The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-07-05
SOME NEW BOOKS.
An Eng1ishman in France In

Windus, London), by ERNEST ALrR 4
NIztrELLY tdegli NizzetcllD. While tn,
author was only In his seventeenth yea
when the Franco-German war begar
no had the heredity OF a Journalist
some actual training in the duties of
correspondent and unusual opportuni
ties to see and hea: what was going on
Whatever, therefore. may be the pro
portions, not less Understandable nc
doubt to himself than to the reader, IN
which his actual memories combine
"!;!i subsequently, ACQUIRED informa-
'"n the result is picturesque, at once
entertaining and informative and ir
us information SUCCESSFULLY stmulant
rather than potentially provocative.
I.
In his account OF the origin OF the
war and its first stages. through revo.
luton to the defence of the French cap
ital against the German besiegers, Mr.
Vizetelly INDUCES the historical rather
more than the reminiscent mood. He
protests against imposition on Ger
many. more precisely on Bismarck
standing for Prussia, Of the entire bur
den Of responsibility for the conflict
French statesmen had long been anx-
iously watching the advance of Prus-
Ella toward Teutonlc hegemony. Ma
poleon Ill had expected substantial rec
ignition Of his neutrality and Bismarck,
is said TO have done anything but dis
courage the French Emperors terri
torial expectations. When II became
unpuestionably apparent that these
were to be disappointed war became in
evitab,e. The rulers of both countries
planned and prepared for II, but the
Frenchmen made the fatal error oil
thinking It would be left for them to
give the signal for the opening of hos
Titles. Napoleon intended to declare
war In the spring of 1871; Bismarck
striving TO preC ipitate the trial of
strength that had to he made and gain
thereby for his own forces the advan-
tage OF initiative. succeeded in detonat-
Ing the mine half a year earlier than
WIS calculated to suit the convenience
OF his overconfident adversaries.
What a tangled mass OF contradic-
lions is the French position in this war:
the French army apparently strong,
the men fit. well fed and well armed !;
the Emperor viewing war as a necessity
not merely national but dynastic. to
him the major desideratum, including
the other as an integral part; needing
Nhe newly organized Garde Mobile ter
rltorials,, against external opposition
anu ieai'Is II as ieeuer OF threatened
It's feet than on paper, because the fees
!,,,.,. ..t1I 20 W 80 .iic
- - ..1..',,.. ',,p, ',,,.N
-. - si,,anS -
,,hich tho,, No.. .ntonsod, ~" -
cr,,,,tline, n, ,h,s orforon1 80. co.
,,icn faiIin,. - o,nrao,a,o .i,hn. 80
nasrnass 90 tho ,bro,, 90 W. 80. ,ho
serious conseouences InevI,ahIy attend
ant on its realization. no waye of nonu.
lar patriotisr, awake IN tho menace
OF the North German Confederation
against Gallo prestige and always the
fear OF revolution, the republican surge
swelled by resentment of the series of
Bismarckian diplomatic victories over
the imperial Government. A restless
year was IS. when Henri Rocheforts
gadfiy journal. La Luntcrne. was buzz
ing and biting; and in so the general
elections displayed the curious spectacle
OF a Government melting riots in order
by show OF force In quelling them to
squelch incipient revolution. The rem
iniscent recalls charge by the police
and some mounted men OF the city
guard IN the Boulevard Montmartre. a
silght barricade had been set up, appar-