El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-09-09
BORDEAUX WAS
CAPITAL IN 1871.
The Removal of Government
From Paris Occurred IN
Franco-Prussian War.
BY GFORGE DUFRESNE,

/ BY GEORGE DUFRESNE.
! Paris, France. sept 9.-The removal
{ OF the French capital from Farls ~
: Bordeaux affords only another OF me
. striking instances in which the war OF
1914 IS repeating the history OF the
. tranco-Prussian war OF lSLu-
/ In 1871, after the defeat OF MacAlshOIi ~
I the capture Of Napoleon III ana me =
I adjustment Of the third republlc, the
3 capital of France was removed TO BOF-
deauX, which remained the trehch cap
1tal until the conclusion OF peace
When the former siege OF Paris Dy
! the Prussians was seen TO De new PIE
( shortly after the proclamatlon o. me
third republic, in September lS % the
provisional government caused the cap
I ital to be removed 10 Tours. II remained
/ there until that city was IN danger OF
investment by the Germans, When the
government and the archives were
taken to Bordeaux. That city remained
the capital Of the provisional govern
/ ment for three months, when the ma
llonal assembly convened LheFe ana
formed permanent government IRE
urinary terms of peace were 1ormu-
lated in Bordeaux, and the French gov
eminent did not return to Paris until
peace was finally and formally con-
cluded at Frankfort.
Bordeaux is $50 miles southwest Of
Paris, on the Orleans railway It is a
city Of 100000 inhabitants, situated on
the left bank Of the river Garomme, SO
miles from the sea, in the center OF the
VINE growing district Of MedOc- It is
the fourth seaport in France in COM
mercial Importance.
But before Bordeaux became the seat
OF government in 1871, it had been
prominent in the affairs Of turbulent
France It was the head Of the Girondist
movement in the revolution and SUI
Tered much in the reign Of terror.
As IN 1871, the present removal Of ths
seat OF government was announced sim
Of ion al
promised to be only temporary The
Prussians held the north Of France and
were at the very gates Of Paris. After
the de1eat at Sedan. September I, 1870
the people rose up against Napoleon
who was prisoner in a Prussfan castle
government Of national defence was
FORMED 10 carry on the forlOrn cam
palgn against the Prussians. Its head
was Leon Gambetta.
From this government OF national de-
fence arose third republic on the ruins
OF the third empire. and the first session
OF the national assembly was held at
Bordeaux.
The situation today is much the sans
as II years ago. except that there is
no possibility that the French form OF
government will be overturned. The
germans crossed the northern frontier
oesplIe the stubborn resistance Of the
allles, and arrived within a few miles
OF Paris The German right wing
steadily pushed back the French left
ana when the capital was ordered
moved 10 Bordeaux. the nearest Ger
mans were only some 30 miles from
Paris
The government in announcing the
removal said there was no danger Of
the Germans taking Paris, but IL was
deemed advisable to move the seat al
government and the archives. because il
was possible that Paris might AGAIN
nave TO face state Of siege and in any
event the army Of the allies would have
70 use the forts defending the capital
as a pivotal point in the fighting.
As IN 1871, inhabitants of Paris were
a clI 10 keep calm, that there was no
real danger. They were told that In
the opinion Of the government the
enemy would not get near enough to be-
siege the city, and II they did. thew
could not take it French people were
ADVISED TO remain in Paris. but all for
eigners, including at least 5000 Ameri-
cans, were warned to leave for the
United States OF England
IN the meantime Paris was in a state
mat reminded veterans of the Stirring
Gays OF 1871 Everywhere stern prep
arations were being made 70 withstand
a siege while even those making the
preparations sOlemnly declared they had
no ldea a siege would come. Every
where trenches were dug, ramparts
thrown up and cannon planted 10 sun
plement the defences Of the wall Of
Paris and the so miles OF costly and
powerful forts that encircie the city.
troops were poured into the forts I
and everything was put in readiness. for !
the coming Of the invaders Strangely
enough there was no panic noticeable
Even while commandments in German
aeroplanes became matters Of daily and /
nightly occurrence, houses were set on
fire and people killed and wounded I
by these missiles from the sky the
people OF Paris became calmer and more [
cheerful They exhibited a stoicism in I
great contrast TO the traditional VIOLA /
tile excitability OF the French nation.