this
time, the French having been shortly after reinforced, the Prussians
and their allies did nothing of any consequence. A battle was fought in
July, which was maintained, at different points, four whole days; but
after both sides had suffered greatly, the imperialists crossed the
Rhine, and the Prussians retreated down the left bank of the river to
Mayence, leaving the republicans in the possession of territory sixty
miles in length. Thus successful, the French marched to the reduction of
Treves, and then poured down in great numbers to the Netherlands, first,
to assist in the war there, and after that to conquer Holland.

The armies of the republic were also successful in Spain and Italy. In
Spain, early in the year, the French having penetrated into the province
of Catalonia, a battle was fought near Saint Jean de Luz, in which they
were victorious. In May, also, another victory was gained near Ceret;
and soon afterwards a third, of still greater importance, over the
principal Spanish army posted in the vicinity of Collioure. On the
western side, moreover, the towns of Fontarabia and Saint Sebastian fell
into the hands of the republicans: the latter, partly by feat of arms,
and partly by the treachery of some of the notabilities of that place.
By these successes the French had obtained a good basis of operations;
but they still had to fight desperately for every foot of ground. During
the month of October the French general Moncey received the orders of
the convention to overrun the whole of the Basque provinces, occupy
Navarre, seize Pampeluna, and transfer his camp to the banks of the
Ebro. In compliance with these orders, Moncey led his columns into
Roncesvalles, that deep valley, formed by the Pyrenees of Navarre,
between Pampeluna and Saint Jean Pie-de-Port, on the French frontier,
and after sustaining a loss of 3,000 men, he gained possession of it.
But winter was fast approaching, provisions were falling short, and
unless he could force his way to Pampeluna, he saw that he must retreat
to Saint Jean Pie-de-Port. The Spaniards now occupied excellent ground
at the head of the pass between the French army and Pampeluna; and here
Moncey attacked them in vain: his left wing was completely defeated, and
he was compelled to leave Roncesvalles and to winter his army; some in
that part of Guipuscoa of which he had obtained possession in the valley
of Bastan, and some at Saint Jean Pie-de-Port.

In Italy the Piedmon