To Capture London.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVI, Issue VI, 9 February 1901, Page 275

To Capture London.

MERCIERS SECRET PLAN REVEALED.

(BY A FRENCH OFFICER, LATE OF THE GENERAL STAFF.)

Not a little curiosity has beem expressed resard Ing the details of General Mercier’s plan for the conquest of London. The scheme roughly is as follows: War will be declared suddenly and in the absence of the British Channel Fleet. Then under arrangements already made it would be possible in twenty hours to land 50.000 men on British soil. These arrangements include the requisitioning of all the French railway lines leading to the coast, and also of all the French and British merchant ships that happen to be lying In French ports. At dawn on the morning following the sudden recall of the French Ambassador the first army of 50,000 men would embark at Dunkirk. Calais, Boulogne, Dieppe, Fecamp. Havre. Trouvllle. and Cherbourg. The troops for this service have already been selected, and confidential memoranda, in possession of the proper officers. Instruct each regiment as to the points of its embarkation. Almost before the first army had set out. a second force of 30.000 would be arriving at the ports. The Mercier scheme fixes for debarkation a middle point between the right and the left of the points of embarkation somewhere between Selsey Bill and Dover, or between the west and the east

of Hastings. The firat army wiU carry little la the shape of provisions, but the scheme Instructs the commander of the French Army Service Corps to seize Immediately on landinc all food and forage in the vicinity. TO RAVAGE THE COUNTRY, and shoot down all persons who resist. Meanwhile a strong force of cavalry, ■npportad by home artillery and infaatrib will march forward to adze the railway lines. Guildford. Dorking. Red hill, and Tbnbrldge are first to be occupied. It Is estimated by General Mercier that at the close of the day following the declaration of war the advance columns of the vanguard of the French army will be established on the Guildford-Ton-bridge line, and that by this time a large portion of the second army of 30.000 will have been safely landed, thus giving the French general sufficient men to attempt the seizure of Dover or Folkestone.

During the progress of this minor operation the main army would at ttTe close of the first day dash forward. The telegraphs will be seized, and In each locality a number of prominent citizens win be taken as hostages. If damage is done in any locality the hostages are to be shot.

Two plans, to be adopted according to circumstances, have been drawn up in connection with the seizure of London. One provides for a rapid march on Croydon and Woolwich; and the other consists of an analogous movement towards Kingston and Croydon to cut off the water supply. The southern part of Ix»ndon would in both cases be bombarded from the heights. The end would then have come.