Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-09-01
SEDAN
Was Al YEARS
AGO TOMORROW
JAS. -. Low.

--.
On the eve of the anniversary OF the
historic battle of Sedan, the armies
of Europe are again locked in grim
conflict.
Sedan was the crucial battle of the
Franco-Prussian war of 1S70-lS7i.
Coming to a climax in June, 1870.
longincreasing bitterness between
France and Prussia famed into open
war France took the field with &c.
900 men. according To a consensus of
military opinion. and Germany sent
forth 477.000 men. With her reserves
Germany had about a million men
ready for war.
Napoleon III commanded the French
arm with headquarters in Metz. now
part of German territory. King VIII.
ian of Prussia was the German com,
mander-in-chief with the great Won
Moltke as chief of the general stan.
The first overt act of war took
place on August on which a part OF
the northern division of the French
army. in the presence of Napoleon and
the prince imperial. compelled few
Prussian troops belonging to the First
Army, after some hours firing. to
evacaate Saarbrucken After this Won
Moltke assumed the offensive. His
plan was to unite the three armies in
the line of the Moselle in order to at
tack the enemy's center with view OF
0btain6ng the shortest line OF .opera,
ton in the direction of Paris, and in
this he was completely successful. On
August 4 the army under crowned
prince defeated the advanced southern
division OF the French army at Weis,
senburg, and on August 6 MacMah0n's
army at Worth on the later date also
the first and second German armies
had routed the northern division OF
the French army at Forbach, with ter
rible loss On both sides. In two seDs
arate armies, commanded respectively
by Marshal BaZaine and Marshal Mac
Mahon the French retreated. To pre,
vent their union Steinmetz and Freder-
lex Charles pursued Bazine, defeated
him at Courcelles on August IA, at
MARSHA Tour on the 10th, at Gravelotte
with awful slaughter on the 18th, and
shut him up in Metz The crown prince
and his army following MacMahon. ad.
vanced to Nancy; there reinforced by
a newly formed army under the crown
prince Of Saxony, they advanced on
Chalons, where MacMahon's army had
been recognized and strengthened,
and was expected to retreat on Paris.
Following instructions, however, Mac
Mahon moved northward to make a
descent upon Metz and relieve Bazine.
He was Eoyertaken near Beaumont,
and on August % and on the days i'm,
mediatelv succeeding a number OF en-
gagements and strategic movements
resulted in MacMahon's army being
at Sedan on September !
by a force Of overwhelming numbers
On the following day both army and
fortress were forced to capftulate.
Forty general. 1000 officers of all
grades, and $4,000 soldiers became
prisoners OF war. Among the prison
ers was Napoleon jill, who was unex.
pcctedly found to have been present
with the army of MacMabon. On the
day after the battle he had personal
Interview with King William of Prus
STA. who assigned to him Wilhelm.
shohe, near Cassel as a place of resi-.
dence during his captivity
At the news Of this disastrous defeat
the Psrisians in an outburst OF rage
demanded the dethronement Of the Ma
poleon dynasty. and on September 4
republic was proclaimed. A govern
ment of national defense preceded over
by General Trochu, military governor
Of Paris. was formed but before any
effective measure could be adopted
Paris was invested by the Germans or
Sertember 10. J.
This was the beginning of the end.
and in the following February the pre-
Iiminaries of peace were signed. in
the meantime Paris had withstoof
siege to the standpoint of starvation
and had to capitulate, agreeing to do
so on February 16 Efi
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