The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-29

Won Moltke now proceeds to trace the series
Of encroachments on tho German empire by
the French. oncroachm ents which began with
the invasion Of Naples by Charles OF Aniou.
Then It was that France seized the Inheritance
Of the Hohenataufens in aouthern Italy. and
the kingdom OF Burgundy. or Arelat. on the
Rhone. and IL was French prince that ORDER
ed the last scion OF the Suabian i'm rerial house
to perish under the executioner's axe. Not
long nfterward. France succeeded in placing
an Apgevin dynasty upon the throne OF Hun
gary in order to surround tho German empire
on all sides: and removed the Pope to Avignon,
where 1t kept him in honorable imprisonment
and compelled him to enforce measures iniu-
rious to the German empire. The whole reign
OF Emperor Louis OF Bavaria was desperate
struggle against the intrigues OF the Roman
French alliance. It was not until tho death OF
Charles the Bold. neal the close Of the fifteenth
century. and tho marriage OF his daughter to
Macmillan. that the German part OF his
inheritance PASSED over to the Austrian
house. and the ascendnncy OF the German
empire seemed to be restored. About half
century afterward. however. the French re-
sumed their encroachments upon the German
frontier. On the pretence Of rescuing the
religious liberty OF the Germans. Henry II. Of
France gained possession OF the three cities
and Bishorrics OF Metz. Toul. and Verdun. and
was suffered to retain them. for the Germans
were fighting with one another. instead OF
uniting their strength to oppose the enemy OF
the emrire. The religious liberty for which
the French King had professed to contend was
wholly eXtinguished. the Lutheran profession
OF faith being forbidden on pain OF death.
About hundred years Inter France took oc-
cason In the Thirty Years War to make an
other acquisition at the expense OF Germany.
.LxNt A.,
oil German empire surrendered Alsace to
France with the exception OF the imperial
cities. particularly Strasburg. 1t was Louis
MY. who wrested from the Germans not only
Strasburg and the other imperial towns in
Asace. but the free earldom OF Burgundy and
large section Of the Spanish Netherlands. in
Guiding such important cities as Lille. Tour
nay and Arras. Finally. through the family
compact OF Charles VI. France won. by
stroke Of the pen. the Duchy Of Lorraine.
which had. through so many centuries. been
loyal to the German empire.
Writing In 1841. Won Moltke thought that
great mistake had been made in 1914 and
1916 BY not pushing back France within what
he considers her natural boundary. AS
matter OF fact. she was suffered not only to
keep French speaking Burgundy and French
speaking Lorraine. but also German Lorraine
and German Alsace. including Strasburg.
the key OF Upper Germany 1t 10 evident that
IL Won Moltke could have had his way with the
Treaty of Frankfort he would have taken from
France the whole OF Alsace and of Lorraine. to-
gether with Franche Comts and all OF the
French Netherlands which formerly spoke
dialect Of tho German language-in a word.
all the acquisitions which France had made at
the expense OF Germany since the death OF
Louis XI. What Germany failed to take at
that time it will certainly insist upon at the
end OF another successful war;