MARSHAL BAZAINE IN DEFENCE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4289, 18 December 1874, Page 3

MARSHAL BAZAINE IN DEFENCE.

Marshal Bazaine has addressed a characteristic letter, of which the following is a translation, to Mr. James Gordon Bennett, the proprietor of the Hew York Herald : — Bois de Breux, near Liege, Sept. 6, 1874. Sir, —Tho impartiality of your honorable journal before the rude trials which I have undergone and the strong marks of sympathy which I have since received from your representatives in Europe, induce me to publicly thank you. Tho English press, and tho American press in general, have not allowed their judgment to be biassed concerning the terrible drama in which, next to the Emperor, I have been the most unhappy victim. With the exception of the London Times, whose egotism and German sympathies are well known, the English press was extremely favorable at the commencement of the war. The Bussian press was also very sensible and often brought me items of the most precious consolation. But it was in the American journals that I found my best defenders and the most impartial criticisms. They have never systematically abused me as others have done. AMERICAN SYMPATHIES. Recently, as I was passing through Cologne, several parties of Americans, came spontaneously to visit me and to assure mo of their sympathy ; American officers wished to shake my hand, the same as they had previously done to General Sherman on tho occasion of his passage through Versailles. I care but little for demonstrations as a rule ; but I confess to having been deeply affected by the exhibition of American friendliness. American citizens are not like tho French demagogues, who pretend that an act of patriotism is an insult to defeated soldiers. THE VICTIM OP THE ARMY AND NATION. They deemed it to be the part of good policy to make of me an expiatory victim ; tho army and the nation charged me with all their faults, with all their weaknesses, with all their sins, and then they sacrificed mo. I do not wish to complain of the judgment rendered against me, because that judgment is invalid on account of the composition of the court which rendered it, for the old laws declare that an accused individual shall be tried by his peers. This legal guarantee was refused me. Tho council was presided over by a prince of the blood, whoso name had been removed from the rolls of tho army since 1848, when ho was compelled to seclude himself in the walks of civil life, who has never conducted any operations of importance, and who possesses no other military merit than that of being the son of a Icing and of having been a colonel at twenty-two years of age through tho privileges of high birth. THE TWO SUPPORTS —NAPOLEON AND THIERS. I have no longer the hope that strict justice will be promptly done me. I had but two supports, whose authority and impartiality assured me during the contest against those who allowed

me to be immolated in order to appease a certain coterie and public sorrow. These were the Emperor, who is dead, and Thiers, who has been set aside and replaced by MacMahon, my former comrade. It resulted, therefore, that I alone had to pass through the whole terrible complexity of events. Prom the day that the command of the Army of the Rhine was imposed upon me I have drank the bitter cup even to the dregs ; but I ought not to complain, for the Emperor lost both the throne and his life, and France, notwithstanding the bravery displayed by her armies, lost three departments. The Germans alone have profited by the war, and with them those who remained at home, far from the field of battle, so that they might the better flatter the passions of the people and the more easily bring about a great national calamity. I might truly say with the ancient Roman, “ Justice, thou art but a word but I prefer to await the verdict of time and history. macmahon’s oppressions. I should not even have attempted to escape from prison had my former comrade seen fit to lessen the severities of my captivity. During my trial I should have employed the same weapons that MacMahon used against me. I should have shown in my defence how MacMahon had been beaten, and had evacuated Alsace ■without endeavoring to defend the Vosges, without resisting the march of the enemy, without utilising the railroads, leaving my right uncovered and turned, notwithstanding the order he had received not to repass beyond Nancy. I should have shown his ignorance of the numerical strength and movements of the enemy ; his presumption in accepting battle blindfolded ; his imprudence in risking the reputation of the old African troops which he commanded in one battle. I could have shown clearly how, in forgetting the first duties of a general.in order to play the part of a fighting soldier, he must be regarded as one of the first authors of our disasters. IMITATING THE EMPEROR But I imitated the conduct of the Emperor, never accusing any one, and never seeking to throw the responsibility upon others. MacMahon had been as unfortunate at Sedan as I was at Metz ; as Trocbu and Ducrot were in Pans ; as Bourbaki and Olincbaut were in the East. He had forgotten all this when he became President, and his want of memory was the chief incentive to my escape. I envy MacMahon in one thing, and that is the wound that he received at Sedan, which permitted him to honorably pass over the command to the general who signed the capitulation of Sedan, and to cast his responsibility upon the Emperor, who most graciously accepted it. Instead of indulging in recriminations, I think that each did his utmost to succeed. France, accustomed to record victories, really believed that she could not be conquered; she had been spoiled by the campaigns in the Crimea and in Italy. THE MILITARY CAREER OF THE DDC'DAUMALE. Here the letter continues to enumerate the causes of the disasters to the French army and complains bitterly of the Due d’Aumale, who had profited by the opportunity to place himself on record, and continues ; The only feat of arms performed by this young soldier, who pretends to be able to judge a Marshal like me, was his adventurous march to surprise the camp of Abd-el-Kader, and capturing the women and cattle. A few months passed in Africa is not sufficient to make a military man and to permit him to appreciate the conduct of a commander-in-chief. After a lengthy enumeration of the circumstances under which he accepted and exercised his command, the writer continues as follows ; HE DABBLES IN POLITICS. My excuse for engaging in politics is, that I did so in spite of myself, and because the revolutionists had done so before I did. I had sworn allegiance to the Emperor and the Constitution approved by the popular vote. I held ray command from the Emperor and not from the insurrectionary government—an un-

worthy faction that took advantage of the absence of the Emperor and the army to invade the Corps Legislatif. I believed the Emperor of llussia would come to onr assistance ; that Victor Emmanuel might pass the Alps and pay the debt of gratitude he had contracted at Magenta and Solferino. . ■ . . If that be to meddle in politics, then I did so; but those who reproach me with it as a crime have done as much without any authority. AN UNSOUND VERDICT. The court martial has found a way to condemn and to absolve me at the same time, and in the same breath declare me a criminal and a hero. They were puzzled what course to pursue. Their duty urged them to apply a Draconian law, their consciences told them I was guilty neither of treason nor of conspiracy. Three years after the events subordinates sat in judgment on the chief of the army. Peace being signed, all found need to direct their anger against some one ; and as the Emperor was no longer there, I was chosen as the object of general attack. Those who before the war demanded universal disarmament, who would have. urged rebellion had the Emperor attempted to introduce the Prussian military system, accept it tq-day. napoleon’s emend. The Emperor, understanding the situation, always had confidence in my loyalty, and would never consent to abandon me. My gratitude is also due to Thiers, who had the courage to defend mo on my return from Mexico. Xam convinced that had he not been overthrown he would have found a meanspf avoiding the disgraceful trial to which I was subjected. ALSACE LOST. The loss of Alsace has been imputed to mo, but the truth is that Alsace was lost after Beischoppen. Even after the disaster, and after the precipitate retreat of the army, Metz could have been saved when Thiers, who alone retained his common sense, came to propose peace ; but the struggle was continued in order that the dictatorship might be retained and the organisation of a definite government prevented. THE MILITIA, AND THE PRUSSIANS. The enemy could never have been crashed with raw levies without discipline or ardor; defeat followed defeat, and when nothing remained we were completely in the power of Germany. The pretended motive was to save the national honor, but the army of the Ehino had saved it before the demagogues thought of doing so. In one day it had inflicted more loss on the Germans than did all the forces of Paris in four months. UNFORTUNATE, BUT NOT RIDICULOUS. MacMahon and I have been unfortunate, but never ridiculous. No German ever laughed while fighting me. Such sights as were seen at Paris and Tours could only compromise the national honor. For myself, lam an old soldier, and do not understand politics. I make war, not speeches, and do not allow myself to be frightened by big words. Jules Eavre flattered mo ; Gambetta called me a traitor ; but that did not move me. As regards Mexico, the Emperor had to choose between evacuation and a war with the United States. To avoid a' conflict ho gave the order to return ; but Maximilian was unwilling either to return to Austria or to abdicate, although he well understood that Napoleon could not sustain a struggle with the United States. Maximilian, in spite of wise counsels, preferred to seek an honorable death. That is the truth, and that is the extent of each one’s responsibility. Eor my consolation the thought remains that even Washington did not escape injustice, and that ’Lafayette passed through ordeals more terrible than mine. I am far from being rich ; but, besides my liberty, there still remain to mo immeasurable treasures. For companions X have an American lady who gives me the strongest proofs of devotion ; I have children I adore, a brother, and some friends who have remained faithful. My position is not hopeless ; if need should bo I would follow the example of the conquered Bichmond and take refuge in labor. Simple soldier, I carried a musket : labor does not dishonor. Ido not look on my military career as ended ; X enjoy health and bodily vigor. Some duties remain to be fulfilled, and X shall fulfil them when the time comes. I hope fortune will grant me a last smile, as she often does to old soldiers. Accept, dear Mr. Bennett, with all my thanks, renewed assurance of my most distinguished consideration.— Marshal Bazaine.