The Ocala evening star., 1914-09-08

the French capital from Paris to Bor-
deaux affords only another Of the
striking instances in which the war
Of 1914 is repeating the history Of
the Franco-Prussian war of 1870.
In 1870, after the defeat of Nc
Mahon, the capture of Napoleon III.
and the establishment Of the Third |
Republic, the provisional govern
ment caused the capital to be re-
to Tours. 1t remained there !
until that city was in danger of in |
yestment lby the Germans, when the |
government and the archives were |
taken to Bordeaux. That city re-
mained the capital of the provisional
government for three months, when
the national assembly convened
there and formed permanent gov
ernment. Preliminary terms of
peace were formulated at Bordeaux,
and the French government did not
return to Paris until peace was fin
ally and formally concluded at
Frankfort.
Bordeaux is $50 miles southwest
of Paris, on the Orleans railway. 1t
is a city of 240, 900 inhabitants, sit
uated on the left bank of the River
Garonne, sixty miles from the sea,
in the center of the wine growing
district of Medoc. lit is the fourth
seaport in France in commercial i'm
portance.
But before bordeaux became the
seat of government in 1871, it had
Ibeen prominent in the affairs of tur-
bulent France. 1t was the head of
the Girondist movement in the revo-
Tuition and suffered much in the
Reign of Terror.
AS in 1871, the present removal
of the seat of government was an
nounced simply as matter of pre-
caution and was promised to be only
Temporary The Prussians held the
north of France and were at the
very gates of Paris. After the defeat
at Sedan, Sept. 1, 1870, the people
trose up against Napoleon, who was
prisoner in a Prussian castle. A
government of national defense was
formed to carry on the forlorn cam
lpaign against the Prussians. Its
head was Leon Gambetta.
From this government of national
defense arose a Third Republic on
the ruins of the Third Empire, and
the first session of the national as
sembly was held at Bordeaux
The situation today is much the
same as forty-four years ago, except
that there is no possibility that the
French form of government will be
overturned. The Germans crossed
the northern frontier despite the
stubborn resistance of the allies,
and arrived within a few miles of
Paris. The German right wing
steadily pushed back the French left
and when the capital was ordered
Imoved to Bordeaux, the nearest Ger
Imans were only some forty miles
from Paris.
The government in announcing
1.-THE removal, said there was no dam
ger of the Germans taking Paris, but
it was deemed advisable to move the
seat of government and the archives,
llbecause it was possible that Paris
might again have to face a state of
siege and in any event the army of
the allies would have to use the forts
defending the capital as a pivotal
point in the fighting.
AS in 1871 the inhabitants OF
j Paris were advised to keep calm,
J ! that there was no real danger. They
were told that in the opinion of the
u government the enemy could not
get near enough to ibesiege the city
and if they did they could not take
Mt. French people were advised tic
: remain in Paris, but all foreigners
4 including at least 5000 Americans
c were warned to leave for the United
States or England.
: In the meantime Paris was in &
state that reminded veterans of the
v stirring days of 1871. Everywhert
- stern preparations were being made
!. to Withstand siege, while ever
!, Ithose making the preparations sol
emnly declared they had no idea
e siege would come. Everyw.her,
e trenches were dug, ramparts. thrown
UP and cannon planted to supple
: ment the defenses of the wall of Par
a is and the eighty miles of costly an,
- powerful forts that encircle the city
Troops were pouring into the fort
9 and everything was put in readines
r. for the coming of the invaders
n Strangely enough there was no pani
% noticeable. Even while lombard
: ments in German aerapIanes becam