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VOL. XIV NO. 43.
PII IL AD ELPHI A, SATURDAY, AUGUST 20, 1870.
DOUBLE SHEET THREE CENTS.
FIRST EDITION
THE WAR' IN EUROPE
The - Latest Situation.
. ' ( -'.r
Eazaine's - Grand " Strategy."
Its Complete Ieeat.
urit" t ! .
The Battle of Thursday.
for "Chalons and Paris
General Trochu as Dictator.
'A Sketch cf the Ilising Man.
Slruiglitev and Science
Militaiy Institutions cf France.
fEngland'sFecuUar Neutrality
JC'., Etc.. Etc.. : Etc., Etc.
THE SITUATION.
be Latest Advices from the Scene of Hlaugh-
ter-The Gr.ftt Battle or Thursday nt rtezon.
vllle Bazalne's Oraod strategy and Its
Complete Defeat. ... ,
"The ground between Metz and Verdun,')
ays a Paris despatch of last night, "has been a
onstant scene of carnage since Sunday.1' This
6 the sum and substance of the voluminous
ilespatchee from the seat of war which have
been tmblished during the last few days. For
he reliable details of this succession of battles
we shall be obliged to wait patieotly for some
lays yet. Marshal Bazaine, according to the
Paris Qauteis, "awaits jure rrtults before he
telegraphs his successes,'" from which we are to
nfer that, despite the boasts of recent
French victories, success is not yet
rure. "Fighting is still going on," says another
aris despatch, ' but' Bazaine will only send a
eport when the result is certain." 80, notwith-
taBding that Fans is roaring the i'Marseillaise,
.nd all Ireland rebounds with the echo, Paris is
ot yet advised in an authoritative way that the
keek now drawing to a close had witnessed an
inlnterupted series of Prussian tepulses in the
regular ,quadllateral bounded by Met, Dieulou-
Ut, Comnrercy, and Verdun.
The Battle ol Wednesday.
No tidings ..have; as yf.t been received of an
oconnter yesterday. The latest intelligence in
et night's despatches from the neighborhood
f the scene of operations was dated at Verdun
0 the evening of Wednesday, the 17th. This
a a highly colored account from Marshal Ba-
aine himself of . the battle of that day, which
.iMted from morning until nightfall. Previous
t-ports have located the scene of the conflict
ear Mars-la-Tour, , a small town directly
west of Metz and twelve miles distant. The
i lietpatch just referred to states that the action
V I ame off in the neighborhood of the town of
liezonville, the exact locality of wMch cannot
e defined. Mt is probably within a few milei of
fetz, and on the road between that fortress and
Verdun. VWe have," says Marshal Bizaine.
everywhere held our positions, and have in
ilcted heavy losses on the enemy." But he
fcdde, significantly, "our loss is serious." All
rhe reports thus far received of Wednesday's
Cghtlng come from French sources, aud are
therefore to be taken with some allowance.
The Battle of Thursday Sreat Defeat of the
French.
But, whatever may have been the result of
Wednesday's encounter, the despatch published
nna. Ill," RannnA Trltflln ha. .AnAA.nlnM .Ka
jattle of Thursday, coming from King William
I u person and bearing upon its face evidence of
ii reliability, lends credenoe to the statement
A contained in the London Times of yesterday
VVnorning that the French army has been cut in
V two and the bulk of it driven in noon Metz thus
lleaviDg the road to Chalons and Paris almost un
V' structed. King William's despatch, which is
addressed 40 the tjueen of Prussia, is dated
I "Near Kezonvule, Aug. Its, 9 P. M." and states
that the French army wis attacked that day
west of Metz, and, after a combat lasting nine
Lours, totally routed, thrown ha:k o Metz, aud
I its unm'iau.Hir fitment with. J'firis drat muni. A
despatch from Munich, the capital of Bavaria,
uaieu at e o ciocg last evening, speaue 01 a
Woody battle having occurred between Grave
lotte (six miles west of Metz) and Rezonville
yesterday, the result being the same as that
I given in King WilliamVs deepatch. Tee Ma
nich despatch probably refers to the
encounter of the day before, as
communications witn me iront cave been so
klirdy of late as to render Thursday the latest
time up to which intelligence could be received
flarahal Bazalae'e tJraad strateg-lcul .tfove
uieui."
The result of the battle on Thursday is to
finally render abortive Bazaine' "strategical
movement," about the Importance aud success
of which we have heard so much from French
sources 01 late. from cuucay morning
to Thursday night he , has been
t battling . for possession of , . the road
J, between MetzL una vera jo. to eniois aim to
transfer bis army from the former to the Utter
point, aud he has fought in vain. When Mac
Mahon on Saturday last evacuated Nancy, the
line of the ' Moselle Was rendered useless for
offensive operations, and worse than useless, as
vtLe result has shown, lor oeieose. as soon
1 therefore as Bazaine became the vir
tuui commaader-inchlef, Le deter-
mined uDon tb abandonment of the
line of the Moselle, And his ultimate purpose
appears to have -been to make no determined
f-Maod either on le line f tbe Mease 0 00 the
iMtnuoi it Argorjrfs, tut after gtUrj his
army over both of these to make a etaid In tbe
valley of the Marne, and by repeating the mis
teily policy of Kcllermann and Dumourlez, ren
der the Prussian campaign of 1870 ai disastrous
to the end as was that of 1792. The distance from
Metz to Chalons, in the neighborhood of which
the grand stand of Bazaine was to have been
taken, Is 80 miles In a straight line, probably
about 100 miles by the most direct route Five
days, at the outside, should be suflicicnt for
Bazaiuc's army to have effected its change of base,
if, as fcas all along been reported from French
sources.revery recent encounter has been a French
victory. But at the end of the five days Bazaine
is hurled back on his starting point, and his
communications with Chalons and Paris com
pletely severed! Unless King William is the
moEt unmitigated liar on tho face of the earth,
the French army has indeed been cut in two;
and the 1 Crown Frince, whose march on
Chalons at the head of three army corps
was . announced yesterday, will find
no material obstruction in his path. Before
many hours elapse we may anticipate tidings of
his descent into the valley of the Marne, and
then will be enacted the scene which fairly pro
mises to be the closing one In the great Corslcan
tragedy. Europe and the world will breathe
freer than at any time since the opening of the
nineteenth century when the curtain has fallen
upon it for the last time.
TK0CIIU AS DICTATOR.
The New Commander of Paris He Is Virtu a
Dictator of the Capital A Sketch of hla
Career.
Louis Jules Trochu, Major-General, or chief
of staff of tbe French army, is now in a position,
as governor of Paris, that will enable him to
play a great part in the revolution that will fol
low in the event of the downfall of the Napole
onic dynasty. One of the recent despatches
states that the people already regard him as the
virtual Dictator, and that he is talked of as a
prospective consul of the republic. Still more
definite than this is the information that in- his
proclamation to the people of Paris both the
Emperor and Empress were ignored, for which
ex-Minister of the Interior Pinard, wished to
call him to account in the Chambers, and
was with difficulty restrained from doing
so. It is also rumored that Trochu,
when J recently urged to take the Min
istry of War, refused to do so, except at the
bidding of the Corps Leglslatif, which was rather
significant for an ollicer of "the personal gov
ernment," but is not altogether inexplicable if
it be true that he is an Orleanist in his proclivi
ties. If he is really disaffected towards tho Em
peror, he probably sees plainly enough that
changes are at band which, if he takes a proper
advantage of the rapidly advancing waves of
revolution, will bear him off to fortune. As there
are indications that General Trochu is one of the
coming men, if not the coming man, in France,
a sketch of bis career will not be uninteresting.
Louis Jules Trochu was born in 1815 and he is
now in the full vigor of his faculties lie en
tered the military school of St. Cyr in 1835, and
like most of the young French officers at that
time, he engaged in the war for the conquest of
Algeria, and bad attained the rank of captain in
1843, when he took part in the battle of Sidi
Yusef, in which he had his uniform pierced in
four places by rifle balls. He distinguished
himself at the battle of Isly by the bravery ho
displayed, and was on that occasion selected by
the successful and able commander, Marshal
Bugeaud, as his aid-de-camp. He became
colonel in 1S.S3; was placed on the 6tiff of Mar
shal St. Arnaud, and served during the Crimean
war. His brilliant conduct at the assauh on S3
bustopooi secured hiti a decoration.
Kingsl&ke represents him as the master m'nd
of the French armydurlng the Crimean war, aud
calls attention to the fact that in all the con
ferences with Lord Raglan, Trochu, rather than
St. Arnaud or Canrobcrt, was the spokesman.
In rS59 he was made general of division, and
served with distinction in the Italian war, and
in 28t)G, after the success of Prussia at Sadowa,
be was charged with the preparation of a plan
for the reorganization of the French army, and
in 1807 he produced an essay upon organization
entitled "VArmee Franoaise," which ran
through ten editions. ' He was one of the first
to foresee the inevitable contest between
France and Prussia, and In a recent pamphlet
be gave the results of an intense study of the
Khenish frontier as a fighting field. By many tti
the French military men "General Trochu is es
teemed to be the most brilliant strategist in
their army, and it has been claimed that he is
the equal, if not the superior, of the Prussian
veteran Von Moltke. In personal appearance
he is described as being of middle size, elegant
in figure, but strong and sinewy. He has a
pleasing countenance, full of intelligence, and
his address is quick, almost warm. He has ,a
broad, thoughtful forehead, slightly bald; small
eyes, but so brilliant and sparkling that they
constitute a remarkeble .feature. His
hand - is nervous though small, and
while his whole aspect is that of a soldier,
there is such absence of pretention that one W
-not obliged to address him always ai M. le
General. Ills army predilections have not har
dened his heart, though they may have given him
stronger views of duty, nis brother having
died and left nine chiklren unprovided for,
Trochu took charge of them all, aud for their
sakes he has remained a single man. He is not
a man of extended popularity, but his merits
are known to the judicious few, and by them
set at an exceedingly high value.
SCIENTIFIC SLAUGHTER.
Tbe New W-apoa and Military Sursery.
Tbe London iMitctt, the sUndard medical au
thority of Great Britain, writing on the merits
of the French and Prussian rifles, says:
Tbe relative merits of the Chassepot and
edle-gun have yet to bo tested in a general
action. The arms themselves, their mechanism
and the character of their projectiles, are well
knon; but it appears to be the opinion of mili
tary turgeons that the statements as to the
gravity and .great 6ize of the wounds, especially
of tbe exit wound of the Chassepot as compared
with tboee of the needle gun, have been exag
gerated. It will be remembered that the trials
viib this bullet on horses were some lime ago
desctlbtd as causing very large, tearing wounds;
but one of our correspondents at librae
who saw tbe wounded after the battle
of Mentana did not corroborate these staUt
Uients. We uu&erotand that at an experi
mental trial with Montigny mitrailleuse in this
country, charged wkh Chassepot bullets, on a
number of dummy soldiers to represent infantry,
the effect was not considered very satisfactory
in a military sense, for only thirty or forty shots
fotik effect out of the -Mi or 000 fired. f the
9
weapons there can be no doubt. The latter is
vastly superior to the former in reaped of its
trajectory and consequent accuracy at long
ranges. The exit wound of the Snider is often
very jagged, owing to the hollow nature of the
projectile causing it to flatten when coming in
contact with the more solid structures of the
body, and, being light in weight and rounded in
form, it is apt to go round rather than penetrate
a bone. The Henry-Martini has a small solid
bullet, and it consequently undergoes little or no
flattening; it strikes with much greater momen
tum and possesses more penetrating power; it
is said to go right through bone, pulverizing it,
and passing out of the body with a relatively
small exit opening. Such' at least we are in
formed have been the results obtained from
experiments on the bodies of dead horses.
FRANCE.
Hrr 9llllar Jnstltntleoa Reviewed by one of
the Orleans Jrleee The American and
PratBO-AuetrUa Ware.
Early in 1859 tho Doc d'Aumale published a
treatise on the Military InstUatloU! ot France,
in which he traecd their history through the
various stages of progressive improvement from
the Unco of Louvois until the present. From
the opening and closing chapters of this work
we take the following interesting extracts:
About a hundred years ago Europe was some
what surprised to learn that she possessed an
additional military power, and that this power
had crept Into the front rank. It was not, as
in the days of Gustavus Adolphus,adazzliog me
teor flashing across a universal chaosonly todis
appear.af ter having filled the world witn its bril
liancy; it was tho smallest, poorest, youngest of
monarchies, fighing in succession the most cele
brated armies. Not only did she gain victories
and know how to profit by them, but she was
able, without entirely succumbing, to lose occa
sionally several points in the terrible game of
war: she could bear np against reverses, renew
tbe struggle after defeat, and finally call back
victory to her colors. In the eighteenth century,
when the solution of the most diflicult problems
was freely sought after, a phenomenon so re
markable could not appear without giving rise
to the most diverse commentaries. In addition
to those who simply paid homage to the genius
and tenacity of Frederick, or who recognized
in him a crowned philosopher, there were ad
vocates for all the details ot Prussian organiza
tion and tactics; some praised the "oblique for
mation," others the iron ramrod; while some pro
found minds decided that if we used the caue to
our soldiers, wo need never again fear the
humiliation of Rosbach. All these were, to a
certain extent, right and wrong; severe discl-
Eline, scientific evolutions, improved arms all
ad their share in the success of the Prussian
armies; but these were merely the elements, the
component parts of a great whole, and it was
this whole which it was necessary to grasp and
study. The truth was, that the large intellect of
Frederick had found a powerful Instrument, in
the system of military institutions merely
sketched out by his predecessors, and which he
developed, completed, and adapted to his age
and country.
In the present day, according to some critics,
success is only obtained by the practice 0!
wheeling movements, by the electric telegraph,
and by railroads; according to others it Is the
needle-gun which has done all. "No more
standing armies" is repeated by a numerous
chorus; "we only want a landwehr."
Now, as it was a hundred years ago, our judg
ments err from being; too exclusive, and, if we
take only one side of a question, we see it im
perfectly. It is simply requisite to start from
too narrow a point 01 view to arrive at a lalse
conclusion, and in the present case the error
might carry us very far. It is unreasonable to
attribute the recent victories of the Prussians to
any particular branch of their military organi
zation; and it would be doing an in
justice to the conqueror to seek in
tbe excellence even of a system the sole expla
nation of the events of last summer. The issue
of the campaign of 180(1 is attributable to very
many different causes, of which some are
obvious, others are not sufficiently known, and
which need not now be dilated upon. What it
concerns us to observe, and what we believe to
be true, is, that if Prussia was able to bring,
almost instantaneously, a considerable army
into the field, well drilled, well commanded,
completely provided, and, in' default of
experience, animated with the liveliest senti
ment of honor; if 6he could operate simulta
neously on the Elbe, on tbe Main, and in Thu
ringia, and while despersing the levies of the
Germanic Confederation, could Invade Bohemia
with troops superior In number and organization
to the valiant and trained legions which Austria
opposed to her, she owes this great result to
military institutions which had been maintained,
reorganized, and developed during peace.
It only remains for us to indicate summarily
the modifications carried ut since 1848 in our
military institutions. The republican period,
being able only to sketch out projects, need not
delay us. We have, however, arrived at more
positive results since 1853.
Tbe Initiative taken by the head of the State
has led to the introduction of great improve
ments in artillery uiahrvl, of which the end is
not yet come. . When we shall have attained to
the combination of light guns of a long range
and great precision with the use of pieces cal
culated to produce crushing effects, the import
ance of artillery, always increasing, will become
still more considerable, and the proportion of
this arm of the service will doubtless be aug
mented. The infantry, that queen of battles,
has been increased in tbe number of its batta
lions, of Chasseur a pkd, regiments of Zouaves
and Algerian tirailleurs. The delicate trans
formation in ita armament seems to point to
necessary changes in its ordonnance, and will
necessitate new methods of transport 10 keep
up the supply of ammunition.
The attention due to the. subject of reserve
forces will also bear etrongly upon infantry
organization. Individual instruction and cav
alry remcunts have been the objects of special
care. Many writers of the present day depre
ciate the value of cavalry, and look upon it as
doomed by rilled cannon and the needle-gun.
The utmost they will accord it is but to play a
secondary part. While allowing here that nuny
-changes are possible, we do not share this opinion.
The war in America, which advocates of impro
vised armies quote too often in support of
tbeir thesis (for the United States was not en
tirely without military institutions, and the
struggle, colossal though it were, was a civil
war sustained on both sides by troops which, at
the outset, had the same faults of organization)
the war in America shows some interesting
examples of the new employment of large bodies
of cavalry. The movements of Stuart, and
above all of Sheridan, deserve to be studied. In
this respect also the campaign in Germany has
not been without its lesson. On the even
ing of Sadowa, the attitude oi the
Austrian cavalry diminished , tbe extent
of the disaster; - and in the
encounter of regiments or brigades where cou
rage was equal, the weight of men and horses
decided the success. We were, therefore, grati
fied on reading a recent decree, which, while
augmenting cavalry regiments of reserve, reas
sured us as to the fate of our illustrious cui rat
tlers, more ill-used lately by the press than
een on the battle-fields of Eylau or Borodino.
In spite of the novelty of "conslderants," which
led to the creation of a troop on account of tbe
xictence of its orlicers, those who still believe
in the I'uria Franctse have applauded the
re.ult.
Three reforms of a peculiarly organic charac
ter have been accomplished under the present
Government Clause 6 of the law of 1831, rela
tive to detached corps of the National Guard,
bas been abolished in a formal manner by the
decree of the 3 1 Lit of January, J8Vi; and tbe dis-jK-iitkifCf
It:; J? j j4 which were nf in
spired by the spirit of the former Legislatures,
did not indicate any retrogressive movement.
During sixteen rears there has not existed in
France any legal mode of convoking or of
organizing tho "Garde Nationale Mobile."
Citizens who, during this period, satisfied
the recruiting law, and who at the present
time have passed the age of twenty, may
consider themselves free from the obligations
imposed upon them by the law of 1831. A new
combination is talked of, destined to supply this
constitutional want. Doubtless it will be
stamped in some sort with a retrospective
character, for it professes to legislate as much
for present as future wants. All the measures
taken at the present time on the subject of re
cruiting, or of the reserve, cannot fully take
effect nnder several years; and if we may always
calculate, in case of danger, on the enthusiast!
of the nation, experience has proved tbe utility
of being able to direct this movement, and of
being in a position to perfect its result.
I HE FRENCH SERVICE.
The French Officer-Ill BocJal Polities and
Ufa la and Oat ot Camp.
A letter written from Paris in June to a Ger
man military journal gays:
The social position of the French officer is
based upon the principle of the mess in the
widest sense of the word. The officers always
live together and eat in common in their pension
(the Garde in the ?n w), at which all unmarried
olHcers are required to appear. Immediately
upon entering into a new garrison, an
agreement is made with some landlord,
who furnishes the necessary apartments.
Even at the tables the officers are placed in
separate rooms according to rank, and each of
these rooms has a table for each separate batta
lion, so that the lieutenants of the first batta
lion find place at one table, those of the second
at another, etc. This separation according to
grade was made in the desire to afford tne offi
cers opportunity to express themselves freely
and unembarrassed, even on subjects relating to
the service. It was hoped also to prevent a
still worse circumstance, since very hurtful
prejudices, or even still more dangerous dislikes,
might be excited.
After dinner all the officers assemble in the
billiard-room to take coffee and read the papers.
But here also they conduct themselves with
what seems to German ideas very great free
dom. All subjects are free; even the Emperor
himself is not exempt, he being looked upon
by tbe majority of the officers as tbe head of the
State only not, however, as the military prince
or hero. Still they are content in accordance
with tbe national character with light, witty
allusions, and occasional remarks, and seldom
or never is a decided criticism heard. In the
same way, the judgment upon comrades is not
severe, and on the whole the impression made
is that of good fellowship, such as can exist and
grow only in a great army. A proof of this
may be found in the fact that duels between
comrades occur only very seldom.
AT HER OLD TRICKS.
England's Peculiar Neutral. tv The "Nat'on
el Miopkeeptre" Welcoming Both Belliger.
enU for Cash.
Frvm the Londun Telegraph
Many of our manufacturers are already be
ginning to reap a rich harvest from the war.
At Leeds several of the mills have begun to
work five days a week, and they will soon, no
doubt, have to work six, in order to supply the
requisite military stores. Birmingham is en
jo ing a still greater share of good fortune, the
gunmakers having received more orders for
small arms than they can execute. Of course,
tbe orders do not come directly from
the belligerents; they are forwarded,
in most cases, by neutral powers
desirous to guard themselves against
the contingencies of the conflict; but in somo
cases, no doubt, they are sent by agents, who
carefully conceal the name of the party for
whom they act. France.at least, seems to have
been active two months before the war; for,
according to aweU-lnformcd provincial contem
porary, a Birmingham firm recently supplied
her with 30,000 chassepots. During the war
each of tbe belligerents is likely, nnder what
ever difficulties, to make ample use of Birming
ham. It is not comforting to think that we
should thus be taking even an indirect part
in tne present war; uui iuo ueiugerem cnar
acter of Birmingham has at least one assu
riBg side. It is a source of strength
to England. By means of the
ofiicial as well as the private factories, this
country, should the Government but choose as
It does not to avail itself in time of the gun
makers' cervices, can produce moie rifles in a
given time than any other nation. Were we at
war the gun factories of Birmingham could, of
course, if prior orders were got out of hand, be
virtually made Government works; and in the
present perilous state of affairs that fact affords
a certain sense of security. On the other hand
our supply of rifles seems so deplorably short
that the sooner the War Office turns its eyes to
tbe resources r' Birmingham the better it nay
be, not only fo. the security of England, but for
the peace of Europe.
NOTES OF THE WAR.
The Expulsion of Uermane from Parle.
fi Tbe following is tbe order of the Prefect of
Police expelling Germans from Paris:
Pakis, Aug. 4, 1870. We, Prefect of Police,
considering Article 5 oi tbe decree of 12tu Men
eedor. Year VIII, and considering that several
foreigners belonging to couutrles at war with
France, and residing at Paris, or in the juris
diction of the Prefecture of Police, give them
selves to practices against the internal and ex
ternal safety of the State, order as follows:
Article 1. avery foreigner, a native of Prunela, of
tbe countries of the Confederation -of thn North, of
Havana, of Wuiwrnburtf, of tlw Umud Duoliy of
Ilt'sse, and of the (-fraud Xiuohy of Baden, and re
siding at tliis moment in Paris, or within the limits
of the Prefecture of Police, stiall, witUla the space
of three day s, present himself at the ('ommliwari.t
of Police for the quarter of his domicile to asH a
permit to rematu.
Article 2. Every forelprarr, native of Uie counties
above-named, who ahali not have, witliiu the time
named, conformed to the.:recediug regulation, shall
Le put under arrent.
Articles. The present oxd'nauee Is not applicable
to those foreigner who save lost bj another
naturalization their nationality of birth ; nor to those
who have been admitted by authorization of the
Cioverument to establish their domicile iit Fauci;.
The Prefect of Police.
J. M. Pustki.
The Pruenlanj Arm Corp.
The following is the latest aed most authentic
account of the organization of the 1'rtssiau
aimy:
Oi tbe three armies of operaion the Crown
Prince of Prussia takes tbe command of that of
tbe south, with General Von Bluuenthal as the
chief of his staff. Tne same oilier held that
position in the campaign of 1800. General Vou
tfleinmetz. with General Von Sporllng us his
chief of staff, and Prince Frederick Charles,
with Colonel Von Stickle in the same capacity,
conmand the two others, of which the latter
occupies the more nurtberuly position. The
defeitte of tbe coast bas beeu entrusted to
General Vogel Von Falkenstein. The commands
of the thirteen army corps have been distribute!
as follows: The Guards, Prince august of Wur
temburg; No. 1. General Von Mauteuffel; No. 3.
General Von Franseekl; Na. 8. General Von
Alvensleben II; No. 4. General Von Alvenslebon
I; No. 5. General Von Kirchbach; No. 0. Gene
ral Von Tuempliag; No. 7. General Von Z ts
trow: No. 8. Geuyal Von GoeUeu; No. 9. Gene
ral Von Mansteiu; No. 10. General Voa Voigw
Rbetz; No. 11. General Von Bose; and No. li.
Tbe Crown Prince of Saxony. It Is hardly
necessary to add that General Von Moltke, as
chief of tbe general staff, tias far more Imp runt
iaictkcs tac those of any pan!'" ilr :o'n::i id
SECOND EDITION
Another Great "Battle.
Near Rezonville.
The French Routed.
Driven into Metz.
Isolated irom Paris,
Bombardment of Strasburg
Surrender Refused.
IS NAPOLEON ALIVE?
His Death Again Reported.
FROM EUROPE.
Total Ront of the French Army-Despatch
from Klnc William.
Beelin, Aug. 20. The Queen haa received
the following despatch from King William:
Neab Rezonville, Aug. 189 P. M. The
French army was attacked to-day west of
Metz. Its position was very strong. My
command, after a combat of nine hours dura
tion, totally routed the French forces, inter
cepted their communications with Paris, and
threw them back on Metz.
The French Defeat Another Account.
Munich, Aug. 198 P. M. A bloody battle
occurred to-day (yesterday?) between Gra
veWte and Rezonville. The French were
zeroised and driven back on Metz. All com
munication between Metz and Paris bas
been destroyed.
Aa Ensllxh Account.
London, Aug. 2011 A. M. A great Prus
sian victory is announced. Particulars will
be forwarded soon. ,
Confirmations of the French Defeat. -
London, Aug. 20 (From a private source.)
The following is an official despatch from
King "William, dated Rezonville, Thursday
evening: "We have defeated the French
nnder Bazaine, after a. battle which lasted
ten hours. There were 40,000 killed and
wounded. The garrison were taken prison
ers. I commanded. The defeat of the
French was complete. William."
London, Aug. 20. All private despatches
agree precisely in terms regarding the victory
of the Prussians. The following is the des
patch from King "William:
"The Frenoh army were west of Metz,
Their position was very strong. My com
mand, after a combat of nine hours, totally
defeated the French army, and intercepted
their communication with Paris and with the
forces at Metz."
Rejoicing Over the Prui.Ian Saeceaeee.
London, Aug. 20. There is great joy at
Hamburg, Berlin, and Frankfort over the
recent Prussian victories. Illuminations and
processions are the features of the occasion,
At Frankfort the American Consul was en
tbusiastically cheered.
Reported Death of Nattoleen.
London, Aug. 20. A rumor is current
here of the sudden death of Napoleon. It
is asserted confidently by some, but it is to
be accepted with distrust. Apoplexy is
named as the cause of his death.
Nuualeon Dtatl Civilly an4 lurnerially.
A Paris correspondent writes an follows:
"Silence has settled on the name of Napoloon
the Third more astounding than even tho
Prussian victories. He is'uv M civilly and
imperially; where will he drag his deposed
worn-out carcass ? For a fortnight his name
has been unpronounced in tbe Chamber, and
he is as much disregarded as the Pope."
Mae.TIahoa Retiring 00 Parle.
Bbusselb, Aug. 20. A Paris letter to the
Independance Beige says Marshal MaoMahon
is retreating on Paris, and will avoid an en
gagement unless he can form a junction with
Marshal Bazaine.
Deatructloa of the Bole do Ilelosae Ordered.
Patis, Aug. 20. The council of war at
Paris, bs a defensive measure, have ordered
tbe partial destruction of the Bois de Bou
logne. P01U Anxloua for Wur Newa.
Nothing bas yet been reoeived from the
front, and the public- is very anxious. Great
crowds of people are around the offices of the
Ministers of War and of the Interior.
Jl. Olllvler HUH la Parle.
London, Aug. 20. Advices from private
sources state that M. Emile Ollivier is still
in Paris. . He is keepiug out of eight. Oar
informant dined with him on Thursday.
PrimHlaa VeaaeU Captured.
.Tf jN Aij, 1, Tjyo Prufiia y?3:';,.'J
laden with oil have been captured recently in
these waters by French gunboats. ' .
The Gernaa Feree la the Field.
London, Aug. 20. It is stated that there- !
are now more than 400,000 Germani between
the Rhine and Paris. , .
Tlrtnalllnc of Mtraabura.
The French hae succeeded in victualling
Strasburg. ' , , , , ,
r Bombardment ot Straebara.
London, Aug. 20. The bombardment of
the city of Strasburg from a point near
Kehl begun on Friday morning and con
tinued till noon, when it was suspended for
tw hours. The return fire from the garrison
was almost harmless. - .
the Town of Schultzhetm Occupied fey the
i-roeiiiane.
CAKLLsnrHE, Aug. 19. The following de
spatch is official; ., .
A Baden division has ocoupied the French
town of Schultzheim, a mile north of Stras
burg, and Konigshafen on the west and
Ruprechlzin on the northeast. One division
continues to harass the retreating French.
Demand for the Surrender of f he City.
Paris, Aug. 20. A Prussian officer, with
flag of truce, on Friday demanded tho sur
render of Strasburg. He was received with
bouts of the populace, "We shall never sur
render." The commander of Strasburg then
dismissed the Prussian with the words, "The
people have given you my reply."
Prince Frederick's Lout.
. It is admitted that the corps of Pj ace-
Frederick Charles has suffered severely.
Bazaine and the Emperor.
It is stated that Marshal Bazaine had to
weaken his force while under fire in order to
send regiments to defend the Emperor's
person.
Moving- Out of Chalona.
Paris, Aug. 20. The inhabitants of Cha
lons have received orders to get their grain
away within twenty-four hours.
The Prussians at Nancy.
Part of the Prussian army have re-entered
Nancy and named a Mayor for the city.
A Prussian Invasion of Luxemburg
is considered imminent, from orders lately
given for the subsistence of their troops.
Prussian Losses la Three Days.
La rresse says: Trustworthy advices
state that the Prussian losses have not been
less than ninety thousand in the battles of the
last three days.
French War Dispatches.
London, Aug. 20. The French War Office
forbids the publication of any war dispatches
unless signed by Marshal Bazaine. This
prohibition extends even to the Emperor's
despatches.
The Defeat of ItlacMahon.
London, Aug. 19. The special correspondent of
tbe Tribune ut tbe headquarters of the Crown
Prince writes on the lath lnst, : "The more we
gather of the detalls;of the battle of Woerth.tbe more
clearly docs It appear that there was no miracle
about the affair no sudden surprise as though a
new weapon had beeu discovered. From the vil
lages la the rear of the Held I gather far more of tbe
French movements than can be learned from the
prisoners or the villagers on the field Itself.
'It would seem that the Imperial commanders in
thin quarter were altogether outmanoeuvred by the
Crown l'rince, and that whatever the merita of the
respective small-arms, the tactics of the two armies
will not bear comparison. Some say even now that
tne Chassepot is a better rlrte than the needle-gun;
but be that as It may, the French allowed themselves
to be so placed as to have required no common
amount of fighting to save them at alb First, we
hear of their blind confidence, and of their cnoe of
'o Berlin,' while they were really in desperate
danger. Then came tbe news of the surprise at
Weiswnburg and of tbe death of General Lkmay.
He was posted In a corner of the French territory,
with a mass of German troops collected on both his
nanks, and was much further from his supports than
prudence warranted In the face of such an enemy.
It can never be known whether the French com
mander would have extricated his men with less
loss than they actually sustained had ho lived to
direct them, for he fell by one of the first discharges
of artillery.
"Thus was a step gained by the Germans. They
had gallantly stormed the position at Weissenburg
and fiad begun to shatter the enemy In detail. M"w
Mahon and De Fallly were now called on to act. The
former marched against the Crown Prince with his
whole corps d'armee, and, as was believed among
the French soldiers, expected JJe Fallly to sopporl
his left In case of a check. Here again was the im
petuous over-coufldeuce which Frenchmen are ap. to
show. The second opportunity of meeting them in
detail was given to the Ueriuaus, and a bloody bat-
tie was Hie result.
'The Prussians and Bavarians together far out
numbered the corps of MacMahon. We rnay esti
mate that the Crown l'rince had at least half as
many again of disposable troops on Aug. 0 an hue
opponents. 1 have heard twelve to seven men
tioned as the odds in the tight atWoerlb, and before
MacMahon bad been long engaged, he was sending
aides-de-camp to big help from Ut Fallly. The dis
tance was not great to Bitche, and the messages
must have arrived In time to bring the need ni help,
If only everything had been In read'ness. lint here
again over-conlldence had prevailed. One Freuco
corps was destroyed befoie the other came to its.
support. I have heard that on Sanday, the day fol
low ing the battle, a large force was about in the
rear of where ZVlacMauou had fought. People who
saw it tell with wonder of the rush of the beata
army westwurd, and the advance of angry and
almost incredulous troops towards the front. It was
too late to renew the battle, too late to save the five
regiments which lay strewn over the fields atYVoerth.
The more desperate their resistance, tho more they,
bad been slaughtered ; and at the last t'aere Dad been,
a sort of panic.
"Frenchmen are bad hauds at retreating after a
defeat. It seems certain tttat the fugi'jves from.
Woerth were In great disorder, even when pasing
through villages ten miles In the rear. The corps
of De Fallly could only have sacrldced Itself use
lessly when once MacMahon s soldiers had been de
moralized. To have fought a second ba'.tle ol
Woerth would have been to play Into the hands or
the Crown Prince, who would nave liked nothing
better than to engage the whole French army 1a de
tail aud beat them const cutlvely. lie is the be'.ter
general who has the force present In the nick of tine.'
Ikspatch to X. V. TiiMH.
Geaeral Trocuu'd Head-quartrra.
London, Aug. IS. I have jutt heard that iene.ai'
Trochu, Ihe new military (ioveruor of i'.tns, has
tuken up bis headquarters ut the I'aUo of the
hlj see.
The ftpantali Itrpubllcaao.
A despatch from your correspondent at Madrid,
dated this morning, states that General I'nui, beuor
Klvtro, and another member of the Miuistiy are
gain in negotiation with the Republicans. The
latter willli ave notliiug to do with then, preferring
to abide their chance. If Hie Kreuca Government
taid tut the word, Kpaiu would be rep uou j.u to
morrow. Tbe Ppaalsh Laaa and 1 ho War.
The Bank of i'arls hs announced ti the .S an U
Government that they will not pay tbe losvuiuteui
of lf,0M,iMH) francs contracted for, and wli.:',
Li.uer u.i' r::rct, tin y have i-IkM t ) (.'. .
V