Casco Bay breeze. [volume] (South Harpswell, Me.) 1901-1917, 1914-09-10


,l lance on the Savoureuse, com
- handing the Trouee- de- Belfort,
a pass between the Vosges and the
Jura mountains. 1t Is dominated by
lofty citadel, on a rock 200 feet high.
In front Of the citadel is carved the
Lion of Belfort," a colossal figure,
SO feet in height and 70 feet long, the
work Of Bartholdi, which commence
rates the defense of 1770-71. Belfort's
industries are few and unimportant.
The town was ceded to France by
Austria in 1648, and was fortified by
Vauban. During the war between
France and Germany, the town main
tanned a 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. 49,.
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 Prussian 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 l 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 l, with Count Bismarck and
General Won Moltke, started the move
ment against Paris A years ago the
ago the German troops were met with
fierce resistance on every hand. From
the time they crossed the border into
france it took the Germans a full six
months to capture the French capital
The first order to mobolize the
Wilhelm l on July Is, 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 Paiatinate and
the third under Crown Prince Of Prus
STA 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 100000 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 Bazaine near Metz
General Prossard at Saint Avoid, near
the Prussian frontier; General Lad
mirault at Thionville (now called Die
denhofen by tho Germans); the re
serve corps under General Bombaki
and Marshal Canrcbert at Nancy and
Chalons, and General Felix Douay
holding the fortress at Belfort.
1t was on July % that Emperor
Napoleon left Paris to take command
at Metz and on August 2 Kaiser VIII
helm with Count Bismarck and Gen
eral Won Moltke took the field with
headquarters at Maniz
Saarbrucken was attacked and cap
tured on August 2 by Proussard
France was invaded by the German
crown prince on August 4, He en-
gagged the French under Doucy al
WeisBenburg and drove them back af
ter a terrific five.hour fight In which
the losses were heavy on both sides
Again two days later the crown
prince engaged the French, This time