Chapter 252: War Breaks Out
July 30, 1870
Franco-Prussian Front
"Your Majesty, we should launch an immediate attack on Prussia! According to the reports from our intelligence agents, the number of Prussian troops has been increasing rapidly these last few days. The efficiency of Prussian railways is nearly four or five times ours, constantly sending huge amounts of personnel and supplies to the front. If we keep waiting, the Prussian forces at the front will grow stronger day by day, and then they'll crush us by sheer numbers." Napoleon III's adviser, Leboeuf, analyzed the situation.
"Why can't our railways achieve the same results?" Napoleon III asked in anger.
During Napoleon III's era, France went through rapid industrialization and built many new rail lines. In terms of total mileage, they were not inferior to Prussia's.
Leboeuf explained, "Sire, while French railways were developed earlier and we did value their military role, the merchants who built them focused on economic interests. Prussia, however, treated railroads as strategic assets from before the Austro-Prussian War. They even set up a Ministry of Railways specifically to coordinate wartime rail schedules—in essence serving the Prussian Army. We only realized the importance of railways to warfare after observing the Austro-Prussian War, but government finances have—"
Leboeuf did not finish, but Napoleon III already understood. He sighed, "We were too shortsighted. If I recall correctly, the first time troops were moved by rail was when we fought Austria in Italy, right?"
"Yes, but the result wasn't very good. Even though both we and the Austrians shipped soldiers to the front by train, we overlooked logistics; more than a hundred thousand men on the front line soon ran out of provisions. The plan was abandoned, but the Prussians had already noticed the huge role of railways in war and have kept investing in them ever since."
"If we adjust our railway policies now, can we increase transport capacity?"
"I'm afraid not, Sire. Our rail network is already set. It can't be easily altered, and even if we tried building new lines, we simply don't have the time. Also, our mobilization can't match Prussia's. France has only four strategic railway routes. Meanwhile, Prussia has five or six such lines—three from Berlin crossing northern and central Germany to reach the border, plus three more from Hamburg, Dresden, and Munich. Not only do the Prussians have the numerical edge in rail lines, but their quality is superior to ours as well. Most of Prussia's lines are double-tracked, allowing them to run up to fifty trains a day to the border, whereas we can only manage about twelve."
"So if we keep dragging our feet, France will end up swamped by Prussia's mass of troops?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. We must interrupt Prussia's mobilization by striking first, and the sooner the better."
Foreign Minister Duc de Gramont added, "Right now, taking the initiative is also the only way to attract Austria, Italy, and Denmark to join the French side."
Napoleon III thought for a while and then said, "Send orders to all units—advance into Prussian territory."
…
Rural Outskirts West of Saarbrücken
At this moment, the French Army advanced as though in unoccupied territory, covering over ten kilometers in half a day. These were the lands ceded to Prussia after Napoleon's defeat in 1815. Most local people still felt kinship with France. The men had fled to avoid Prussian conscription, and only women and children remained.
"Bang… Bang… Bang…"
"Ambush! Find cover nearby. Don't panic!"
Lieutenant Leraut hardly needed to shout a warning—experienced French soldiers already dropped to the ground and began returning fire toward the woods ahead.
The forward elements of the French Rhine Army had collided with the forward elements of Prussia's Second Corps on the west bank of the Rhine. The sound of Chassepot rifles exchanging fire with Dreyse rifles shattered the peace in continental Europe.
Fifteen minutes earlier, a French platoon under Lieutenant Camuel Leraut had encountered a Prussian company hidden in the woods. The Prussians, having the advantage in numbers, charged out from the trees, hoping to surround and destroy the French force. Leraut immediately ordered his men to get down and use the field ridges as cover, firing on the oncoming Prussians. A hail of bullets stopped the Prussians in their tracks. Leraut then commanded his men to move forward ten meters and fire again from a kneeling position. Unable to withstand it, the Prussians fled in disarray.
Two hundred meters away, a Prussian officer, furious at seeing his men defeated by so few French troops, waved a flag to regroup them.
"Everyone, follow my command. Don't get entangled with the French. Fall back toward Saarbrücken. I'll cover with the First Platoon!"
He made a highly visible target. Lieutenant Leraut, noticing him, raised his Chassepot rifle and shot the Prussian officer on his second try, knocking him to the ground.
Although the officer fell, his orders had already been given. The remaining Prussian soldiers, led by the second-in-command, began retreating to the rear.
"Pursue them! Don't let those Prussian brutes get away!" Lieutenant Leraut shouted as he saw the Prussians fleeing.
Thus, a single French platoon routed a Prussian company. In this skirmish, the superiority of the Chassepot rifle and the French soldiers' fighting spirit was put on full display.
…
"Your Majesty, the French have moved. Our troops near Saarbrücken have already clashed with the vanguard of the French Rhine Army. We're not sure yet how many of them are involved. For now, our front-line troops are waiting in the fortifications behind them for the French attack," the messenger reported to Wilhelm I.
"Commence the countermeasures as planned," Wilhelm I declared.
"Yes, Sire!" answered Moltke.
"Send a telegram to the Second Corps Command. Inform Prince Friedrich to move closer to us. Napoleon III will surely attack us at Saarbrücken. The First Corps alone isn't enough to handle the main French force. France probably doesn't have that many troops either, so let's concentrate our forces and deal them a decisive blow with our superior numbers.
"Also, send a telegram to the Third Corps. Order Crown Prince Wilhelm (Frederick III) to move the Third Corps south of the Vosges Mountains, cutting off the French troops there from linking up with their main force. We must not let them reunite."
…
Palatinate
Third Corps Garrison
"We've just received orders from General Headquarters. The French have already launched an offensive in the Saarbrücken area. The General Staff wants us to march immediately toward the Vosges Mountains and block the French forces south of the range from moving north. Everyone, follow my command—move out toward the Vosges!
"The 2nd and 4th Cavalry Divisions will head south at once, clearing out any French units along the route to Wissembourg and gathering intelligence on MacMahon's positions, ensuring the main force can advance southward.
"Leopold, General Kirchbach, each of you is to lead the Hechingen Brigade and the 5th Corps toward the Saverne area. Be on guard for any French forces from the north that might move south to reinforce MacMahon's Châlons Corps.
"The rest of the units will advance with me toward Strasbourg. We must pin MacMahon firmly in the south of the Vosges Mountains."
Frederick III issued his orders in an orderly fashion. MacMahon's forces had only around forty thousand men—fewer than a third of the Third Corps.
Seeing they had a clear advantage, the Bavarian generals demanded that Bavaria's two corps take the lead and invade the Wissembourg area first. One reason was MacMahon's small force of four divisions scattered over four different areas. Only one French division guarded Wissembourg, while Bavaria's two corps significantly outnumbered them. The second reason was that the Bavarians hoped to supplement "their own supplies" along the way; if Prussia or other state troops took the lead, they'd be left with nothing.
Frederick III understood Bavaria's motives but did not refuse. Let them wade in first—no harm in letting them test the waters.
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