The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1915-07-30

airy, artillery and wagon trains in the
greatest confusion, filled the streets Of
the city. No breathing spell was grant
ed even here, for German shell fire
had already started a terrific confia-
grafton, which we were powerless to
stop.
The few hours following were hours
never to be forgotten. Bavarian In
fantry several times touched bayonets
with our men on the ramparts. No
man can form an idea of the feelings
Of soldiers utterly routed, part Of a
great demoralized mob, unless ne has
passed thru similar scenes. Amidst
the screeching of the shells, the crack
ling of the flames, the falling OF the
walls, cusses of men and groans OF the
wounded, left to their own sufferings
and the sun hid behind heavy cloud
Of smoke, the fateful first of Septem-
ber drew to close. At the time /
was wildly reminded Of my fathers
recital of the terrible retreat from
Moscow under the great Bonaparte,
when the old empire was shaken to
it's foundations; like frightened chill
dren we were waiting, waiting for
what? Z? No one knew, no one seemed to
lcare; all unable to grasp the enorm-
| ity of the blow that had fallen upon
France. No one cared for tomorrow,
for friend or foe; for the unwritten
law Of self preservation had begun to
assert it's rights. With sad heart
do even now at this long period Of
time recount the dreadful scenes en-
acted in the streets Of the city.
But bark! What was this strange
sound? About o'clock, first faint
Ily, then distinctly, could be heard the
enemy's bugles sounding, "cease fir
| ing'-A full in the tumult of battle;
momentary stiffness of death fell
upon the struggling, shapeless army Of
the empire, to give way to mingled
cries of joy and rage; for upon the
smoking ruins of the city's walls Q
white flag was displayed, Could it be
possible that this should be the end Of
our dreams? Had Sedan in reality
surrendered? The enemy was jubi'
liant, lound huzzahs rent the air, vic
torious band music broke upon oul
ears, thus adding to our chagrin, fol
we realized that at this critical mo-
ment the destiny Of France hung il
the balance.
A call for volunteers brought fortl
1000 men of the chasseurs, who at thu
risk of their lives attempted at thi:
late hour to break thru the gloom il
an effort to save the emperor. They
had almost succeeded in piercing thu
enemy's lines when a rift in the even
ing clouds revealed theplot. The at
tempt had failed; Napoleon was driver
back upon Sedan, there to fall into the
hands of the voctors.
1t has never been made clear to The
minds of the men who formed that
central army, why Sedan was permit
ted to become a second Waterloo. Per.
haps no one will be able to tell who
was to blame, for only 48 hours before
we would have defeated the opposing
armies, had we been called to battle
with the foe. One thing is certain
the loss of the central army and thu
news of the defeat Of Napoleon wa.
the last page in the unfolding of th'
French history, concerning the Franc,
Prussian war; and while the struggl
i continued for several months, yet i
was evident that a loosing game wa
q being played by those in command a
Paris.
The emperor dispatched messenge
4 to the Prussian king, informing hir
= of his decision to surrender self an
: army. The text of that note has be
y come byword in France: "Inasmuc
!. as it has been denied to me, the EN-
q peror of this brave people, to di
q alongside of my more unfortunate cor
rades, for the glory of the Frenc
4 eagles, / deem it needful, in order t
stop this inhuman butchering of mer
a to surrender my sword to your ma
4 jesty, the king of Prussia"
J, Shortly after this communication ha
( been dispatched and received, the con
: ditions of general surrender wer
' being formulated. The German de
I mand was for unconditional surrende
4 of the whole army, including all tn
\ munitions of war in our hands and tn
surrender of horses and arms. Frenc
: diplomacy attempted to mitigate,
: possible, these conditions, but in tn
/. Prussian council of war the deman
i was madefor unconditional surrender
r During the night the papers wer
n drawn up and signed by both parties
4 and in the early morning hours of Ser
4 tember 285,000 men of all arms, an
! about 10000 horses, over 500 pieces Q
e cannon, 40 staff officers and an enol
/. nous amount of ammunition fell int