chanzy's campaign. 
99 r 
when the 20fch German Division fired upon them they disappeared, as 
an American said, “ like a mass meeting at its conclusion.” They 
retired by rail, by road, in every direction. Chanzy said that this 
position must be retaken at all costs, because, with the Germans on it, 
Le Mans was untenable; and, moreover, disappearing to the rear is 
infectious, and if some one did not retake La Tuilerie, other divisions 
would also retire from other portions of the field. Well, Bouedec tried 
and he retired under the influence of a few shells. Jouffroy then re¬ 
tired. Next morning (the 12th) the 18th fired on Le Mans; the French 
began to fall back in every direction; the 4th German Cavalry came 
down towards Savigne; the 17th and 22nd Divisions on both sides of 
the river Huisne drove back the 21st Corps to the River Parance; the 
10th Corps marched into L 9 Mans, and after them the 3rd Corps. 
Chanzy retreated in the direction of Laval partly, and partly in the 
direction of Alencym. 
Thus, gentlemen, so far as the time allows, we have followed the 
transactions of this very able man struggling against adversity, and if 
“ prosperity,” in the words of Bacon, “doth best discover vice,” 
adversity certainly doth best discover virtue. The military virtue of 
Chanzy and some of his subordinates, Admiral Jaureguiberry, &c., was 
remarkable, but the evils of want of discipline and training, and the 
necessity for making war a serious business, were very clearly demon¬ 
strated. We have followed Chanzy from Beaugency to the forest of 
Marchenoir, in his bold endeavours (December 7-10), in his able flank 
retreat from Marchenoir to the Loir, in his further retreat to the Sarthe, 
and in the vigorous defence, so far as he was concerned, of the positions 
in front of Le Mans. What is the lesson ? The lesson is that in 
modern Europe it is utterly useless to trifle with the art of war, in 
fact, it is a science and an art combined, that if a nation wishes to exist 
no amount of money will save it. The French had money without any 
limit, not only then but soon after, to pay off all their debts in conse¬ 
quence of their war. Their numbers were legion; it is hard to tell 
how many Chanzy had; he probably had 150,000; in these positions 
he had 118,000 at any rate, and perhaps more; he was in his own 
country with the world to supply him, with patriotism at his back, and 
with a brilliant orator to kindle enthusiasm. Yet in the worst possible 
Weather he was beaten by half his number, and many of these could 
not be engaged in the battles. They, moreover, had struggled up to 
him through his own country for 350 miles—the whole length of 
England. Is any other illustration wanted of the utter folly of taking 
the military art for granted, than the disappearance of three French} 
corps and part of another, and 12,000 recruits and Mobiles from the 
strong position in front of Le Mans at the attack of a few divisions ? 
Is any further illustration wanted of the madness of our people in 
playing fast and loose with their national greatness and with the teach¬ 
ings of history, or could there be any greater illustration of the selfish 
and base folly of Englishmen of the richer classes who think it desir¬ 
able in the present state of affairs in Europe to play lawn tennis and 
billiards when they ought to be drilling and rifle shooting and leading 
their humbler fellow countrymen in the ranks of the Volunteers ? As n 
a Volunteer I have to thank you exceedingly for listening to me so J 
patiently and so long. 
