The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-09-13
Chapter IV---BISMARCK.-.Part 3

! In vain did the moderates in the
! chamber demand copies OF the ambas
sador's dispatch. The ministry had
made up it's mind for war and the eX-
cited populacc backed 1t UP. prcpa-
ratlons began Immediately. The city
appeared jubilant at the prospect Ma
! polcon, IT Is said. was not 80 confident
/ but his minister OF war assured him
that the army was ready TO the las,
button on the soldiers coats. Results
proved that this was all that was
ready.
| Paris rcsoundcd with cries OF ION to
Berlin" Maps OF Germany from the
| Rhine to the capital were everywhere
scanned. There were plenty of them,
but II afterwards proved that there was
/ scarcity OF maps OF France from
Paris TO the Rhine. Every one in Paris
was confident OF quick and easy vic
tory. But the provinces. the real stay
OF the nation. did not share this conn
dence. as events showed.
| German Efficiency Am.zes World.
! Many Frenchmen fondly believed tina,
| they would have allies the Soutl,
! German states. which were not in the
! confederation and which had all along
been jealous OF Prussa's growing
! power. But any ono who had hopcd
Tor aid from that quarter was doom cd
10 bitter disappointment. II is true
Bavaria and some others hung bacI,
Tor time. but By the day when wal
was formally declared and the French
army moved toward the beloved Rhine
the old feeling OF unified Germany
took firm hold in every German state
and solid front was presented to the
common enemy's advance.
And now was presented again the
working out of the Prussian King y
military organization brought 10 "A stiil
greater efficiency by the genius Of Won
al a
man had figured the campaign II ad :
vance, and that when he was Informed
OF the declaration OF war. he being
absent at tho time. wired that plans
would be found in certain pigeon
/ hole OF his desk. This. however. is not
true tale. and he said in his memoirs
written after the war that such a plan
would be fruitless owing to unfore-
seen obstacles
| The German army was mobolizcd and
on the border in a miraculously short
/ time The world was amazed at tho
| rapidity displayed. England declared
/ its neutrality. and Russia. Prussia 8
/ friend. then threatened Austria with In
/ vasion IL that country offered France
aid.
Meanwhile in Paris even the Emperor
became aware that no nation so un-
prepared as'his could ever hope to win
against one already modified and on
| the frontier. There was not an arm OF
the French service fit for war at that
time Arms. ammunition. clothing. food,
transportation. horses. medicine, all
were inadequate or lacking. Tho min
istry had grossly deceived the Emperor
and involved tho nation In struggle
! the end of which easily could be fore
seen.
Alsace and Lorraine were invaded by
the Germans, who defeated MacMakon
August at Worth, and sent his army
| in flight toward Paris. After one or
two small reverscs at the bcginnin Of
/ the war, the success of the Germans
was almost continuous. While Mac
/ Mahon was retrcating, another French
army was beaten and pushed toward
Metz. which was strongly fortified and
under command Of RaZainc. Metz was
cut off and bcsieged. MacMahon was
ordered back 10 relieve Bazaine but
he was met at Sedan September . and
after heavy battle was compelled to
surrender. With him was the Emperor
Nearly half the French army was
| killed.
The Siege OF Paris.
When Paris learned the stunning
! news the empire was at an end. 4
republic was declared. and prepare
tons made to defend the city. Tho
French spirit now was aroused, and
in spite OF the humiliation of sue
ccssivc defeats i'm tho past two months
II continued with much smaller force
to resist the German advance on Paris.
| The capital was invested by the Ger
man army September 10, and until tho
last Of January the garrison made q
| heroic defense.
| The seat of government had been
| transferred to Tours and Bordeaux, and
tho depleted nation raised armies in
the provinces and continued resistance
to the Invaders. After holding out to
tho end of October, Metz surrendered.
and by this and the fall OF Strass-
burg almost 200, 900 Frcnchmcn became
prisoners OF war These events sealed
the fate of the capital, and IL settled
down to resist so long as it's supplies
lasted. At the point of starvation it
gave UP January IS. Peace was con-
cluded at Versailles, and the van
pushed nation promised TO pay Ger
many 81 900, 00O, 900 in three years. sup
port the German army until II was
withdrawn. and givo up Alsace and n
| part OF Lorraine.
Another humiliation imposed by Bis
! marck upon the beaten country was his
choice Of Versailles as the place at
which to seal German unity The
| South German States were taken into
| the confederation, and the German en-
pire was established with William L.