THE FORTUNES OF WAR.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VI, Issue 271, 12 July 1878, Page 17

THE FORTUNES OF WAR.

Ol? the bombardment and siege of Bitche from August, 1870, until February^ 1871, a curious record remains in the experience of Max . von SehUigel, who early in the former month joyfully crossed the frontier as special correspondent to the popular illustrated Geimnn newspaper Baiieim. His carreer as correspondent was, however, restricted within exceedingly narrow limits, he walked into the little town nestling on the side of the rocky fortress, and was incontinently arrested and retained during the whole siege as prisoner of war. To the danger ol being .shot as a spy or being killed by the storm of sheila and shots fired by his own countrymen was added that from a severe attack of fever, so that when exchanged six months later he was doubtless a sadder, if a wiser man. The Bavarians brought up heavy mortars and cannon and therewith destroyed all the buildings outside the rock, and with cruel pertinacity directed, their fire towards the little town, in the hope of compelling Commandent Taysier to surrender through the sufferings of the miserable inhabitants. Failing in this object, they masked the little fortress, leaving only sufficient men to watch the garrison and prevent a sortie, so that the country people were able to bring in provisions by by-paths through the woods, and Lieutenant Mondcli, of the garrison, passing through the territory occupied by the Germans, contrived to reach Tours. It was midnight when he stood before Gambelta and told the young Dictator how 2,500 men in a little rocky nest in a coiner of Lorraine still upheld the honour of France, and, after cruel bombardment and six months' siege, kept the tricolour bravely flying. Gambctta, as a mark of his appreciation of their gallant behaviour, made Commandant Taysier Commandant of the whole of Alsace and Lorraine, which, in view of Bourbaki's approaching attempt on the German communications afc Montbelliard and Belfort, he hoped would be an important position. He raised every officer in the garrison a step, and sent some money for arrears of pay. Other officers managed to pass the enemy's lines, and some fell fighting for their country at New Orleans and St. Quentin. The misery of the poor inhabitants all this time may be imagined, but can hardly be exaggerated. The fire-balls aimed at the fort, with the special object of explo ing the powder-magazine, set the town on lire in four or five different places, and there was hardly a house untouched by shells. The extreme severity of the weather intensified the suffering. The committee of the War Victims' Fund felt that nowhere could there be more pressing need fox the help of England than here, and on one of the first days of January, 1871, two delegates of the society, avoiding the Bavarian besiegers and guided by a peasant through the woods, entered the town and placed 1,250 francs in the hands of the Maire as a first contribution. A month later, when it was my privilege to be one of the representatives of English charity at Metz, it was felt that something more should be done for the poor little town. Accordingly, before daybreak one clear frosty morning my brother delegate and I, having been driven to a convenient point in the woods, stealthily clambered along the snowy -paths, following our peasant guide, and, so descending into the valley, reached the gate of the town, where Zouaves were on guard. The Maire was very thankful to us for the relief for his poor, and took us to the Commandant, who received us with a soldier's courtesy in a vast subterranean chamber in the rock, and escorted us over a ruined platform, whence the Bavarian sentries could be seen pacing their rounds upon the neighbouring hills. Having had no official information of the armistice, Commandant Taysier fired a cannon upon the besiegers the very day we weie there, which for the moment caused the siege to bcreneVcd with greater strictness. — Mail.