Bismarck In The Franco-German War 1870-1871 Book

Text extracted from opening pages of book: BISMARCK IN TUB FRANCO-GERMAN WAR. 1870-1871. Rn rJtANXZATfO. V JPJRMr Tim CKKMAN DR. MORITZ JiUSCH* ( ABRIDGED, CHiaAOO * BKLF011PH, OLARKB ft CO. mcccwrax CONTENTS. CHATTER I PAGE. Departure of tho Ohajioeilor T follow him to Saarbruckon Journey continued to the French frontier The luoLiliaed foreign Oilloe , , CHAPTER II. From the frontier to Gravolotto , 17 OHAPTEB III. ismarck and Favre in Haute-Maison A fortnight in Rothschild^ Chateau ........... 04 s OHAPTEJB VOX The Journey to Versailles The House of Madame Jesse' Our usual Life there ......... . ,120 * OHAPTEK IX. Autumn Days in Versailles ..... 1 28 CHAPTER X. Thiers and the Pirst Negotiations for an Armistico . * 1; V> En XL Increasing Anxiety for Decisive Acfciuu in sovoral tlircci^' niiai * . lili XT I. The Difficulty in the Tt-MichBta^ alJotii UHJ ( Jonvontion with li removedThe Uombardment put oil , , , XUJ. Prospects before Paris improve ... * CHAPTKR XTV. Chaudonly and Facts OfRcorrt Im^ ltinw thoJr l* t< liv-Fronch oouHtructions The C'rowm IMnco ouU^ rtaiiuHl by th <* hk *' CKAPTKR XV. First Weeks of th BombnrtlaM* nt ,.. CONTENTS. Vll. CHAPTER XVI. PAGE. The Last Weeks before tho Capitulation of Paris .... 310 '' CHAPTER XVII. Negotiations for the Capitulation of Paris ...... 329 CHAPTER xvm. From Gambetta's Retirement to the Conclusion of the Peace Pre liminaries ........... 356 BISMARCK IN THE FRANCO-GERMAN WAR. CHAPTER I. DEPARTURE OP THE CHANCELLOR I FOLLOW HIM TO SAAR* BRUCKEN JOURNEY CONTINUED TO THE FRENCH FRONTIEE THE MOBILISED FOREIGN OFFICE. ON the 31st July, 1870, at half - past five in the afternoon, the Chancellor, who had some days before partaken of the Sacrament in his own room, drove from his residence in the Wilhelm Strasso to the station, accompanied by his wife and daughter, in order to start with King William for the Seat of War, in the first instance for Mainz. Several Councillors of tho Foreign Office, a secretary of the despatch department of the Central Bureau, two experts in secret ciphering, and three* or four messengers of the Chancellor's department were ap pointed to go with him. The rest of us followed him only with our good wishes, as, helmet on head, he walked down the stairs between tho two Sphinxes, through the great hall, and stepped into tho carriage. I had resigned myself to taking part in tho 2 10 Bismarck in the Fmnco-Gewnan War. war only on maps and in newspapers. But a much better fate was in store for me, On the evening of the 6th of August the Government re ceived the telegram announcing the victory at Worth. Half an hour afterwards, work being over, I earned the joyful news, still fresh and warm, to a company of friends who were waiting in expectation in a wine-shop in Potsdam Street. Every one knows how Germans celebrate good news, and this was so good that it was celebrated by many too well, and by most of us at any rate, too long. In consequence I was still in bed when next morning a chancery messenger appeared, bringing the copy of a telegraphic despatch, requiring me to set out for headquarters in the course of the day. Benignant fate ! say I. So quickly were my few necessaries collected, that by midday I had my railway-pass, my passport, and my military billet j and by eight o'clock in the evening I was joined by the two companions ordered by the Minister to accompany me. We travelled^ the Anhalt railway, going by Halle, Nordiausen, and Cassel, anxious, by God's help, to reach headquarters as fast as possible. We began our journey in a first-class coupe, but we came down to a third-class, and at last to a luggage-van. Every where there were long delays, whichRead More