The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1917-11-15

loss of honor. Ii cost France the huge
indemnity demanded by triumphant
Germany. But, for all this, its ulti-
mate effect was of incStimublc profit
to France. For Sedan marked the
collapse of the Second empire. We
which relgncd the Emperor Louis Ma
polron-NapolCon the Little. From Its
ruin Spraug the splendid republic of
today.
Sedan lies in northern France, IL
miles from MCZiercs, on the right bank
of the Mouse. TO 1t came Marshal
MacNIahon and the discouraged, al
ready half-beatcn army Of France, its
commander so Respondent that he
could contemplate nothing more than
n battle to sustain the honor of his
troops. He did not ever communicate
with Vinoy. whose corps was concen-
trating at Me1iercs.
To the east there was n strong posi-
ton. where the Fond du Glvonne pre-
sorted serious obstacle to the German
infantry. However, MacMahon ignored
h. The German host came on In two
columns, with only a weak cavalry
screen between. Before daybreak the
Bavnrians had thrown pontOon
bridge across the Mouse. advancing
toward Bazcllles. where Vassoignc's d.
vision. containing II number OF marine
and sailor battalions, gave them such
n wnrm reception that they were COM
pletely disconnected. About six In the
morning the henvy night fog lifted.
w%hercupon the German artillery came
violently into action. One of the first
shells wounded MacMnhon. General
Ducrot took over the command.
Now Il happened that there was
with the army General Wlmpffen. whO'
had only arrived from Algiers on the
night of August 30. and who had In
his pocket a secret commission, au-
thorlzing him to assume command in
event Of the death or dlsnblement Of
MacMahon. No one ave Wimpfcn
knew OF this. He was new to the
troops and new to this thenter Of war.
Therefore he hesitated TO dlsplace Du-
crot, waiting until nine o'clock. when.
perceiving that Ducrot intended to re-
treat toward the west, and convinced
that salvation lay only In moving east
ward toward Metz and the army OF
Bazalne. he produced his papers and
took charge. As n result there fol
lowed dire confusion. n good part OF
the army already having begun the tx.
ecution Of Ducrot's orders.
Northwnrd Of Bazellles the French
were withdrawing. so that the Saxons
swept easily over the ridge south ~ the
Givonne.Sednn road. This cut on 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 Dnlgny and Givonne, when sud-
denly n 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 dcs-
pcrately on, but coming under thanking
fire from both mo and rifles, II fair
ly dissolved before the German eyes.
Another detachment Of the invaders
crossed the river mt Donchcrey, driving
back the French Outposts to the south
Of the lily road so easily hat the Ger
man artillery became recklessly cx
posed. Porceivlng this and acting In
SANITY, General de Gallifet-'Old Sil.
yer Top" as he was aftcrward called,
because of the silver plate which re-
placed n part Of his skull-rushed IN
his brigade Of Chnss~irs d'Afrique and
hurled n most dnshing charge against
the batteries. Gnllifet might have nc
complIshcd something here, but he was
utterly unsupported. and could not
hold his advantage. He fell back with
his hard-punIshed horse behind the
Caznl-Tly ridge.
Next the French infantry tried its
hand again, making n brilliant, II ~
timed, charge out ~ It's position and
driving the Germans until the re-
endorsements dashed up. Then once
more the French retired in more ol
Ices confusion, holding strongly a
Flolng.
Now, however, the French Twelfth
corps found itself furiously assaulted
, and In such peril that Reinforcement
we're sent up from Douay's force. 81
/. pronounced was the confusion Of tn
day that these re-enforccments actu
! rlly crossed rc-enforcements from tn
: First corps which were being sent 4
Dosny himself. And now Germn,
shells were crushing among the tree
~ the Bols de Gnrenne, causing sucl
distress that Mnrgncritte's division
q was ordered 10 charge. Marguerite
himself was killed ms he rode forwarv
d 10 r%econnolter. 80 Gaillfet succeeded I
o his command.
n "For the next hnlf.hour," says IN
Prussian account. "the scene dened d,
I sCriptInn