The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1919-12-12
- Y REASON of it's situation, it's
monuments, it's antiquity and
it's history. Metz is one of the

L hEASON OF It's SlluatlOn, lIS |
monuments, it's antiquity and
u it's history. Metz is one of the
most interesting cities of west
ern Europe. Built on high hill at the
junction Of the MOselle and of the
Seille, Metz, when Caesar undertook
his invasion of Gaul. was already an
almost impregnable position, on which
the Mathematics, 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.
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
We're 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 di-
verse directions, leading to Reims.
Toul, Treves, and Strasbourg In the
year 45l Attila and his hordes did not
| spare MettiS. as the city was then
called, and their example was followed
by the Vandals. During the Merovin-
gian dynasty it 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 Il bishoprlc-Such
extensive privileges that they soon be-
came the real lords of the town. al
though they humbly professed to be
the vassal> of the emperors. At that
period Metz was self-governing. being
ruled by an alderman and Il council
of thirteen, as well as by Il great coun-
Gil Of elders.
Reganed Its independence.
In the tenth century the German EN-
perors appropriated Metz. which was
ruled by Henry the Fowler in 9I.. but
the independent old city soon took adj
vantage of the internal dissensions
raging in the Holy empire to recover
the prerogatives it enjoyed as Il free
city. Henry II of France and his
troops occupied Metz in 1892 and de-
Tended it VIGOROUSLY against Charles
Y, who could not resign himself to the
loss OF So important Il stronghold.
Metz was consequently invested by an
army of 5000 men. and ia cannon
fired 14.GD shots on the city, which
was Il record in bombardmentS at that
period. After two months of eNtraor-
I'm. ft,i. off,
Il third If 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, We're COM
nanded by the Duke Francois tie
GuiSe. Charles V then coded Toul and
Verdun 10 France.
The MesSinS had never sought to
diSsimulate the love they felt for
France; later, the inhabitants of the
valiant city declared that they would
never take up arms against the
French king. Charles VIII. In 1867
the ambitious cardinal of Lorraine
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 in
1858 that Henry VII officially took the
tile Of sovereign lord of Metz. In 1913
Louis Mi endowed Metz with par
lament, and in 1913 the treaty of
Westphalia definitely incorporated
Metz, Toul, and Verdun with France
the new province thus constituted be-
ing known as the Three Bishoprics.
After that period the capital of Lor-
raine remained impregnable; yainly
did Brunswick in 1892 and Butcher in
1914 strive to render themselves mas.
ter of the citadel. Had it not been
for Marshal Bazaine's infamous capt.
ulatiOn which, signed on October %
1870, delivered to the Germans 173,
900 men. 5000 officers and three
marshals. not to speak of 1853 cannon
and So flags-Metz never would hav,
fallen nor have been subjected for 4.
years to the tyranny and bondage
from which the allies have ut Las