The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-01-03
Metz Fortress
IS Objective
OF Tie French
Germans Stronghold in Lorraine
Has a Very interesting
History of Sieges.

II - q t.l4 +. = l....- - ;, : <. . ~ ~
WASHINGTON, Jan, 2.The Ma
Itiolal Geographic Society has Just
prepared the TO blowing statement dom
4 cefning Metz, tho objective OF the
4 French invasion OF Lorraine: y
The fortress OF Metz from Roman
days has never been carried by
4 storm Throughout history down 10
1 1870 It successfully deiied all .bfsieg-
ers, and the French IN 1870 sirren-
l dered to famine hrid disease rather
| than to a pressing enemy. This al
most itnpregnable fbrtness has chang
ed hands now and again, and these
changes have been eifected by treaty
and treachery and famine, but never
by force Of a rms. The Romans knew
Metz, DIvodurum, as the stronghold
lof the gods. " I. y
Capital Of Lorraine
! Metz IS the capital of German 1ior-
raine. and II is considered to possess
oue OF the most pnwerfril fortif ications
| In Europe 1t Is the prot point Ia
lthep broken frontier dividing tho
FRANKS, Cells and GaulEs OF the west
land south from the; Germans OF the
east and north. d The centurie long
contest between Latin and German
has surged hack and forth over this
city, broken in eddies around It. and
the cont estants have: continually re-
grouped with Metz as Y the central
point in the plans OF their opposing
lstrategies; for Metz is the most im-
portant key In the. barrier between
Latin and Germanic civilization. Metz
and StIasEbnrg are the two western
gates to Germany. Is 4
THE Romans used Metzs as their
northern base against the Germanic
lharharians, ana then, connected ii by
| military roads with Toui, lvardun and
other camps in Roman 2hinterland,
From Metz, the Roman legions made
their incursions into The impenetrable
Black Forest to the east, and into
the forest and swamp lands of'tthe
north and west, BY the treaty OF
IMersen, in $40, Metz came into the
possession OF East Franconia, now
Germany. Itirapidly gained import
ance as an industrial and outpost city
and, in the 18th century, was made a
free Imperial city. The reformation,
another element Of the Latin-G German
struggle, ragged around Metzsas agcen-
tier. During these timesao religious
unrest, Metz fell into the power OF
France, and the French were .confrm-
ed in their possession by the. peacelof
Wesbpthlia 1888. 1t remained un-
der French rule until the German
conquest in 1870.
Strategic Country
The country all about Metz is
strategic, and, consequently, forbid
den ground Tourists, with pro-
nounced camera tendencies have new
er been encouraged around the fort
ress. The city lies In fertile, pleas
ant valley. which idens out among
tho hills to the north and which mar
rows toward the MOUNTAINOUS French
frontier ut Is upon the heights, the
craggy hills, the passes, the gorge
broken, Uncovered, razor back spur
hills that the powerful detached forts
(which guard the city of Metz and its
valley running between France and
Germany are planted, These works
have been constructed around the city
tby the score, and they stretch in d
wide, concealed fan, more than six
miles before the outskirts of Metz.
The city itself Is situated on the
Iconfiuence OF the .Seilie and Mpseile
about II miles east of the French
frontier. II is built between the two
rivers and upon the islands OF the
1 Moselle. Much OF the, city Is com
posed of marrow, Irregular streets
lined with ancient, picturesque build
inss. There are some new and Inn
using structures in the town, how
ever, and some straight streets Even
In times of peace. Metz makes plain
that It's calling is war. Though Ii
\ has about $4,000 civil population, the
4 peace garrison of 25,00 men monnpol,
ICES the attention on every thorough
fare and promenade Around the city
and within 1t are the huge barracks
LOT the soldiery. y "a
/ The country around aietz, rise
and fall OF evergreen woodlands. III
beautifult The heights and hills are
not only Heavily forested, but are also
unusually broken and irregular, COM
posing q ground about as unfavor.
1 able as possible for attacking milf
Etary operations. The. forts Of Metz
were hcgun on a large scale by the
sB'rencils and they have been strength
ened through all their years OF pos
session by the Germans. r
AISIEN rlIraAIEr