PASSACES FOR TRANSLATION IXTO GERMANXN 189
popular in France, for Prussia's victory over Austria was
considered by the French as equal to a defeat of France
itself. Occasion for serious friction between the two
countries came in 1870, when the Spaniards offered the
throne of their country to the eldest son of Prince Anton
von Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen. Japoleon requested the
King of Prussia through his ambassador, Count Benedetti,
to interdict the prince from accepting the crown oflered
him. This King W’illiam naturally refused to do, but the
difficulty of the duestion seemed to be overcome uhen the
news arrived that the Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen
had refused Spain's offert Howerer, France was not
satisfied with this solution, and demanded that the King
#0f Prussia should pledge himself for the future also under
no circumstances to allow a Prince of Hohenzollern to
accept the crown of Spain. King William replied that
he had no right to interfere in the matter, and that he
could not give any pledges regarding his future actions.
When Benedetti requested another audience, he received
the answer that the king had nothing further to say in the
matter. This reply was taken as an insult br the French,
and on July 16 war was declared against Prussia. The
king at once proceeded to Berlin and ordered the mobilisa-
tion of the army. The allied South Cerman sovereigns
did the same, and by the end of July hostilities began.
VIII (pp. 45-50)
On July 28 the Emperor Napoleon reached Metz. On
the following morning he assumed the command ef the
army of the Rhine. The Cerman army was not Fet ready,
but Napoleon hesitated to inrade Germany. JNot until
August 2 did the French make an attack upon Saar-
brücken which was occupied by three companies of the
4oth regiment, amounting to about 800 men, supported
by two light guns and about 290 cavalry. The Prussians
resisted for three hours and then evachuated the town.
Napoleon sent the Empress a telegram, in which he
