Arizona republican., 1914-04-03
TRIAL OF MARSHAL BAZAINE

One of the most imposing and eventful military trials that ever has taken place c was that of Francois Achille BaZaine, the French marshal, who was accused of having coward ly SUIT rendered his soldiers. 140,000 in number, to the Germans, who made them prisoners of war At the mo-
 ment of the surrender a weeks fur ther resistance would have enabled the levies of the national defense government to crush the weak forces of the Germans on the Loire and to relieve Paris.
 The responsibility for this crush ing blow was, naturally enough, and justly enough, placed on Bazaines shoulders, and, although when he re- turned from captivity the marshal enjoyed a brief immunity, he was, in 1873, brought to trial before a military court.
 This trial was held in the Palace of Trianon, at Versailles, under the presidency of the Duke d'Aumale In the presence of his peers and sur rounded by the greatest names that France can show, this weather beat : en soldier, standing at the very sum- init of French military glory, ar rayed in the full uniform of the rank and wearing the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor, was condemned to death on December 10, 1873, and to be degraded from his rank previous to his execution.
 When Bazaine surrendered Metz the French people at once raised the cry, "We are betrayed," And when | the treaty of peace was signed Ba- zaine was immediately placed under | arrest, on May 10, 1872. The prep aration for his trial was commenced l at once. More than 1900 witnesses l for the prosecution were sworn in the preliminary examinatio occu- pying seventeen months, or until the ! 9th of October, 1873, when the trial proper opened at Versailles.
 | From that time until his conviction
 the court had been in session almost l every day. In the indictment read l the first day Bazaine was charged with treachery to the arms of his l country, in that he failed to relieve 1 General Froissard at the important battle of Forbach; that he failed to
 exercise due vigilance and prompti- l tude in the defense of Metz; that he | committed fatal blunders during the | progress of that memorable siege
 and that he capitulated against the | wishes of the soldiery and the peo- | pie, and in the most inglorious and l suspicious manner.
 | Of these charges he was found guilty notwithstanding that among
 those who came to his defence were ten generals of divisions, seven sur
 geOns of the army, and two priests
 At the summing up, Lachaud wht 1 acted as counsel for BaZaine. said T deeply sympathize with the vali
 ant soldier who is so terribly accus
 ed. 1 fear not death for him. H
 is brave and fears nothing but los
 of his honor, for the sake of his wifi
 and children. I feel most fo
 France, which will deplore the los of the valorous soldier Your honors
 patriotism forbids that you condem
 him."
 M. Pourcet, who was prosecutin the case, said: T demand that terrible example be made as a les son to the rising generation" Befor the judges withdrew Bazaine said '1 have two words in my breast honor and country I have neve teen wanting towards this prou
 motto during forty-two years of ser vice. l swear before Christ that have not betrayed France" After a long deliberation the judge declared Bazaine guilty to tf charges of the equalization of Met
 and his army in the open. field witt
 out doing all that was in his powt by honor and duty to avoid surrer der; and unanimously condemne
 him to death, and to be degrade from his rank previous to his execr :! tfon
 After the judgment had been Ter