THE WAR OF 1870.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15684, 11 August 1914, Page 10

THE WAR OF 1870.

SHORT/ SHARP, DECISIVE.

END OF AN EMPIRE.

It is interesting, at tho present juncture, to recall the last great struggle for supremacy between the military forces of Germany and France. Tho cour&o of events in the short but terrible war of 1870-71 astonished Europe by its unexpected character, revealing at once the solidity of Prussian strength, and tho hollownesa of Imperial power in France.

War was declared on July 15, 1870, and (it had boon tho intention of the French Emperor to cross the Rhino at Maxan and push his armies between tho North and South 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 these respects 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 518,800 men, with 1584 guns, and Were divided into three armies—the first under General Stoinmetz, the second under Prince Frederick Charles, and tho third under tho 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 tho 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 ro- 1 spectively 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 Saarbmck, some 47,000 under Marshal McMahon on the eastern elope 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 had taken up a strong position with his main body (45,000). Tho battle, fought on August 6, was disastrous to the French, who fled in confusion through the Vosges 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, tho Emperor found it necessary to retire towards Metz, and, after a, fierce and undecided rearguard action at Borny, on August 14, entered that fortress on tho following day with 176,000 men and 540 guns. The Emperor then abandoned the chief command to Marshal Bazaine. L-_: i" '"ijjnSL w Surrender of Metz. * ~ At least 72 hours would have been necessary to complete the withdrawal from Metz under the circumstances, and the Germans ; had already placed some cavalry across the road near Mars-la-Tour. On the 16th' they , were vigorously supported by other troops, and.succeeded in stopping the westward movement of the French. Next day the French concentrated on the Gravelotte position, 11 miles in extent. On August 18 the pitched battle of Gravelotte was fought, and resulted in the French being driven back on Metz. Here they were surrounded, and after several gallant but unsuccessful attempts to break out, surrendered on October 27.

Thus within a month the* regular armies of France had been rendered powerless to check the German advance. But in the meantime the Gardes Mobiles had been called out, and with the remains of McMahon'ti army, formed, at Chalons, a body of 120,000 men,, with 324 guns, much disorganised and J almost entirely without discipline. With these it was determined to attempt to join hands with Bazaine by a northerly march, which was commenced on August 21, without intelligence reaching the Germans, part of whose second army was again in motiontowards Paris.

On August 25, the Germans got news of McMahon's movements, and at once turned the direction of their march so as to intercept him. The effect of want of discipline and contradictory orders had greatly delayed his march, and he was much harassed by the enemy, until finally, on August 30, the fifth corps, under De Failly having encamped u near Beaumont without taking the precaution of protecting themselves by a chain of outposts— in spite of having been attacked the previous day—was surprised , and driven northward on Sedan. The French troops were in a terrible plight, and suffered severely from the German artillery. Tlio latter had nearly 500 guns playing upon the defenders, , who were crowded into Sedan and under its walls, and at £ p.m. tho white flag was hoisted on tho citadel. Next day the Emperor, who' was with his army, surrendered with 83,000 men, . Paris in Rebellion. . On tho 4th, Paris was in rebellion, the Senate dissolved, tho Empress-Regent a fugitive on her way to England, and France proclaimed a Republic amid tumultuous excitement. Beforo tho closo of September, Strasburg, one of the last hopes of France, had capitulated, and Paris was completely invested by German troops. By October 5, the Prussian King had taker, up his headquarters at Versailles. Gigantic efforts wero mado to raise armies in the provinces for the relief of Paris. From Paris, where almost every able-bodied man was enrolled in - the ranks, frequent sorties wero made, and bloody battles fought in tho villages to the east and south— Bourgot, Le Hay, Champigny, Bougival, Rainey, etc., save-' ral of which were taken and retaken more than once.

The city also underwent a bombardment fox soveral days, from which, however, it suffered little, and it was not until compelled by hunger, on January, 1871, after a four months' investment, that negotiations wero opened with the enemy at Versailles.

,y The united efforts of the different branches of "The Provisional Government of Defence," respectively installed at Paris and Tours, then succeeded in bringing about an armistice, and a portion of tho investing army entered the city, which had till then beon cut off from all communication with tho 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 the concurrence of Germany, tho French nation proceeded by a general election of . representatives to provide for the exigen--4 cies of the-country*.