Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-01-05
THE FORTRESS OF METZ
Objective Of French Invasion Of Lor.
raine.

The National Geographic society
has just prepared the following state
ment concerning Metz, the objective
Of the French invasion Of Lorraine:
'The fortress Of Metz from Roman
days has never been carried by storm.
Throughout history down to 1870. It
successfully defied all besiegers, and
the French in 1870, surrendered to
famine and disease rather than to a
pressing enemy. This almost impreg-
nable fortress has changed hands
now and again, and these changes
have been effected by treaty and
treachery and famine, but never by
force Of arms. The Romans knew
Metz. Divodurum, as the stronghold
Of the gods
Metz Is the capital Of German
Lorraine, and 1t is considered to pos
sess one Of the most powerful fortif-
cations in Europe. It is the pivot
point in the broken frontier dividing
the Franks, Celts and Gauls Of the
west and south from the Germans Of
the east and north. The centuries
long contest between Latin and Ger
man has surged back and forth over
this city, broken In eddies around It,
and the contestants have continual
ly regrouped with Metz as the central
point in the plans Of their opposing
strategies: for Metz is the most i'm
portant key in the barrier between
Latin and Germanic civilizations.
Metz and Strausburg are the two
western gates to Germany.
THE Romans used Metz as their
northern base against the Germanic
barbarians. and they connected It by
military roads with Toul, verdun and
other camps in Roman hinterland.
From Metz, the Roman legions made
their incursions into the impenetrable
Black Forest, to the east, and into
the forest and swamp lands Of the
north and west. BY treaty Of Mersen,
in $40, Metz came into possession Of
East Franconia, now Germany. 1t
rapidly gained importance as an in
'dustrial and outpost city, and. in the
18th century, was made free i'm
perial city. The Reformation, anoth-
er element Of the Latin-German strus-
gle, ragged around Metz as q center.
During these times Of religious unrest,
Metz fell into the power Of France.
and the French were confirmed in
their possession by the Peace Of
Westphalia (1648). It remained un-
der French rule until the German con-
quest Of 1870.
'The country all about Metz is =.
strategic, and, consequently, forbid
den ground. Tourists, with pronounc-
ed camera tendencies have never been
encouraged around the fortress. The
city lies in fertile, pleasant valley,
which widens out among the hills to
the north and which narrows toward
the mountainous French frontier. 1t
is upon the heights, the craggy hills,
the passes, the gorge-broken, flr-cov-
cred, razor-back spur hills that the
powerful detached forts which guard
the city Of Metz and its valley run
ming between France and Germany
are planted. These works have been
constructed around the city by the
score, and they stretch in wide,
concealed fan, more than six miles be-
fore the outskirts Of Metz
saTba offxy ttoalF {o oft,,otoA an tho
confluence Of the Seille and Moselle,
about eleven miles east of the French
frontier. It is built between the two
rivers and upon the islands Of the
Moselle. Much Of the city is COM
posed Of narrow, irregular streets, lin
ed with ancient, picturesque buildings.
There are some new and imposing
structures in the town, however, and
some straight streets. Even In times Of
peace, Metz makes plain that its call
ing Is war. Though 1t has about 76,-
900 civil population, the peace garri-
son Of $4,000 men monopolize the at
tention Of every thoroughfare and
promenade. Around the city, and
within 1t are the huge barracks Of the
soldiery.
THE country around Metz, a rise
and fall of evergreen woodlands, Is
beautiful. The heights and hills are
not only heavily forested, but are al
so unusually broken and irregular,
ground about as unfayor-
able as possible for attacking military
operations The forts Of Metz were
begun on a large scale by the French
and they have been strengthened
all the years Of possession by
the Germans"