Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1914-10-16

tOWu Vi great btTdteBlcal lupor-
LIZ tance on the Savoureuse, CON-
manding the Trouee-de-Belfort,
a pass between the Vosges and the
Jura mountains. 1t is dominated by
lofty citadel, on rock 200 feet high.
In front OF the citadel is carved the
Lion of Belfort," a colossal figure,
80 feet in height and 73 feet long, the
work OF Bartholdl, which commemo-
rates the defense OF 1770.71. Belfort's
industries are few and unimportant
The town was ceded to France by
Austria in 164s, and was fortified by
Vauban. During the war between
France and Germany, the town main
tained gallant defense against the
German troops from November 3, 1870,
until February 16. 1871. 1t then capt.
ulated with all the honors of war.
Construct New Works.
Since that war Belfort has been con-
verted, by the construction of vast
system OF new works. into one OF the
most impregnable fortresses In Eu-
rope.
On August 2, 1914, the German army
crossed the French frontier near
Longwy and Grey.
On August 2, 1870, A years
ago, the first engagement OF the Fran
co-Prussian war was fought at Saar-
brucken. resulting in the repulse Of
the Prusslan troops. 1t was In this
battle the French prince imperial re-
ceived his celebrated "bapteme de
feu."
In dispatch to the empress, the
emperor, who was at the front with his
son. Louis, wrote, Louis has received
his baptism Of fire. He was admirably
cool and little impressed A division
OF Frossard's command carried the
heights overlooking the Saar. The
Prussians made a brief resistance.
Louis and were in front. where the
bullets fell about US. Louis keeps a
ball he picked up. The soldiers wept
at his tranquility. We lost an officer
and ten men,"
Saarbrucken is 35 miles northeast
OF Metz. which was at that time on
time on French territory.
When the Prussians under Kaiser
Wilhelm !, with Count Bismarck and
General Won Moltke, started the move
ment against Paris "A years ago the
ago tho German troops were met with
H. tan
the time they crossed the border into
France II took the Germans a full six
months to capture the French capital.
The first order to mobollze the
Prussian army was given by Kaiser
Wilhelm on July 15. 1870. France
declared war four days later. Three
armies were put in the field by the
Prussians. The first was under Gen.
eral Won Steinmetz near Trever, the
second under Prince Frederick
Charles in the Reinish Palatinate and
the third under Crown Prince OF Prus-
sia on the frontier OF Baden. Fifteen
days after the mobilization order had
been given Prussia had $4,000 men
under arms.
A line 100 miles long from Mount.
medy on the Belgian frontier to Bel.
fort at the junction OF the Swiss and
German borders. was covered by an
army OF $4,000 men under Napoleon
III. The French army was divided In.
TO eight army corps with Marshal
MacMahon near Strassburg, General
Pailly at Betsch. on the Palatinate
frontier; Marshal Bazalne near Metz
General Prossard at Saint Avoid, near
the Prussian frontier; General Lad
mirault at Thionville (now called Die
denhofen by the Germans); the re-
serve corps under General BombakI
and Marshal Canrobert at Nancy and
Chalons. and General Felix Douay
holding the fortress at Belfort.
II was on July rs that Emperor
Napoleon left Paris TO take command
at Metz and on August 2 Kaiser VII
helm with Count Bismarck and Gen
eral Won Moltke took the field with
headquarters ut Manlz.
Saarbrucken was attacked and can
tured on August 2 by Proussard
France was invaded by the German
crown prince on August 1. lie en-
gaged the French under Doucy a
welssenburg and drove them back al
ter a terrific five.hour fight in whlcl
the losses we're heavy on both sides
Again two days later tho crow
prince engaged the French. This tim,