The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-09-13

view appear to have passed in hot
interchange Of demands and refusa!s.
He then gave out the faxed despatch
and In a few hours Paris was clamoring
for war
/ Paris resounded with cries OF On -
Berlin" Maps OF Germany from the
| Rhine to the capital were everywhere
scanned There were plenty OF them,
but IL afterward proved that there was
a scarcity Of maps of France from Paris
to the Rhine Every one in Paris was
confident OF quick and easy victory.
But the provinces the real stay Of the
nation. did not share this confidence.
as events proved
And now was presented again the work
ing out Of the Prussiau Kings military
/ organization. brought to "A still greater
| efficiency by the genius Of Won Moltke.
The German army was mobilized and
on the border in miraculously short
time. The world was amazed at the
rapidly displayed England declared
| It's neutrality, and Russia. Prussia
| friend then threatened Austria with in
| vssion II that country offered France
aid.
| Meanwhile In Paris even the Emperor
became aware that no nation so unpre-
against one already modified and on the
! frontier. There was not an arm OF the
French service At for war at that time
! Arms ammunition. clothing. food. trans
I portatiou. horses medicine, all were in
I adequate or lacking. The Ministry had
grossly deceived the Emperor and in
( VOWED the nation in a struggle the end
OF which easily could be foreseen.
Alsace and Lorraine were invaded by
the Germans who defeated Mac Mahon
August 6 at Worth and sent his army
in fight toward Paris After one or
two small reverses at the beginning of
the war the success Of the Germans
WAS almost continuous. While Mac
Mahon was retreating another French
army was beaten and pushed toward
Metz, which was strongly fortified and
under command Of Bazaine Metz was
cut off and beseged MaCMahon was
ordered back TO relieve Bazaine. but he
! was met nj Sedan September . and
after heavy hattie was compelled to
surrender with him was the Emperor
Nearly half the French army was killed
When Paris learned the stunning
news the empire was at end 4 republic
was declared and preparations were
made to defend the city. The French
spirit now was aroused and in spite of
the humiliation OF successive defeats in
the past two months ii continued with a
much smaller force to resist the German
advance on Paris. The capital was in
vested by the German army September
49, and until the last OF January the
garrison made heroic defence.
The seat Of government had been
transferred TO Tours and Bordeaux and
the depleted nation raised armies in
the provinces and continued resistance
TO fhe invaders. After holding ont 10
the end Of October. Metz surrendered.
and by this and the fall Of Strassburg
almost 100000 Frenchmen became pris-
oners Of war. These events sealed TN,
rate or the capital and Il settled down
10 resist so long as its supplies lasted.
A. the point OF starvation il gave mn
January ~. Peace was concluded AT
Versailles. and the vanuuished nation
promised to pay Germany 81 900 600 600
N three years, support the German
army until II was Withdrawn. and give
up Alsace and u part Of Lorraine.
Another humiliation imposed BY Bis
marck upon the beaten country was his
choice of Versailles ~ the plac4 st
which To seal German unity. The Sou,h
German states were taken into the con-
federation and the German Empire was
established with William !. 49, German
Emperor. This took place January Is.
ISL
hnt Frances troubles were no, over
" she had passed through Gethsemans
f"irptha yet awaited her The A sern
ny under b. proclaimed republic was
controlled by monarchists. There were
prtt"nders To the throne. nd the popu-
lace feared that they were to have an.
"'hct bitter dose OF Bourbonism Tho
phrtINsis of trade, the starvation ~
me p"pulace and the proposed removal
OF the Government to Versailles Jed 10
IN" organization Of the Commune the
product OF combined sentiment among
me Republicans and Socialists. largely
IN me q -ctndent politically. with them
was the national guard
In fear Of an Instruction the Govern
ment Withdrew and he Commune took
charge II the city. council was chos-
en-. ana the radical element came To the
front clash occurred with the As
sembly at Versailles. and several men
We're shot. The tight was now between
IA" Commune ana the ASSEMBLY.
The latter. strengthened by soldiers
released from Germany. proceeded to
invest Paris, II was not for forty nine
days that the besegers were able to
break down the defence Street battles
followed, and the city was set on fire
10y women carrying cans filed with coal
oil Anarchy reigned everywhere. Pub
lie buildings were DESTROYED and art
treasures ruined.
The Commune had all this time held
a number OF prominent persons as pris-
oners. These were executed when II
was seen that the city would fan to
the Assembly forces. II appeared as
though the revolution was come again.
Seventeen thousand are said TO have
persisted. Later there were trials and
many thousand persons were punished.
The republic was finally established
with Adolphe Theirs as President. and
the country painfully began TO recoup
from It's terrible experience
BY war and German annexation the
population was reduced about 21OO 600
To the amazement OF the world. but of
Germany especially, the enormous war
debt was paid before II was due. so
wonderful was the recuperative power
OF France and the industry and thrift
NJ It's people. Business began 10 regain
its normal activity, finance was put on
n sound basis and the army was thor