As I have previously stated, the first of these blunders was the

acceptance of battle by MacMahon at Worth; the second in attaching

too much importance to the fortified position of Metz, resulting in

three battles Colombey, Mars-la-Tour, and Gravelotte--all of which

were lost; and the third, the absurd movement of MacMahon along the

Belgian frontier to relieve Metz, the responsibility for which, I am

glad to say, does not belong to him.

With the hemming in of Bazaine at Metz and the capture of MacMahon's