The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-09-02
is HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF?
Events of Today as Compared with
Those of the Franco-Prussian War
of Forty-Four Years Ago
by Herbert Temple, European Man
ager of the international News
Service)


ng a reverse at the beginning of
each war-at Saarbruck in 1870
and at Liege in 1914, and TO the fact
the fighting of each conflict occurred
N nearly the same territory, a fur
Their coincidence in the two wars is
noted in the fact that they had their
actual commencement in the month
of august.
But the really big battle of the
earlier war, at Weissenburg and
Geisberg, the fighting lasted for five
hours and the French were defeated
with heavy loss. Gen. Douay was
killed, and the French who had been
Joined by Gen Thousands command
retired in great disorder. This first
defeat sadly disheartened the French
and proportionately encouraged the
Germans.
Emperor Napoleon ILL., decreed a
day of prayer in Paris and then went
to the front to join the army at
Metz, taking supreme command af-
ter making Empress Eugene regent
of France. AT the same time King
William issued proclamation very
similar to that issued by the Kaiser
at the beginning of the present war,
in which he said: THE love of the
|Father1and and the unanimous up
rising of all Germans have concili-
ated all opinions and dissipated all
disagreements. The war will pro-
cure for Germany a lasting peace
and from this blood sed will arise
harvest blest by God-the liberty
and unity of Germany
On August IS, two days after the
disastrous fighting at Weissenberg a
fierce battle was fought at Woerth,
where the French were crushingly
defeated. The Germans now had
$4,000 men with ITO guns ready
for fighting. while the French could
muster all told, including the re-
serves, only $50, 900. At Woerth
the Prussian Grown Prince attacked
tMcMahon and the army of the Rhine
which had been strengthened by the
division of Failly and Canrobert.
The fight was bloody and des-
perate, much of it hand to hand with
libayonets, and lasted all day and far
into the night. The French suffered
complete defeat, losing 5000 dead
and wounded and 5000 prisoners.
The Germans lost over 10000 offic-
ers and men.
On the same day another sanguin-
airy battle was fought at Spichern,
near Saarbruck, which became
known as the battle of Forbach.
There, too, the French were badly
defeated The Germans were direct
led by General Won Steinmetz and the
French were directed by General
'Frossard
After fierce artillery duel, the
Germans stormed the heights of
Spichern and quickly put the French
to utter rout. This battle LASTED
only a few hours, and at its conclus-
ion the French reiterated in disorder,
leaving 1000 men killed and 2 900
lprisoners. The German loss was
1913 killed and wounded. Most of
/ the lighting was hand to hand, the
/ Germans using bayonets and club
llbed muskets.
Thus in one day both wings of the
French army were crushingly de-
feated. The remnants of Mcmahon s
army fell back on Savrne to protect
Nancy and the survivors of Fros-
sard's division retreated to Forbach
and Metz.
Their original position could no
longer be held by he French and all
of the corps gathered into two large
masses to retreat along the line of
the Moselle. Two separate armies
were now formed, the one known as
the army Of Metz under Marshal Ba-
za.ne, and the other commanded by
Marshal Mcmahon.
Bazaine was made commander
chief Of the French forces with 130,.
UOO men; McMahOn had about 90 ],
900 and Canrobert had about 10000
poorly equipped reserves.
, Following the disastrous battle o
, F'orbach, the French met a series o
minor defeats that served further t.
: dishearten the nation and fill tn.
: troops with discomfort. On Angus
Z 18th, the Germans, meeting little re
sistance, occupied Forbach, Hague
: nan and Saargueniens. They ais
a retook Saarbruck with only desultor.
: fighting. On August 9th, the Ger
: mans took possession Of st. Avol
and invested Phalsburg and Strass
gurg.
On August 10, Lithtenburg capitu
Il In+nd 4afha Eormauc and On tIa f0l