The German arms have to-day been crowned with wonderful success. The greatest triumph of the war has been achieved in this battle of Sedan, and the Emperor of the French himself is among the prisoners . . . An army cut off and surrounded, an Emperor taken prisoner! Those are not common results. It is so overhelming a catastrophe for France that one can excuse the tears in the old soldier’s eye, who dashes his crutch upon the floor, and will not even smoke his pipe. It is so overwhelming a catastrophe that one cannot but sigh over the evident pleasure of the ordinary villagers at seeing a hope of peace.
Archibald Forbes: «The Battle and Surrender at Sedan», later revision dated 1870‑09‑01 (extr. La Litera información)
