HOW BAZAINE RECEIVED HIS LAST COMMAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 1155, 17 January 1874, Page 10

HOW BAZAINE RECEIVED HIS LAST COMMAND.

Hound Metz the corps of Bazaine, Ladmirault, and Frossard, and the Imperial Guard, under the command of Bourbaki, were concentrated, awaiting the changes which were to take place in the chief command of the Army of the Rhine. Public opinion had long since been roused against the incapacity of Marshal Leboeuf, which was regarded as the principal cause of the first reverses. He was dismissed from his high position ; the Emperor himself resigned the post of commander-in-chief of the Army of the Rhine ; there was now only one grave question to solve, viz,, the nomination of a general popular enough to inspire confidence, and courageous enough to accept such a heavy responsibility. Changarnier, the old. and popular African general, had arrived at Metz ; he came at a moment of danger to proffer his sword to the monarch who signed the order for his imprisonment in 1851; and had sent Mm into exile ; he came to place his long-tried experience at the service of his endangered country. The old general was heartily welcomed by the Emperor, and from this time the veteran occupied the chief place at the council of war, and exercised a most powerful influence over its decisions. At a meeting of the commanders of corps, the marshals of France, and the staff, the subject in question was the important discussion as to the choice of a new commander-in-chief. The Emperor presided, and, after a few touching remarks on the reasons which induced him to resign the command, he advised his lieutenants to weigh well their resolutions, and to put aside all feelings of ambition in face of the sad events which had just taken place, and the immense task which they were about to undertake. For his part he was determined not to influence their decisions in any way. Having spoken thus the Emperor covered his face with his hands, and silently awaited the nomination of his successor to the command of the Army of the Rhine. The meeting was a stormy one. The Court favourites and the draw-ing-room generals of the Second Empire — those selfish men who, taking advantage of the kindness which their sovereign had shown them, did not shrink from drawing him down into misfortunes, perhaps unprecedented in history — could not form the idea of relinquishing their ambitious projects, and of submitting to a general who was pointed out by his rank, his accomplishments, and the prestige of his glorious campaigns. Ohangarnier's influence triumphed over all these intrigues, and Marshal Bazaine was appointed to the command of the Army of the Rhine, in conjunction with M'Mahon, who was to take the chief command of his own corps, as well as those of De Failly, of Felix Douay, and of the new columns which were forming at Chalons. — (From "Posthwaous Works of JS apoleon 111. in Exile," collected by Count de la Ghapelh.)