enough to call freely elected national
assembly together at Bordeaux, whose bust
ness it would be to decide whether the war
should be continued, or on what conditions
peace could be concluded. The election Of
the deputies was impeded and uninluenced
even In the parts OF the country occupied
by German troops.
The regular force of the Paris garrison,
troops of the line, marines and Gardes Mo-
biles were to lay down their arms at once;
only IL, 900 men and the national guard
were to retain them for the preservation
OF order. The garrison were informed for
the time of the time of the armisttce; after
ward they were to be regarded as prisoners.
AS 20 their transfer to Germany, where
every possible place was already overflow
ing with prisoners, that question was post
poned in expectation Of probable peace
The forts were occupied on the Goth with-
out opposition. The French army gave up
COB guns, ,777, 900 stands OF arms and about
1,600 ammunition wagons; the fortress sur
rendered 1867 heavy guns, 1850 gun car
riages, $50 limbers, $500, 900 cartridges,
4, ZOO hundred weight Of powder, 200 100
shells and 100, 900 round shot. The blockade
OF Paris, which had lasted 1872 days, was
over, and the greater part of the German
forces detained outside the walls were re-
leased to end the war in the open field.
WoNDRoUS FIGHT IN THE SOUTH.
Meanwhile. in the south was fought that
wondrous fight at Talant, near Dillon,
which the Germans will never forget. The
Sixty-frst regiment, under Gen. Won Ket-
tier, had stormed and taken the chateau of
Valmy. on the Langres road, and had taken
Polly, walled and strongly occupied, after
memorable feats of arms.
Beyond this place the enemy were found
to have iutrenched themselves between
Talnnt, which had been regularly fortified,
and large factory building on the high
road. Here the German advance was
checked till the remainder Of the regiment
came up from Valmy. and the defenders
were driven in at various points ana back
on the suburb.
1t was evident that the French were still
at DIXON in full force; but now, unfortu-
nately, tragic episode took place, for
the storming of the factory was insisted on
"a huge building, almost impregnable for
infantry uuaided. When all the senior
officers bad been killed, a first lieutenant
whose horse had been shot and he himself
wounded, took the command Of the Second
battalion. No sooner had the Fifth conn
pany, only forty strong, appeared from the
Hoak uoVlAns quarry bndn Lney came under
q hot fire from all sides. The
leader was at once wounded and the
sergeant who carried the colors
fell dead after few steps; so did
the second lieutenant and the battalion ad-
iutant, who again raised the standard. 1t
was passed from hand TO hand, first to the
officers, then to the men; every bearer fell
The brave Pomerani2ns nevertheless rushed
on the building, but there was no entrance
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 40
cord they went out again in the darkness to
seek them, but only one man returned I'M
wounded. 1t was not till afterward that
they were found by the French. shot to rib
bons. in a pool of blood under the dead.
These were the only German colors lost in
| the war.
Thus a war, carried on with such a vas!
| expenditure OF force on both sides, was
brought to an end by incessant and restless
| energy in the short period of seven months.
| Even in the first 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, equalized the numerical su-
| periority Of the Germans, and IL needed
twelve more battles to secure the decisive
siege OF the enemy's capital Twenty forti.
| fed places were taken, and not a single day
passed without a struggle, great or small
The war had cost the Germans many
victims; they lost 6,247 officers, 123, 45S men
| flag and 6 guns.
The total losses of the French were IN
calculable. In prisoners only they amounted
to: