New-York tribune., 1905-04-16
Le Bontil1ler Brothers
West Tqyenfy-thrd Street

at the present time. After the capitulation Os
Sedan in 1870 he was one Of number oe
French officers who were permitted to reside In
and around Bonn. having given their parole
that they would make attempt to escape.
That Is to say, the liberty enjoyed by them
conditional upon their observance OF this
pledge. In the neighbOring districts many
thousands OF men belonging to the rank and
file OF the French army were kept closely con-
fined in great prison camps. common soldiers
and non-commissioned officers being regarded
as incapable OF appreciating the full value OF
a word OF honor. and therefore being debarred
from the privilege OF liberty on parole. Tow
ard the end Of the year. that is. Of 1870, the
duke. who was only colonel at the time. sud-
denly became aware that movement was In
progress among the men imprisoned in the camp
nearest Bonn to rise on Christmas Eve against
their guards and. after effecting their escape.
to cross the Rhine to reioin the French army
He was likewise informed that several OF his
fellow officers on parole were concerned IN the
movement and overtures were even made to
him to Join in the enterprise Instead OF yield
ing to the suggestion. he at once placed himself
in communication with General Won Bitten
field. the German military governor OF the dis
trict, to whom he disclosed the project, esteem
ing that his own honor, as we'll as that OF every
other French officer at liberty on parole. was at
adopted such measures as effectUally prevented
the rising. the officers implicated in the affair
being relieved of their parole and tnterned until
the end Of the war in the fortresses that line the
Russian frontier of Germany. OF course, after
the war was over there was good deal OF dis
cussion in military circles all over Europe as
to the attitude of the duke in the affair. and
while there were some who insisted that the
episode was calculated 10 tarnish the reputation
OF this most gallant Of French cavalry leaders.
the vast majority Of officers both in France
and abroad. lauded his conduct as an HlUstra-
ton OF Gallo chivalry and sense Of honor.
By warning the German general the duke un-
dOubtedly prevented a rising. which would not
only have resulted in the shedding OF much
French blood. but in an increase of the severity
and Of the rigorous treatment to which those
of the rank and file OF the French army who
were unfortunate enough to be prisoners OF
war in Germany were subjected More
over had the revolt taken place. and any
paroled French officers been found IMPLICATED
therein, the German authorities would in
all likelihood have refused to continue to con-
cede conditional liberty to any commissioned
French officers what atsoever. on the ground that
their sense OF honor was of too elastic nature.
The Due de BeauffYemont therefore considered
that there was at stake not only the welfare OF
nearly half a million OF his cOUntrymen in Ger
many, but also the reputation Of French officers
as gentlemen and men Of honor. Under the cir
cumstances he felt it to be his duty to communi-
cate the conspiracy to the German commander.
even at the risk of mourning the reprOach OF
having betrayed those of his fellow oficers
foolish enough to have implicated themselves IN
the affair
Sometimes the parole is merely verbal. bur
this is rather rare. as it Is apt to lead TO mis-
understanding Thus. the German authorities
always claimed that General DUcTot, who had
been taken prisoner at Sedan. had given his
parole and had violated its S<avisions when he
subsequently escaped from Pont Mousson, dis
guised as a peasant driving cart lead of pota=
toes. and when later on he was appointed % the
command OF one OF the French armies Prtnce
Bismarck issued a circular letter 70 the powers
protesting and holding him up to ObloGUy. Cen
eral Ducrot, on the other hand. always denied
that he had given his parole, and. being gallant
officer who conducted himself with good deal
OF bravery and patriotism throughout the war
Is entitled to the benefit of the doubt, the moro
so as there was no written proof that he ever
pledged his word not TO escape. Il is a matter
for speculation what would have happened to
him had he been captured second time by the
Germans. for, according TO the rules of war in
this country as in the Old World. officer
who breaks his parole and is taken prisoner
again while bearing arms is punishable with
death. and II the Japanese have failed to infics
this penalty upon the Russian Of1cer from Poxs
consiansd arm pNg>