Gilpin observer., 1917-10-25

was the losing battle of demOralized
France. It cost the French arms loss
of prestige; perhaps even temporary
loss of honor. 1t cost France the huge
Indemnity demanded by triumphant
Germany. But, for all this, its ulti-
mate effect was Of inestimable profit
to France. For Sedan marked the
collapse of the Second empire, over
which reigned the Emperor Louis Ma.
poleon-Napoleon the Little. From its
ruin sprang the splendid republic of
today.
Sedan lies in northern France, II
miles from Mezieres, on the right bank
of the Meuse. To it came Marshal
MacMahon and the discouraged, al
ready half-beaten army Of France, its
commander so respondent that he
could contemplate nothing more than
battle to sustain the honor Of his
troops. He did not even communicate
with Vinoy, whose corps was concen-
trating at Mezleres.
To the east there was a strong posi-
ton, where the Fond du Givonne pre-
sented serious obstacle to the German
infantry. However, MacMahon ignored
1t. The German host came on in two
columns, with only weak cavalry
screen between. Before daybreak the
bridge across the Meuse, advancing
toward Bazeilles, where Vassoigne's d.
vision, containing number of marine
and sailor battalions, gave them such
warm reception that they were COM
pletely disconnected. About six in the
morning the heavy night fog lifted,
whereupon the German artillery came
violently into action. One Of the first
shells wounded MacMahon. General
Ducrot took over the command.
Now 1t happened that there was
with the army General Wimpffen, who
had only arrived from Algiers on the
night of August 80, and who had in
his pocket secret commission, au-
thOrizing him to assume command in
event of the death or disablement of
MacMahon. No one save Wimpffen
knew of this. He was new to the
troops and new to this theater of war.
Therefore he hesitated to displace Du-
crot, waiting until nine o'clock, when,
|
treat toward the west, and convinced
that salvation lay only in moving east
ward toward Metz and the army of
Bazaine, he produced his papers and
took charge. AS a result there fol-
lowed dire confusion, a good part of
the army already having begun the ex-
ecution of Ducrot's orders.
Northward of Bazeilles the French
were withdrawing, so that the Saxons
swept easily over the ridge south of the
Givonne-S Sednn road. This cut off the
retreat of Vassoigne's gallant fighters,
who fell into the hands of the Germans
an hour before noon.
At about the same time the Ger
man Guard corps began to form up be-
tween Daigny and Givonne, when sud-
denly a great column of French infan-
try, 5000 strong, obeying Wimpffen's
orders of movement, came over the
eastern border Of the valley and
charged at full speed for the guns.
There followed what was probably
the most dramatic spectacle of the war
for the whole of the corps artillery OF
the Guard turned upon these devoted
men, tearing the column in half and
almost annihilating it. The head OF
the column, 1000 strong, struggled des.
perately on, but coming under flanking
fire from both cannon and rifles, it fair.
ly dissolved before the German eyes
Another detachment of the invaders
crossed the river at Doncherey, driving
back the French outposts to the south
Of the lily road SO easily that the Ger.
man artillery became recklessly ex-
posed. Perceiving this and acting in
stantly, General de Gallifet-"Old Sil.
yer Top" as he was afterward called
because of the silver plate which re-
placed part of his skull-rushed up
his brigade of Chasseurs d'Afrique and
hurled most dashing charge against
the batteries. Gallifet might have nc.
complished something here, but he was
utterly unsupported, and could moi
hold his advantage. He fell back with
his hard-punished horse behind the
Cazal-Illy ridge.
Next the French infantry tried Its
hand agnin. making brilliant, If Ill
timed, charge out of Its position and
driving the Germans until the re-
endorsements dashed up. Then once
more the French retired in more or
less confusion, holding strongly at
FloIng.
Now, however, the French Twelfth
corps found itself furlously. assaulted
and in such peril that re-enforcements
were sent up from Douay's force. So
pronounced was the confusion Of the
lay that these re-enforcements actu-
ally crossed re-enforcements from the
First corps which were being sent to
Douay himself. And now German
shells were crashing among the trees
Of the Bois de Garenne, causing such
distress that Margueritte's division
was ordered to charge. Marguerite