Metz
the strongest fortress of the former German imperial territory of Alsace-Lorraine, and the capital of the district of Lorraine; before 1871 the main bulwark of France in her N. E. frontier, and capital of the department of Moselle. In August, 1870, Bazaine was compelled to retire into Metz with his army; and after an investment of 70 days, during which no attempt was made to take the city by force, Europe was startled to hear of the capitulation of Metz, by which 180,000 men and immense military stores fell into German hands (Oct. 27, 1870). By the treaty of Frankfort Metz was annexed to Germany as part of Lorraine and by the Treaty of Versailles it was restored to France. Metz was bombarded in November, 1918, and a general attack on the city was prevented only by an armistice of Nov. 11. Known to the Romans as Divodurum; it was afterward called Mettis. Pop. about 75,000.
MEUDON (muh-dông'), a town 5 miles S. W. of Paris, containing a château, rebuilt by Mansard for the Dauphin in 1695, and fitted up for Marie Louise by Napoleon in 1812, which was reduced to ruin during the bombardment of Paris in 1871, but has been restored.
The Forest is a favorite holiday resort.
Rabelais was curé of Meudon and the MEUSE local church contains a statue of him.
The sculptor Rodin had his studio and did much of his most famous work there.
Pop. about 13,000.