The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1906-09-20

be nothing but an armed mob, without
the ability to conform to the orders
Of good leaders, if such could be found
So it proved. At no time during the
siege did the Germans have more than
10000 men before Paris, while Trochu
had 100000 men in the strongly forti-
fed city. TrOchu tried twice to break
his way with 10000 picked men thru
the German lines, in order to effect
junction with the army Of the Loire,
but was each time driven back with |
fearful loss. The French volunteers
were as patriotic and brave as any
volunteers ever were; Lut personal
bravery amounts to nothing against
well-trained troops, unless such brav-
cry is directed in the right manner.
During one of the sorties, French
force of infantry, unaccompanied by
artillery, appeared before fortified
German position, occupied by three
batteries aud one battalion of infan-
try. Unless the batteries are first
siienced, such position can easily
withstand the attack of $1,000 infan-
try. AT that tile, 1t was not any
more the intention of the Germans to
infllct great loss on the French, and
the different German commanders
were instructed accordingly. So, when
the officer iii command of the post saw
that the French had advanced within
$500 feet, and were still advancing, he
seut out flag of truce and demanded
that the $500 French should either
surrender, or 60 back to Paris with ali
despatch, as otherwise he would be
obliged to open fire. He also ex-
planned to the French commander the
strength of the German position. But
this Frenchman must have deem a reg
ular tire-eater. He demanded in turn
that the Germans should surrender at
once, and when this handsome PROPOSE
tion was politely declined, he ordered
his men to fire a volley, and then
marched them in quickstep up the hill,
firing all the time, but doing no harm.
Of course, that made it necessary to
teach them lesson. One battery was
ordered to fire, and six guns thun-
dered charge of grspnel into the
compact French body, causing great
slaughter. The French rallied
again and advanced once more The
battery fired second shot, and when
the smoke cleared away, the French
were seen disappearing in the distance;
but they had left 287 men, killed or
wounded, on the hill slope. If any
one chooses to call the action of the
French commander courageous and
praiseworthy, he is welcome to it; in
the eyes of a modern general staff it is
criminal foolhardiness.
The French republican armies were
! everywhere defeated and most OF
them totally dispelled; but there were
: 80 many of them in all parts of France
J that the work of the general staff was
enormous. It took alone 500 railroad
trains to carry the large siege guns and
. necessary ammunition to Paris. In con
} sequence of the many strong forts, the
} Paris outer line of defense was over
fifty miles long, and every mile of this
had to be invested by the Germans
) and it was the general staff VIII,
> made all preparations, issued all or
!; ders, and furnished everything tha
5 was required-and in time. After tht
capitulation of Metz, the regiment o.
] dragons in which the writer serveG
|. was with Gen. Won Goeben in tn,
f North, and marched thru the entir,
8 width of France to the very shore of th'
Q Atlantic. This part of the German
], army was farthest away from its bas,
; of supply during November, Decembe
q and January of an unusually sever'
Q winter. But there was not day OF
Q which we did not have suficien
t food for men or horses. AM
b we also had good warm clothing
o down to dry socks. What all tina
f means, can be fully appreciated onl
d by those who have served in an ex
:, tended campaign in hostile country
q Tho it is at his own expense, the write
: will conclude with a personal expel
+, fence: After the French army of th
b North under Aurelles de Palladine
d had been dispersed, our army corp
% was much pestered by franc-tireur
n frnov~iIloN xx,ho ouol,u uchod onA L;al,