New-York tribune., 1909-02-27
4 FOOTNOTE.
An English Military Historian on
Ba2aine'S Deed.


In another article on this page something is
said of Bazaine and the capitulation of Metz
1t is interesting apropos of the book traversed
bv our Paris correspondent NJ. Germain Bapst 5
Life of Marshal Canrobert to note that General
Brackenbury, the English military historian.
has in the current number Of "Backwood's
Magazine some notable things to say, an
eyewitness. about the most dramatic episode in
the war of 1870. He knew Napoleon III, he
knew Canrobert and Bazaine. and he was in
many ways well qualified TO write on the sub
iect when. after the Commune. he decided TO
prepare a book for French readers "analyzing
the French conduct Of the war down TO the
capituation of Metz"
He wrote the book and had it printed. but just
when he was on the point of publication he
learned that Bazane was 10 be brought 70 trial
and so felt bound TO suppress the volume Now
he gives US the gist Of his book as follows:
When commencing it was under the firm belief
that Bazaine had done his best according 10 ms
lights. to break out Of Metz. II was true ilal
afnong the French officers whom had met in the
@Diyi3ion that memorable morning after The ca
pitulation OF Metz feeling was GNi.enj ihai t!yt
town the same feeling was s-strongly expressed, ana
Bazaine was universally accused OF sl,I slot =, 4"
roberts headquarters. freely as his stan had sp.Stn
conVeved II vas incredible to me that a marshal
of the French Empire should have bet1Std tiS
accusation OF treason after a tiona defeat. was
Confident that nv close study OF detail would enable
me 10 nrove that Whatever might have been his
faults Of strategy Of tactics BazaiHe was al
But as the facts developed themselves before me
IL was borne IN up me ny tAe "Eleeileg tila ~ a.
help the Germans, but for the reason which fol
I9"S ref coand Bazan had ahafed and freJied left
the army OF Metz, and Bazaine determined mat ne
d PJ his xianati6 When the Emperor lett
me E-pil o..
the full measure Of his content i he had c0I-
tnued the march on Verdun on that day he would
have come under the Emperor again. The proofs
were irresistible that from that moment although
one object was to avoid doing SO
The most damnng fact TO my mind was this: 1t
appeared TO be clearly and distinctly proved that
on August 3 he received a dispatch from Mac
Montmedy. The day after tomorrow shall be On
the Aisne whence l shall operate, according %
circumstances, to come to your relief tie con-
cedled the receipt Of this on the Zih he assembled
the commandments of army corps to consult them ON
patch; but he laid before them reasons Why II wts
the eneny's lines. and they accepted this view II
march had reached the troops through some Of the
many sources Of information from outside. that he
received it only that day. The copy which h.
showed had reached him only that day, but many
him the 23d, having been telegraphed TO Thion-
way through the German lines
was staggered at this evidence. I ran over 20
Paris and asked Marshal Canro bert 30 tell me what
he believed be the truth. All ] tell you
said. the loyal oid solder, Is TINS: When | met
Marshal Bazaine at CaSSel. in Germany, / said 70
him, Before I shake hands with you / must
ask you this question: Did you, coTnme pre-
tend receive MacMahons dispatch from Rheims
the 23d d?' No, received ii on the Both. and
communicated it T. you at once" his reply.
L asked him the question again later in Paris
and received the same reply
What then in RazaineS mind Did he
foresee the catastrophe of Sedan, aud know that
would leave him the one general the commander Of
the one army Of France2 II 50. his calculations
failed. There is ample evidence that he believed
Paris would oher no serious resistance. but Paris
held II. and he and his army were the first t.
succumb.
When this leading idea Of Bazaiue's deter
minaton not to Tejon the Emperor had peue tsited
my mind much that had hitherto seemed obscure
became clear. ! tOre up great part of what I had
written. and rewrote the manuscript relating to
the army Of Metz from the date Of August 16 AlaSl
formed terrible Indictment, proved step by step
from the evidence.