THE WAR.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9896, 11 September 1914, Page 8

THE WAR.

THE WAR OF 1870. SHORT, SHARP, DECISIVE. END OF AN EMPIRE.

It is interesting, at the present juncture, to recall the last great struggle for bupremacy between the military force* of Germany and France. The course of events in the short but terrible war of 187071 astonished Europe by its unexpected character, revealing at one* 1 the solidity of Prussian strength, and the hollownaM of imperial power in France. War was declared on July 15, 1870, and it had been the intention of the French Emperor to cross the Rliine at Maxan and Sush bis armies between the North and outh German States, so as to force the latter into neutrality. This required superiority in number and mobility at the very outset, besides good generalship, and in those iespect# France found herself in every respect inferior to the Germans.

The Germans, whose, arrangements for mobilisation were so perfect as to be completed by July 30, had 513,800 men, with 1584 guns, and were divided into three armies—the first under General Steinmetz, the second under Prince Frederick Charles, and the third under the Crown Prince. It took the French to the beginning of August to get together 270,000 men, and these were deficient in transport and equipment. It is interesting at this stage to note that latest statistics of German and French forces place the war footing numbers of the respective nations at, Germany 4,350,000, and France 2,500,000, though probably the highly trained or vigorous first lines of each country would be respectively about 1,500,000 and 1,400,000. EARLY DISASTERS. The French Emperor assumed chief command, and had 128,000 men between Metz and the frontier at Saarbruck, some 47,000 under Marshal- McMahon on the eastern slope of the Vosges Mountains, and 35,000 in reserve at Chalons.

General Douay s advanced brigade of 5000 was defeated at Weissenburg, and the Germans pressed on to Worth, where McMahon bad taken up a strong position with ins main body (45,000). The battle, fought on August 6, was disastrous to the French, who fled in confusion through the Vosgei Mountains. On the same day the battle of Specheren was fought between 67,000 of the German Army and 32,000 of Frossard's corps. The French were forced to retreat, but this time in an orderly manner.

As the result of these disasters, the Emperor found it necessary to retire towards Metz, and, after a fierce and undecided rearguard action at Horny, on August 14, entered that fortress on the following day with 176,000 men and 540 guns.. The Emperor then abandoned the chief command to Marshal Bazaine. ' SUlistEliuEK OF METZ.

At least Vfc hours would have been necessary to complete the witudrawal trom Mew unuer the circumstances, and the Germans nau already placed some cavalry across the road near Mar*-la-'iour. On the- loth they were vigorously supported by outer iroopa, ana succeeded in stopping tho westward movement ot the French. Next day the French concentrated on th» Gravelotie position, il nuk* in extent. On August Id, tno pitched battle ot Gravelotte was lought, and resulted in the French being driven back on Metz. Here they were uurrouuded, and, after several gallant but unsuccessful

attempts to break out, surrendered «* October «. \ju Hu«ast 25, the Governor got news of McMahon's movements, and m once turned the direction of their march bo as to intercept him. 'the ettect ot warn oi discipline and contradictory orders had greatly delayed hw march, and he was much harassed by the enemy, until finally, on August 30, ihe fifth corps, under De Failly having encamped near Beaumont without taking the precaution oi protecting themselves by a chain of outposts —in spijc of having been attacked the previous day-was sur prised and driven northward on Sedan. i'ho French troops were m a terrible plight, and suffered severely from the German artillery. The latter had nearly 500 guns playing upon the defenders, who were crowded into Sedan and under its walls, and at 5 p.m. the white dag was hoisted on the citadel. Next day the Emperor, who was with his armv, surrendered with 83.000 men.

Tim., wntim a month tho regular armies of France uad been rendered powerless to check tee German advance. Hut in the meantime the Gardes .Mobiles had been called "nx % ajid with the remains of Mc Mahon's army, formed, at Chalons, a body of 120,000 men, with 324 guns, much dis-orga:-.:.:(d, and almost without discipline, proclaimed a Republic amid tumultuous excitement.

Before tho close of September, Strasburg, one of, tho last hopes of France, had capitulated, and Paris was completely invested by German troops. By October 5, tho Prussian King had taken up his headquarters at Versailles. Gigantic efforts were made to raise armies in tho provinces for the relief of Paris. From Paris, where almost every

able-bodied man was enrolled in the ranks

frequent sorties were made, and bloody battles fought in the villages to the east and south —Le Bourget, Lo Hay, Champigny, Bougival, Rainey, oto. —several of which were taken and retaken more than once.

The city al.'o underwent a bombardment for several days, from which, however, it suffered little, and it was not until cornlulled by on January, 1871, aftejr a, four months' investment, that negotiations were opened with the enemy at Ver Sit i lies. The united efforts of the different brunches of "The Provisional Govrrnmenl oi Defence,' - respectively installed .'it Paris and Tours, then succeeded in bringing about an armistice, and a portion of the investing fenny entered the ciiy. which had till then been cut off from all communication with the outer world, except by balloons and carrier pigeons, and finally threatened by famine.

The Germans entered Paris.* but remained only a few hours, and with tho concurrence of Germany, the French nation proceeded by a general election of representatives to provide for tho exigencies of the country-