Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1919-05-30


monuments, h Its 4 antiquityH and
u its history, Metz is one Of the
most interesting cities of west
ern Enrope. Built on high hill at the
junction of the Moselle and Of the
Seille, Metz, when Caesar undertook
his invasion OF GauI, was already an
almost impregnable position, on which
the Mediomatrics, one of the most.
formidable tribes that Caesar under
took to conquer, proceeded to establish
their capital, which they called Duo
dorum Mediomatricorum, says the
Christian Science Monitor n
The humble huts of these warriors
were later replaced by, gorgeous Ro-
man temples and by the palaces Of the
kings of Austrasia. For In spite of their
strength and courage. the Mathematics
were unable to resist the Romans
who transformed Duodorum into one
Of the most important strategical
points of their empire.
Great roads crossed the city In d.
verse directions, leading to Reims,
foul, Treves, and Strasbourg. In the
year .451 Attila and his hordes did not
spare Mettis, as the city was then
called, and their example was followed
by the vandals. During the Merovfn-
gian dynasty 1t became the capital Of
the kings of Austrasia; Charlemagne
granted to the bishops Of Metz-for
the city ever since the third century
had been the seat Of bishopric-sucn
extensive privileges that they soon be-
came the real BIRDS of the town, al
though they humbly professed to be
the vassals of the emperors. At that
period Metz was self-governing, heing
ruled by an alderman and council
of thirteen. as well as BY great coun-
Gil Of elders.
ReoaIned It's Independence
In the tenth century the German eni-
perors appropriated Metz. which was
ruled by Henry the Fowler in 945, but
the Independent old city soon took adj
vantage of the internal discussions
raging in the Holy empire to recover
the prerogatives 1t enjoyed as a free
city. Henry II of France and his
| troops occupied Metz in 1852 and de-
Tended 1t VIGOROUSLY against Charles
| v, who could not resign himselfto the
loss of so importantgia stronghold.
Metz was consequently invested by an
! army of 10000 men, and ia cannon
| fired $4,000 shots on the city, which
was a record In bombardments at that
period. After two months Of. .extraqr.
binary and untiring efforts, having LOST
"a third of his troops, the emperor
rather the duke of Alba who directed
the siege-was obliged to retire, much
| to the satisfaction of the French. who,
numbering only 5000 men. were com
manded by the Duke Francois de
Guise. Charles " then. coded Toul and
/ Verdun to France. $685..
The Messins had never sought to
dissimulate the iovep'they felt fol-
France; later, the inhabitants Of the
valiant city declared that they would
never take up arms against the
French king, Charles VIII In 1851
the ambitious cardinal of L0rraine
was obliged to take inferior rank,
owing to the forced cession. which
granted the king of France pretended
rights to the sovereignty Of Metz. And
| although the latter modestly assumed
the title. Of protector. he was, in fact
MASTER of the city. 1t was only II
| 1853 that Henry VII officially took the
tile of sovereign lord of Metz. In 164;
Louis XIII endowed Metz with 2 par
Lament, and In 1913 the treaty d
WestphasIa definitely q incorpdfatSt
Metz, Toul, and verdun with France
The new province thus constituted be
Ing known as the Three Bishdprics
After that period. the capital Of 1Lor
raine remained impregnable; vainl,
lid Brunswick In 1902 and Butcher IL
1914 strive to render themselves mas
ter Of thu citadel. Had 1t not beer
for MarshaF Bazaihe's infamous capt.
uladon which, signed on October e
1870 delivered to the AGerman1 ara,
0o0-smsn, 600 officers .=and- tire
marshals. not to speak Of 1853 cannQl
and h3 flags Metz never would hay
fallen nor have been subjected for 4
/ years to the tyranny and bondag
0rnm whfch fha nll}on hava at lar