The San Francisco call., 1897-10-31

ing three French armies which came
from the provinces to relieve the capital.
The First German Army, exec pit that part
OF it which was needed 10 transport the
French prisoners to Germany, was now
placed under the command of General
Manieufel and ordered TO operate against
the French Army of the north under GEN
eral Faidherbe. Prince Frederick Charles
was TO proceed with the Second Army on
Orleans. where the Germans so far had
not been able to check the advance of the
Loire army under CLANCY and Aureile de
Paladines. General Won Werder's army
corps, after Strassburg had been taken,
was directed to operate against the army
in the south, about whose strength the
German headquarters seem 10 have been
lady informed or they would not have
sent Won Werder to cope with such very
superior numbers. In fact the strength
of the provincial armies was greatly un-
derated by the staff in Versailles, particu-
larly in regard to their armament, which
was far be tier than the Germans supposed
it to be. Over 100000 new Chassepot
rifles were stored in the maga zines of
provin cial towns and the newly created
French armies could be supplied with
any thing they needed in the way of mod
efn armament and the other necessaries
of warfare.
The Germans at first were under the
impression that all modern war materials
were stored in Paris and the other be-
seged places, and did not believe that
such large number of well.equipped
troops as were actually b~ougnt against
them could be raised in France. This &C.
counts, in some way. for the small num-
Der of German forces that during the
months of September and October were
sent far into the interior of France, where
they were placed in more or less isolated
position and opposed TO numerically su-
perior forces. That these isolated detach-
ments succeeded in holding their positions
and to defeat their adversaries almost
every time they came in contact is another
illustration of the superiority of dis
ciplined troops TO mIlitiamen.
We will conclude this article with few
words about Garibaldi, to whom the ma
tional defense had given the command Of
the army OF the Vosges, and so dispense
oEce for all with the part the old Italian
patriot played in this war. The army OF
the Vosges bad been organized in Bur-
gundy AID, at the time when Garibaldi
took command of the same, the French
officers were much dissatisfied with being
commanded by a foreigner, who at once
appointed his two sons. Menotti and r.
cotti. to the highest positions under him.
Several of the French generals could not
agree with him, and had themselves trans
ferred to the other armies.
The many Italians and adventurers in
Garibaldrs ranks were never on eood
terms with the French soldiers. and the
country people were much offended by the
continual hatred which Garibaldi e..
pressed against the Catholic church and
her servants on all occasions, and by the
miserable discipline maintained bv his
soldiery. which WAS dreaded much more
than the enemy. His soldiers were clad
in all kinds OF uniforms, and were
equipped with many different but verv
good modem rifles Garibaidi nosses.ad
undoubted talents as an army organizer
but under prevailing circumstances was
not able to achieve any success in this re.
spect. A com parativeIy small force of
Germans sufhced to keep him in and
around Diion till the end of the war. and
when he had to evacuate this town in
| consequence of the truce of January 81
| 1871, and marched his men through the
German lines, they had more the apnear-
ance OF mob than of soldiers, and COM
mitted exces:es wherever they came.