[42] M. Zola's assertion that Bazaine made no attempt to break through the German lines (subsequent, of course, to Sept. 1) is not correct, for after a delay of five weeks he made one apparently serious effort—in the direction of Thionville, on Oct. 7. Then, however, he remained idle for twenty days and had to capitulate. The translator, who was present at the marshal's trial as an English newspaper correspondent, and heard and sifted all the evidence, has never entertained a doubt as to the justice of the court's finding. We shot Admiral Byng for dereliction of duty insignificant in comparison with the charges brought home to Bazaine. Certainly the latter had ability as a soldier; he had, partly by merit, but also considerably by favour, risen from the ranks to be a marshal of France; however, his private character was execrable, his greed well-nigh as insatiable as that of Marlborough, and his instinctive cruelty of disposition, as exemplified in Mexico, notorious. Like Marshals Magnan and St. Arnaud, he was a type of the unscrupulous military adventurer.—Trans.
[43] The leaders of this rising (most of the phases of which were witnessed by the translator, who was then in Paris) were Gustave Flourens, Blanqui, and various officers of the National Guard who afterwards became members of the Commune. During the afternoon and evening M. Ernest Picard, General Trochu, and M. Jules Ferry managed to escape from the Hôtel-de-Ville and succeeded in delivering their colleagues of the Government at 3 a.m. on Nov. 1.—Trans.
[44] The eleven fortified places here enumerated were garrisoned by over 45,000 men of the regular army, all of whom became prisoners of war.—Trans.
[45] An allusion of course to Beaumarchais' immortal creation of the boy-lover.—Trans.
[46] Gambetta was called a furious madman by Thiers.—Trans.
[47] The engagement fought on Nov. 9 when D'Aurelle de Paladines with the army of the Loire defeated Von der Tann's Bavarians, with the result that the French for a brief period again secured possession of Orleans.—Trans.
[48] Fought on December 22-23.—Trans.
[49] One hundred and twenty millions sterling.
[50] Equivalent to rather more than 10½ ozs.—Trans.
[51] During the last week in December the number of deaths from natural causes alone was already 3,280, and during the week ending January 21 it had risen to 4,465, an average of 115 per thousand! And at the same time the wounded were dying off 'like rotten sheep' in the ambulances.—Trans.