CHAP. XXX.] FRANCO-GERMAN WAR, 1870-1871. 



601 



skilfully and secretly carried out, and its success depended 

 upon the design being concealed from the enemy. Here 

 was an opportunity for the French cavalry to liave re- 

 trieved their reputation and materially aided their army, 

 but they failed signally in every particular. 



They were very unskilfully handled. It is manifest 

 that the only possible chance of success was for the French 

 cavalry to have been thrown in all its force to the right 

 flank of the army, there to have spread in a long line of 

 small posts supported by reserves, so that a veil would 

 have been thrown over the operations of the French 

 army, which could have marched freely and rapidly under 

 such a cover. The concealment of the French march for 

 one or two days would have improved their chances of 

 success immensely. Instead of this, however, there were 

 !is many horsemen almost upon the French left as upon 

 its right, many more in front, and many also scattered 

 under the control of the commanders of the infantry 

 corps d'arm^e. 



In fact, half the reserve cavalry had been at first placed 

 on the right to cover the movement, but on the 25th 

 August it was moved forward to Le Ch^ne, leaving the 

 whole flank of the French line of march exposed in the 

 only direction from which an attack could co^ne, while 

 Bonnemain's reserve cavalry division was uselessly idling 

 on the extreme left, where an attack could not possibly 

 have been expected.* The French army consequently 

 moved north-eastwardly with only the cavalry attached 

 to the infantry corps to guard the flank. 



The result was as might be expected ; the Gcrm.iTm 

 soon discovered the change in the French plans, and the 

 whole invading army wheeled to the right and mnrched 

 against them. Impenetrable clouds of horsemen spread- 

 ing far and wide in froiit hid their march, and soon 

 enormous hosts of infantry were close upon the flank 

 and rear of the French colun.\ns, who moved on in blind 

 confidence, neglecting the simplest precautions. 



The blow fell first on the 30th August upon the 

 5th F ench Corps, under General de Failly, which was 

 ' Bonie, 111 ; Borbstaedt, 51 (i. 



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