The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-09-06
BORDEAUX CAPITAL
FOR SECOND TINE
War Of 1914 Is Repeating His
tory Of Franco-Prussian
Combat Of 1870.
CHANGE is ONLY TEMPORARY
Government Announces That
Removal Of Capital Is Mat
ter of Precaution."
Especial to The Timcs-Dispatch.

Especial to The Times Dispatch.
rABIS, September 5.-,'rhc removal
Of the French capital from i'aris 10
Bordcaux affords only another Of the
striking instances in witch tho war
81 le1. liz repeating the history Of :he
Franco Prussian War in 1870.
In 1871 after The defeat Of MacMahon.
the capture or Napoleon III. and :he
establishment ~ the third republic.
the CAPITAL az France was removed To
boTdcauN. which remained the freno!,
capital until the conclusion Of peace
when tho former siege Of Paris By
the Pruasians Was seen 10 he inevitable.
shortly after the proclamation OF the
third republic. in September, 1870. the
provisional government caused tho cap
ital to be removed to Tours II re-
manned there until that city WAS In
danger Of Investment by the Germans.
when the government and the archives
wore takcr to Bordeaux. That city
remained tho capital Of the provisional
government for three months. when tho
National Assembly convened there and
formed a permanent government. Pre-
litu!nary terms Of peace were fornu-
lated in Bordeaux. and the French gov
eminent did not return to Paris until
until peace Mas finally and formally
bordeaux Is 35s miles southwest O,
Paris. on the Orleans Railway. II is
city OF 10000 inhabitants. situated
on the left hank Of the River Ga-oInne.
siN.y miles from the sea In the centre
Of the wine-growing district of Medoc.
II IL the fourth seaport In France in
commercial Importance.
Eut before Bordeaux became the seat
OF government In 1871. il had beer
prominent in the affairs ~ turbulent
France. II was the head OF the
tiirondist movement In thetrcvolution.
and suffered much in the reign OF
error.
AZ In 1871. the present removal Of
the seat OF government was announced
simply as 4 matter OF prccaut!on,"
and was promised to lie only temper
AIRY. The Prussians held the North Of
France ard We're II the very gates of
Paris. After the defeat at sedan Sep
TENDER /, 1880, the people rose up
against Napoleon. WHO was pris-
oner In II Prussian caat.e. Government
OF national defense Was formed 10
carry on the forlorn campaign against
the Prusslans. Its head was Leon Gam
BETA.
From this government OF national lie
Tense arose a third republic on ;he
session Of the Satlona! Assembly was
held at Bordeaux.
SITUATION Is MUCH SAME
As THAT OF - YEARS AGO
Tho situation to-day Is much the
same as forty-four years ago. except
French form OF government viii be
overturned. The Germans crossed the
Northern frontier despite the stubborn
resistance OF The allies. and arrived
within a few miles of Paris. The Ger
man right wing steadily pushed bnck
the French left and when the capital
was ordered moved to Bordeaux. the
nearest Germans were only some forty
miles from Paris.
The government in announcing the
removal, said there WAS no danger o.
the Germans taking Paris. but IL was
deemed advisable - move the seat OF
government and the archives. because
IL was possible that Paris might again
have to face state Of siege. and in
any event. the army OF the allies would
have to use the forts defending The
capital as a pivotal point in he fight
Ing
AS in 1871 the inhabitants OF Paris
were advised to keep calm. that there
,,as no real danger They were told
that. In the opinion OF the govern
ment, the enemy would not get near
c...5ogh TO bcsieee the city. and. II they
did. they could not take IT, French
people were advised II remain i'll Paris.
hut all foreigners. including at least
5000 Americans, were warned to leave
for the United states or England
In the meantime. Paris was In n
state that reminded veterans OF the
stirring days of 1871. Everywhere
stern preparations were being made to
withstand n siege. while even those
making the preparations "olemn!y de-
clarcd they had no Idea n siege would
come. Everywhere trenches were dug,
ramparta thrown up and cannon plant
Ell to supplement the defenses of the
wall of Paris, and the eighty miles
OF costly and powerful forts that en-
circle the city.
Troops were poured into the forts.
and everything was put in readiness
for the coming OF the invaders
Strangely enough. there was no panic
noticeable. Even while bomba rdments
In German acroplancs are becoming
matters OF daily and nightly occur
renee. houses were set on fire and peo-
pie killed and wounded by these mis-
sles from the sky. the people Of Paris
become calmer and more cheerful
They exhibit stoicism in great con
trast 10 the traditional volatile cxcit-
ability OF the French nation.