The Emperor arrived at Metz on Thursday, and immediately issued
the following proclamation to his army :—" Soldiers am about to place myself at your head, to defend the honour and the soil of the country. You go to fight against one of the best armies in Europe, but others who were quite as worthy were unable to resist your bravery. It will be the same again at the present time. The war which is now commencing will be a long and severe one, since it will have for the scene of its operations places full of fortresses and obstacles ; but nothing is too difficult for the soldiers of Africa, the Crimea, China, Italy, and Mexico. You will again prove what the French Army, animated by the sentiment of duty, maintained by discipline, and inspired with love of country, can perform. Whatever road we may take beyond our frontiers we shall find glorious traces of our fathers. We will prove ourselves worthy of them." The tone of that address is to English ears remarkably good, but to French ears it will seem to lack spirit. The French army does not anticipate a long and severe war, but a grand battle, followed by an imme- diate march upon Berlin.
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