The Sun. — London, England, 1870-08-31 00:00:00

THE WAR. AFFAIRS AT PARIS. MONDAY. Every topic, in the absence of news from the front, pales before the absorbing interest of the preparations for the approaching siege. Every day Paris looks more war like ; every day the arrangements approach more nearly to the desired completeness. The forts are full of guns and men, the deep ditches are full of water, and the Bois de Boulogne is full of cattle and sheep to serve as provision during the approaching time of trial. From that whilom place of pleasure goes up a tremendous sound of live stock, the volume of which increases every day. Already there is two months' supply of meat accumu lated. Permission or not, most of the inhabitants who can afford it are buying arms. The questions of going out and coming in, the exodus and the immigration, are amongst the most interesting of those connected with the siege. The ambassadors will not remain to be peppered by German shells ; they will leave for some town where branches of the administration may be established. What will be done in this direction is of course not revealed to the out side world ; but no doubt many of the functions of Government will be transferred to the provinces. The War Department will certainly go. It would be wild in the extreme to have the supply of the army connected with a department which is locked up in the capital with a besieging force on all sides. But it is not at all certain that the Minister of War will follow his department. He has something more on his hands than the control of the army—he is Premier, and whilst the services immediately connected with the force in the field must remain in communication with it, the belief gains ground that the chief Minister himself, with at least some of his col leagues, will remain where he is. The Government are notoriously opposed to leaving the Parisians and General Trochu to their own devices. The belief prevails that they will send out of the capital only such proportion of the Government as must necessarily go. It is even re ported that the Empress has decided to remain. Her Majesty had at first agreed to go to Bourges or Tours ; but now she has repented of the resolve. Very naturally the Empress Regent and her advisers do not wish to leave the capital to the guidanceship of Gambetta and his col leagues ; but though their stay may keep this party in check, it will be attended with corresponding disadvantages. The country districts and the great towns are sure to get dissatisfied if they remain long cut off from communica tion with the capital. One important portion of the migratory element is leaving Paris very unwillingly. In obedience to the long expressed wish of the public, a decree has been published ordering all subjects of nations at war with France to leave the capital and retire on the other side of the Loire. Germans who are naturalised are to all intents and pur poses Frenchmen, and will be regarded as exceptions; but all others must take themselves off in three days, or they will be handed overto the military authorities. This decree will greatly distress many thousand Germans who are peacefully fixed here, and have no more desire to be mixed up in the war than the poor old folks who are entering Paris in crowds from the rural districts. But public opinion is so strong on this point that people are some what dissatisfied at the permission to retire even beyond the Loire. If the Germans would act as spies in Paris, it is said, they will do the same on the other side of the great river. It is intended to organise fresh armies and bring up fresh resources from that district. These Germans, the cry runs, will be able to give all intelligence required respecting these preparations. The Journal des _Mats says :—" It is no doubt very hard to be obliged to go to such extremities, and all the more that among the expelled there may probably be many innocent ; but how are these to be distinguished from others? In the existing situa tion, when the enemy is only a few marches from Paris, every secondary consideration must be forgotten in the interests of public safety. It is no longer two armies, it is two nations which fight in a last struggle ; and since it was Germany which first gave the war this barbarous character, it is to their own country that the Germans sent away from Paris should carry with them the misery and suffering which their expulsion will involve." The immigration is as serious and as painful as the exodus. Thousands of families are arriving in all directions from the country round. It is all very well to talk of expelling the " useless mouths," but as fast as one set departs another comes in. It would be the height of folly for these people to remain out of the city. All the district around will be swept with troops, and much of it ploughed with cannon shot, if the Germans come up. Besides the crops of the country people are all to be burned in order that the invader may not reap any benefit from them. Nobody likes to remain in such an external wilderness, and therefore they come up in great numbers ; but the remedy is almost worse than the disease. It is a sad sight—to be compared to nothing so much as the disastrous removal of effects in order to avoid a fire. Thousands of miserable travellers with their children and household furniture, cattle, horses, and every species of property, raise vast clouds of dust on all the roads leading to this excited city. The war news is once more nil. The Government has taken to the practice of giving us a sort of general review of the situation in about five lines of large print. As this neat compendium is full of the largest statements, and devoid of every semblance of special fact, its value may be readily guessed. We know nothing of Bazaine, nothing of MaxMahon. OPERATIONS NEAR THE BELGIAN FRONTIER. CHARLEVILLE MEZIERES, AUGUST 28. I arrived here the night before last, and made an ex cursion to Poix, which delayed me in writing to you, and to-day I find the task difficult on account of the reserve imposed on me respecting the movements of the army. Discretion is superfluous, as I think, for the enemy cer tainly knows as well as we do, if not better, that he has the army of MacMahon in face of him ; while if I were to tell you that such and such corps were at such and such villages, I do not suppose that it would be much news to the Prussians. The interest of all these preliminaries seems to me to be very much weakened by the expectation of decisive events. I found Charleville, which I left a few days ago quite tranquil, disturbed by that agitation whose painful traces I have followed from the frontier to the heart of the country. Preparations for the reception of the wounded are being made here, and I know that at Sedan the international ambulances have put all the transports in requi sition. This is the sure sign of an approach ing battle ; and yesterday evening the servant of a notary of the little town of Montoy arrived at Charleville to inform his master's father-in-law that he had fallen in with. a Prussian patrol, who had detained him and his horse and carriage. According to the servant's account the two armies are not more than a league apart. Yesterday there were some skirmishes with the cavalry, and this morning the rumour is current at the station, which is our news centre, that the whole army of Mac- Mahon is in position, ready either to offer or accept battle. The torrents of rain which have been falling all night, however, may retard matters. The absence of news is the worst part of the matter. Since I left Metz I have witnessed a veritable emigration which at the present moment is assuming immense proportions. The country people are arriving in the towns, and the towns people are retreating step by step, some into the interior, others beyond the frontier. Belgium is encumbered by immi grants and Luxembourg is thronged to such a degree that there are fears of a failure of provisions for the sud den access of population. In one of the nearest Belgian villages the curd of Pussmange has let his rooms to some persons from EpernaLat seventy francs per month for each room, on condition that an extra day's sojourn will entail a month's rent. At the present moment everything depends on MacMahon. For my own part I shall only await the issue of the forthcoming battle to decide on my course. If he wins, I may continue to follow him; if he fails, I shall return with all possible speed. The Prince Imperial arrived at Mezibres yesterday morning, and left again this evening for Sedan. It is melancholy to see this sad and tired child, with his escort of servants and cent-gardes, amid the few cheers of the people, who are engrossed with other matters. I have seen here aladv, one of the volunteer nurses, who attended General Doens in his last moments. The General died after an amputation which was tried too late at Sarreguernines, where he was wounded ; there were no doctors he could trust, and when one was brought from headquarters, the necessary operation had become so complicated that, though skilfully performed, the effects were fatal. If I am not mistaken it was Dr. Chartier who 7.1 E SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, AUGUST 31, 1870 a crowd collected, chairs were 4roken, windows smashed, and mega,ces directed against tke imprudent host, who lost no time in extinguishing the gits. A strong part► of police arrived soon after and took hi= into custody. performed it, assisted by the Prussian doctor Kraus, for the Prussians in the meanwhile had occupied Sarrtigue mines, and the French surgeon was passed from TJhlan to Uhlan, pistol in hand, to the wounded man's bed. After his death the lady I have referred to exerted herself to get him buried with military honours, which was done. The Society of Johannistes is increased. After the disastrous day of the 18th the wounded remained forty-eight hours in the villages and farms, where almost everything was wanting. A hundred young men from Hesse then arrived at the head of long trains of carts, and a general move ment was made. In one of these farms a woman, it is said, took out the eyes of a wounded Prussian officer. She was hung by his compatriots. LATER, The news is encouraging. MaclVlahon is in a strong position, and his artillery is numerous. We pass from dis pair to hope with incredible rapidity. All the trains are stopped excepting by Givet. I must go through Belgium, and for that I want a passport. The enemy is said to be at Bethel. There are scouts on all the hills to give the first alarm. P.S.—The French army has left Vouziers, and the Prussians have arrived there. They have burned the village of Falaize, and killed two men. All Vouziers is coming here.—" Georges Jeannerod" in Le Temps. A CORRESPONDENT'S ADVENTURES : ,, M. Gustave Isambert, who has been missing some time, writes as follows : " RETHEL, AUG. 23, " I was going to-day by the train which usually leaves at half-past one, and I took my ticket for Sedan. At half past three the train was not yet ready for Rheims, when suddenly a train entered the station, and all the travellers prepared to start. False alarm ! It was an Imperial train, with the Prince Imperial, some forty Cent-Gardes, and a host of valets in green livery. While the pre cocious hero of Saarbruck walks on the quay a crowd of curious spectators, amounting nearly to the third or fourth part of the whole population of Rethel, comes to the station. 'This crowd is the sight for me, and I watch it quietly, when presently a fair young man touches me on the arm, and says, ' You do not belong to Rethel." No, I do not,' but I pull out a heap of letters. ' All these do not contain your description.' I am accordingly put in the hands of a sergeant, who marches me from door to door to various persons who have relations with Rheims to see if they know me. My sergeant walks me quietly about. One of the citizens says that without having had direct dealings with me, he has met me fifty times in Rheims, and saw me the night before with some neutral friends. I thought myself secure, but the commissary of police carries me off to the prison. I am searched, luckily for me, for finding the papers I had exhibited at the station, lam taken to the Hotel de Ville, where the municipal council is holding an extraordinary session, and where several councillors, old subscribers of the Indipendant Ratoe,s, come up to speak to me without seeming to doubt my identity. Afterwards I am taken back to the Palais de Justice, which in the morning I had been examining, thinking its fortress-like appearance par ticularly appropriate under the circumstances, and I was soon after released, with the apologies of the Procureur- Impdrial. At Rethel there is little news of the war, but they say some Prussian riflemen have been seen in Vouziers." A subsequent letter from the same writer, dated Bethel August 28, tells that on going to the station to leave for Reims he was again arrested by the police agents, taken all through the town to the sub-prefecture, where the Prince Imperial was lodged, 'and given in charge to the pompiers, or firemen, who treated him kindly, and offered him a choice of their wretched beds. Towards dawn the next morning, the report spread that the French army was r coming, and MacMahon would be there in Uwe e hours. The prisoner was told that he would be taken to prison, Eli he could not be released until fie arrival of the Marshal. However, at about eleven o'clock he tract taken beltore General Stoffel, the Prevost General, who, evidently, Ives convinced he was a very dangerous mark and would not give him an opportunity for making explanations of any kind. After a great deal of talk on one side the autho rities of Rethel were desired to detain the unlucky journa list as long as possible, so as to prevent him from doing any. mischief, that is to say, he was to be kept a week. During this week he led a dreary existence enough, not being able to obtain writing materials, though whether from the orders of the authorities or the careless ness of his gaolers he could not tell. While he was in prison he heard troops continually passing. When he came out he heard on all sides of the Prussian invasion A grand proclamation from the major was read on the evening of the 28th, announcing the immediate arrival of the Prussians, and advising the people, in the absence of arms, to avoid all signs of resistance. The German railways are already announcing pleasure trips from Berlin and Dresden to Paris. The cost is to be, for a return ticket available for a month, 20 thalers third class, and 25 thalers second class. The Figaro says that a number elderly ladies came to the Mairie to ask if dogs, cats, parrots, and canaries came under the head of the "useless mouths" which were ordered to leave the city. They were told in reply that these creatures could not be so considered, as in case of need they might be eaten. It appears that the venerable ladies were not particularly gratified with this announce ment. They departed, passing uncomplimentary remarks upon Bismarck. The Soir says :—" They were talking in a group of deputies of a high personage who will be compelled to pass into posterity. Some one said, 'lt is impossible to deny that he was at one time possessed of superior abilities, but now he does not appear to be himself any longer.' Come then,' said M. Thiers, he ; superior abilities ! never in his life ! Shall I tell you the truth ? Well it is a great incapacity unknown." The correspondents are getting into more trouble. Those of the Times and Independance Beige stationed at Paris are be expelled : the very name of the Times has become odious to Frenchmen. Mr. Austin, of the Times is imprisoned at Rheims ; Mr. Sidney Hall, of the Graphic, is undergoing the same hard fate at Nancy; and Mr. Holdsworth, of the Daily News, has been brought back from Soissons under a guard to Paris. The London correspondent of the Manchester Guardian writes :—" The health of the Emperor continues to decline. Fatigue, hardship, and disappointment have made havoc of what remained of his debilitated constitu tion. In addition to the physicians ordinarily in attend ance, more than one eminent practitioner has been sum moned to visit him from England. From what I hear I should not be surprised at any announcement regarding him." The Receiver-General of Chalons arrived on Saturday morning in Paris with his strong boy., containing 276,000, after having had a narrow escape. The approach of a party of Uhlans being signalised, that functionary imme diately ordered three horses to be harnessed to a tilbury, in which he placed the money, and then, mountin3 the box, he drove off at full speed, so that the marauders, on arriving a few minutes after, found no funds. Themoney has been paid into the Bank of France. The following letter was found in the stiffened hand of a French captain killed at Woerth :—" My Dear Papa, —Since thou departed I cease not to think of thee. lam so sad at not being able to see thee and embrace thee every morning. But I hope God will preserve thee in health, and that thou shalt soon return to embrace thy little girl. lam very good, in order to console mamma for thy absence. Adieu, well beloved papa. I embrace thee very tenderly. Thy daughter who loves thee, MAR GUERITE." The Manchester Examiner prints the following extract from a private letter, written, it states by a gentleman in Berlin, who has unusual means of studying the political sentiments of the upper classes in that capital :—" The best terms of peace for France that are now talked of are liberal pecuniary indemnification for the war, and the expenses of an army of occupation until a stable and peaceable government is assured to the Empire ; the entire separation of France from the Rhine at all points, and the re-annexation of all the old German-speaking pro vinces to the Fatherland. Nothing but disaster to the German arms can seriously modify this programme, am told." The Café Meyerbeer, at the Rend-point of the Champs Elysees, the proprietor of which is a Prussian, became a few evenings back a scene of tumultuous excitement. Several free-m2rksmen were seated in front of the house, waiting for the passage of the battalion. On hearing the trumpet they rose to greet their comrades, swearing at the same time to exterminate all the Prussians. The master of the café, irritated by this enthusiam, exclaimed, " You are blockheads ; in three daye the Prussians will be in Paris, and I have engaged to provide them a dinner of 150 covers." These words produced a great commotion ; THE MILITARY POSITION. If there actually was serious fighting at the passages of the Meuse on Sunday it was provoked by the attempt of the French to force their way across the river and prosecute their design of liberating Bazaine. Official reports from either side are wanting, and the fact may possibly be in part explained by the comparative difficulty of communication in the wild and remote region to which the interest of the campaign has so abruptly shifted. But possibly we may ascribe the silence of the commanders also to the fact that the engagements have been partial and level, and that both sides are mustering their strength for a more conclusive conflict, which will decide the question whether MacMahon will per severe in his attempt to succour his colleague, or will be compelled to retreat through the defiles that he has sl audaciously placed in his rear. We have formerly pointed out the dangers to which the Marshal was exposed from the attack of the Crown Prince on his flank and rear while he was still held fast in the difficult country west of the Meuse. It would seem that these dangers grow more serious every hour. Of the triangle which we set out by describing, two sides are occupied by the Prussian troops—the base and the eastern ; while the French, engaged far from their base on the western side, are several days' march farther from Paris than the invaders. We hear of the latter at Mouson, Dun, and Stenay, and at Verdun—where 10,000 made on Thursday a futile demonstration against the fortress. On the base line they occupy, or have passed Clermont—whence a brilliant cavalry skirmish, ending in the overthrow and almost the annihilation of a French regiment of Chasseurs by a Saxon regiment, is reported ; at. Ste. Menehould—where 800 Gardes Mobiles were cap tured the other day ; at Suippes by which the army of the Crown Prince, turning to its right from the roads direct to Paris, is ere now pouring into the triangle ; at the camp and town of Chalons, through which their cavalry and artillery are pouring by thousands; and at Rheims, on the heights near which 14,000 of the invaders were encamped on Saturday last. Still farther to the west no fewer than 100,000 Prussians are stated by the Paris telegrams to have already massed themselves between Rheims and Epernay, thus totally severing MacMahon's communica tions with Paris, except. by the long detour of Mezieres and Laon. The cavalry skirmish we have mentioned tool . place near Buzancy, and shews that the Prussians are already closing in upon the flank of the roads by which MacMahon entered the defiles of the Argonne ; and the enemy is even said to have reached Attigny, just abreast of Rethel. on the road from Suippes to Maibres. Thus, of the Rheims- Verdun-Bouillon triangle, MacMahon even now pos sesses but little more than one-half, towards the north and east ; and every hour that he does not succeed in forcing his way across the Nimuse to join Bazaine will see him more narrowly hemmed in between the Prussians advancing from the south, and the Prussians holding him in check on the east. The removal of the Emperor and the Prince Imperial to Mezieres, within an hour's easy ride of Belgian soil, would of itself be sufficient to prove how narrow are the limits and how nearly isolated is the region in which MacMahon operates—if we are not to interpret the step as a tacit testimony of the risk of being cut off altogether which the Marshal has incurred. And even if the result of past or impending encounters on the Meuse should be to force the defenders of that river back to wards Metz, MacMahon's trials will be by no means at an end : for we cannot doubt that the Prussians will so powerfully reinforce their army near that city, by recal ling the' troops which have gone forward a certain way to join the Crown Prince, as to resist effectually any attempt of the combined Marshals to overthrow the invading hosts, as even fight their weir back towards Paris. Tdegrapik THE BATTLES BEFORE METZ. The official reports of the war are continued in the Staatsanzerger of Berlin. The latest gives an account of the great engagements around Metz :—" The combats of the 14th, 16th, and 18th of August, are closely connected with each other. After the defeat sustained by their advanced guard at Saarbruck on the Gth, and in conse quence of the complete dissolution of their right wing under Marshal MacMahon, the bulk of the hostile army retreated on the line of the Moselle. The fortress of Thionville and the very important position of Metz, with its entrenched camp, gave extraordinary strength to this ,ne. A direct attack upon it would have been difficult. The armies were, therefore, directed south of Metz towards the Moselle, in order to pass the river above the fortress and so attack the enemy. The movement of great masses, which could only be carried on in a con siderable breadth of country, had to be secured by special precautions. The Ist Army consequently undertook to cover this march. As the enemy for a time seemed dis posed to await an attack on this side Metz. on the right bank of the Moselle, in a strong position on the French side, the nearest division of the 2d Army 'were so appro ximated to the Ist Army as to be able promptly to support it. Meantime the other corps of the 2d Army had already crossed the Moselle. The enemy consequently sa w himself forced, in order not to lose his communications with Paris, to evacuate the right bank of the Moselle be fore Metz,as he could not venture to attempt an attack on our movement. The advanced guard of the Ist Army, pushing on towards him, promptly discovered this retreat, and in the encounter of the 14th of August threw itself on the French rear guard, forcing it forward on the marching columns of their main army. The enemy was obliged to move round some of his divisions to support it, while on our side the entire Ist and 7th Corps and some detachments of the nearest (9th) Army Corps of the 2nd Army joined in the engagement. The enemy was forced back, and pursued till under shelter of the cannons of the Metz forts on the right bank of the Moselle. This combat had, moreover, this great advantage, that it delayed the enemy's retreat. This, advantage it was possible to piofit by. Two roads lead from Metz to Verdun, the directiOn which the French army had to take in case of a retreat upon Paris. These corps of the 2nd Army which had already passed the Moselle were immediately directed against the southern road, the one most easily reached, in order if possible to arrest the enemy's flank march on that side. This important task was brilliantly accomplished through a bloody and victorious battle. The sth division (Stulpnagel) threw itself on the Frossard corps, which covered the enemy's flank. The French army, with almost all its corps, was gradually engaged, while on the Prussian side the rest of the 3rd Army Corps, the 10th Army Corps, a regiment of the 9th Corps, and a brigade of the Bth took part. Prince Frederick Charles assumed the command. The ground first won by us in a twelve hours' struggle was victoriously held, the south road from Metz to Verdun was gained and retained, and the enemy's retreat on Paris by this road cut off. The conduct of our troops was truly heroic; our loss was very considerable, but that of the enemy infinitely greater, as could be seen by examination of the battle-field. Until the 19th it was impossible to bury the French dead, and the great number of corpses of the Imperial Guard evidenced the enormous losses of that elite force. In the French official account the strength of our troops is reckoned at double its actual numbers. The Emperor's proclamation on leaving Metz, as also other French official documents, leaves no doubt that the maih army had the certainly quite natural intention of retreat ing to Verdun. The flank march by the north road, or by making a wide detour further north, still remained possible. Although such a retreat en tailed on the enemy great dangers, it appeared possible that he would undertake it, as the only mode of escape from a highly unfavourable position, since otherwise the army was cut off from Paris and all its means of assistanoe. On the Prussian side the 17th was turned to account in bringing forward for a final struggle the neces. sary corms part of whom were already over the Moselle, while part had in the night thrown various bridges over it above Metz. At the same time the enemy's movements were carefully watched by the cavalry. His Majesty the King remained on the spot until from the advanced hour of the day no further movement of the enemy was to be ex pected. On the 18th it was possible that the decisive combat might come off. In directing the troops it had equally to be considered that the enemy might try to escape by the north road, and that, perceiving the great difficulty of this, he might prefer to accept battle imme diately before Metz, with his back turned towards Germany. His position after the previous opera tions of the German armies left him no other choice. On the morning the 18th the Ist Army, with the 7th Corps, was posted south of Gravelotte, the Bth Corps and the Ist Cavalry Division being south of Rezonville (the Ist Corps of the 3rd Cavalry Division remained on the right bank of the Moselle. before Metz. This army was first directed to cover, in the wood of Vaux and at Gravelotte, the movement of the 2nd Army against any sortie of the enemy from Metz. The 2nd Army advanced in (.1 morning by echelons of the left wing towards the north road, maintaining communication on the right with the Ist Army. The 12th Corps took the direction by Mars la Tour and Jarny, while the Guards Corps advanced between Mars la Tour and VionviUe on Doncourt, and the 9th Corps crossed the highway to the west of Rezonvillk, towards Caulre farm, north of St. Marcel. These three corps composed the first line, and if the assigned points were reached, the north main road was gained. . Saxon and Prussian cavalry preceded the columns as skirmishers. As soon as it was found that the enemy did not contemplate a retreat, and could therefore only remain before Metz, it was necessary to move these three corps considerably to the right, and to bring up both armies against the enemy. The 10th and 3rd Corps fol lowed in a second line, and then as the last reserve the 2nd Army Corps, which since 2 a.m.. had been march ing from Pont-a-Mousson towards Buxieres. About 10.30 it was evident that the enemy had abandoned his retreat, and had taken up a position on the last ridges before Metz. The 2nd Army was thereupon ordered to carry out its sweep to the right, and, keeping up communication with the first, to direct its centre and left wing on Verneville and Amanvillers. The general attack was not to begin tiil the movement was en tirely executed, and till the front of the strong position could be simultaneously attacked on the right flank. The 9th Corps first threw itself on advanced detachments of the enemy. Towards noon artillery fire from the neighbourhood of Verneville announced that the corps at that spot was engaged. The Ist army was consequently ordered to occupy the attention of the enemy on the heights by artillery fire from its front. About 12.45 they opened a slow and well-directed cannonade upon the eminences of the Point-du-Jour, to which the enemy replied from numerous batteries. The thunder of the cannon was drowned by the strange noise of the mitrailleuses. " The position was an exceedingly strong one, and its security was increased through fortifications, and by ranges of rifle pits ; at certain points it had quite the appearance of a fortress. The attack could not succeed until our commanders had achieved the difficult task of so directing their measures that the whole of the troops were ready as well for the battle on the north as on the east, and the latter attack could only commence when it was apparent that the enemy had given up a retreat. It was not practi cable, moreover, to completely carry out the movement, which was to envelop the enemy's right wing, and nothing remained but to attack the front of this formidable point. The struggle was long and difficult at various points. On the left wing the Saxons fought, and the Guards near St. Marie-aux-Chenes, afterwards near the precipitous slopes of St. Privatla-Montag,ne, then in that village, and in Roncourt. On the right, at St. Ail, and beyond at Habonville, the wood of La Cusse and Verneville, as far as the northerly road from Metz to Verdun, the Guards and the 9th Army Corps sustained the struggle, at Gravelotte and in the Vaux Wood up to the Moselle the Bth and 7th Corps, and from the further side of the river bank a brigade of the Ist Corps took part in the fight, likewise some single Divisions of the 3rd and 10th Corps, especially artillery. On the enemy's side the whole'of the main French army was engaged, even the troops originally destined for the Baltic expedition, with the exception of MacMahon's Divisions not stationed at Metz, and the larger part of Failly's corps. The unsurpassable bravery of our troops succeeded at the approach of dusk in storming the heights and driving the enemy from his whole line, the 2nd Corps, which had been marching since 2 a,m., taking a decisive part in this on the right wing. The battle terminated about 8.30, when it was quite dark. During the night the enemy drewback into his intrenched camp at Metz. Numberless wounded and stray detachments still wandered in the neighbour hood of the battle-field. His Majesty, who had directed the battle ultimately from the hill of Gravelotte, made Rezonville his head-quarters. The losses, as was ine vitable in such a combat, must be very considerable ; at present they cannot be approximately stated, and just as little can the number of prisoners and other trophies be reckoned. As to the last, m 1 in reference to all en counters round Metz, a great body cannot be looked for, as pursuit was not possible in the vicinity of the fortress. The battle formed the conclusion of the previous strategic movements round Metz, and the result is that the hostile army is for the time cut off 'from all communication with Paris. It is a subject of rejoicing that on this eventful day the brotherhood its arms of the Prussians, Saxon, and Hessian troops has boon sealed in blood." THE SIEGE OF STRASBURG. Dreadful, indeed, must be the condition of the non military inhabitants of Strasburg, whose sufferings are nowhere more earnestly compassionated than in the ranks of the armies compelled to inflict them. Dozens of times Prussian officers and soldiers have expressed themselves to me in terms of heartfelt sympathy for these poor people, who, besides the perils I they are personally subjected to at every minute, are compelled to support a surplus population of some ten thousand men, women, and children—deluded refugees from imagined Prussian brutality—who hare placed them selves in a position a thousand times more dan gerous and distressing than if they had retreated from their desecrated homes to a post of safety behind the German lines. From ' townspeople who have managed to reach our quarters during the night, we hear that these fugitives are enduring hardships of the most grievous character, and that the citizens are well-nigh driven to desperation by the severity of the trials they are called upon to undergo. Think of seventy or eighty thousand peaceable souls, altogether inno cent of participation in the crime which is being visited upon them, hating war, and loving busi ness—essentially a commercial, quiet population— shut up in a town that is being burnt about their heads from day to day. Think of the refugee peasants, houseless and without shelter, sleeping in the streets under a rain of fire, and conscious that their granges, farmhouses, and barns are being consumed within a few hundred yards of the walls in which they are im prisoned ! The attack cannot last long without resulting in the total annihilation of Strasburg. The garrison's weakness is more clearly apparent every day. To-morrow will be ushered in by the placing of some forty more pieces in position. Heaven help the unhappy creatures inside the French lines ! —Correspondent of the Telegra" Aug. 25 Every effort is now being made to push forward the siege with' the vigour necessary to ensure success. The troops work heartily, being anxious to end a piece of work which interferes with their chance of reaping laurels in the field. The progress made is very considerable. The occupation of a railway sta- tion within fire of the walls was a feat which re flected credit on those who performed it. On the other side, nothing of note has been accomplished since the ineffectual sally made by a portion of the garrison. By bombarding Kehl the defenders of Strasburg have con tributed to increase indignation which was aroused when the tidings came that the retreating French had set fire to Saarbruck. Kehl is an open town, and ought to have been spared. If the Germans should take reprisals for these acts of barbarity the provocation they have received will be their excuse. They are patient and magnanimous, but they are human also, and they cannot be severely blamed if they retaliate when the opportunity offers. When the Prussians occupied Paris after Waterloo they were guilty of some acts of Vandalism and of some deeds of cruelty. The French have not forgotten these things. Unfortunately, however, they have failed to remember the inflictions of which Prussia was the victim when the Conqueror of Jena became the Dictator of Germany. It would appear as if history were to repeat itself in this particular as in others. Should the French have cause to complain hereafter of the way in which the victorious foe uses his superiority, the conduct of the French them selves at the beginning of the war will have been the original source of the deplorable consequences. The Germans are certainly becoming exasperated at the manner in which their adversaries carry on the war. It would be well for all parties if the rules which civilised belligerents have generally observed were more uniformly respected by the French. A story is told which, if true, will do much to embitter the contest. Following the advice of their priests, some Lorraine peasants have cap tured and killed isolated Gernian soldiers. The result has been that the culprits being detected, they have been tried by court-martial and shot.—Correspondent of the Daily News. THE PRUSSIAN UHLANS. Whoever else may figure in the telegrams which supply the public with what may be called " the war in short hand," the Uhlan is sure to be found there. We encoun tered him first at the very opening of the campaign, when the French main army lay at Forbach, and the advanced guard of the Prussians was holding Saarbruck. Too lightly underrating the character and future services of this übiquitous personage, correspondents from the headquarters of the Emperor related how they used often to see a wisp of horse-soldiers, clad in blue turned up with yellow, wheeling and dodging about in the corn-fields between the two forces. Since that period the storm of war has rolled all one way; but those " Mother Carey's chickens" of the tem pest, those " vaunt-couriers of every advance and every attack, have still been the same flying eclaireurs of Prussia, with the blue and yellow uniform, like so many members of the " Edinburgh Review" on horseback. " Uhlan " is, we believe, a Polish word signifying a light horseman ; but the wonderful vedettes of Prussia will now make the name familiar in all languages Not a batch of news arrives from either side but these ainutresent cavalry have the lion's share in it ; the important communicatians of Monday and to-day Vie, as usual full of their doings. Was the Emperor seantat Sedan and Mezieres ? The Uhlans were close at Mouzon ! Had MacMahon, according to the .Minister of the Interior, got so far as Rethel ? In the same breath, that functionary adds, the enemy's light horse had also been observed in the neighbourhood. The Uhlans, in effect, havebecome, to the absorbed and watchful world, apparitions which may mean nothing or everything. It is quite certain that no great battle or surprising march will happen - till these dragon-fly-like cavaliers have led the way and given us all a hint;' but, on the other hand, they often " come like shadows, so depart," when nothing particular is about to befall: The Parisians, with their usual instinct for the picturesque, have selected the hlans cut of all Count Bismarck's terrible apparatus of politics, as the one artistic element of the war.—Daily Telegraph. TOUL AND PHALSB URG.—It cannot be denied that the smaller French fortresses are making a gallant resist ance. Phalsburg has already become a great name in the war, on account of its holding out so obstinately ; and Toul, the old cathedral town, the quietest, most unwarlike of bygone strongholds, has just been successfully repelling a somewhat serious attack. Toul lies westward of Nancy; and the Third Army, which is charged with clearing the country in that direction, has run foul of its ramparts. There seems to have been a mistake as to the condition of the place for defence, and yesterday morning's attack was met with great vigour by the French garrison. They did not venture on a sortie to follow up their advantage, but they inflicted a certain loss on the assailants, with, as far as we know, very little logs to themselves. The news has caused great joy in Nancy, where the people are disgusted by a military occupation, and burn to hear of French successes. I saw dozens of well-dressed young men crowding the road to Toul to gather any fresh scrap of information, and the peasants in the wayside cottages were all curiosity to see the wounded pass. If a proper system of wholesale conscription had put all these city youths and curious peasants in the army or the Landwehr, France need not have been in this state of anxious despondency. She has men enough, and to spare, but only three or four hundred thousand soldiers. Her National Guard is but a half-trained militia, whilst the Prussian Landwehr is as good as the Line. Even now the Landwehr is advancing in force to support the active army. It will besiege the fortresses, fill up the gaps in the line of defence, and hold the conquered provinces while the army goes on to Paris.—Correspondent of the Daily News, Aug. 19. THE PRUSSIANS IN FRANCE.—In no single in stance have the French, upon being attacked, had reserves upon which to fall back, or fresh troops to make good any numerical losses. They have foukht until their ammuni tion failed them, and have been the admiration even of their adversaries. Not so the Prussians. Their cheap army has done more than was ever expected of it. Badly fed, worse housed, and indifferently clad, but splendidly armed; with excellent officers and first-rate generals, it has accomplished what no modern army has ever yet been known to do. Its rank and file have lost cruelly in every action as yet; they have en dured fatigue, hunger, and want of shelter, and yet, under all these trying circumstances, there has been no murmuring, the discipline has been most per fect, and the campaigning beyond praise. One thing is, however, clear, that unless Prussia is prepared to feed its enormous army in the coming struggle, this region cannot. The Moselle country is devastated—gutted, and it is now a race against time. Should winter overtake the Prussian armies, woe betide them, for I cannot see how they are to exist. Already the rib-marks upon Prussian cavalry shew the want of forage, and the three or four miles they have to go for water twice a day here does not improve the condition of their horses. It is true that most of the regiments are on outpost duty, but they are gradually eating thei way, forwards and leaving nothing behind them. he artillery is suffering even more than the cavalry, inasmuch as it is forced to remain with the divisions of infantry. —Correspondent of the Telegraph. THE BATTLE OF THE 18TH.—This morning I went up from Gravelotte to look at the field of battle of yesterday, and to inspect the French position. Bazaine had strengthened himself along the road between Metz and Vionville by a succession of rifle pits, and had also thrown up small works to protect his guns. The walls of the gardens and the houses of the hamlet were also made as defensible as pos sible,'and had evidently been lined with tirallieurs, who could pour an incessant cross-fire upon our troops advanc- ing up the road from Gravelotte, the distance of this village from the French position being about an English mile. Exactly half way between Gravelotte and the French ground a deep ravine, lined on either side by a thick undergrowth of hazel and oak, made the advance of troops still more difficult, whilst upon emerg ing beyond this sunken coppice the soil made a gentle ascent up to the French rifle pits. The peculiarity of the situation, which the French had taken up with extreme judgment, was that almost every movement the Prussian troops made was distinctly visible, even to the shifting of the position of a single man, and this accounts for the fearful slaughter the French were able to inflict, and the comparatively small loss they suffered, their killed and wounded being about 600 or 700. For the first time since the commencement of hostilities, I saw not a single French body ; but in the ruins of Malmaison some twenty or thirty of the more severely wounded French lay. From them I learn how fear fully they had punished the Prussians ; and if more evidence was wanting, the houses, stables, and barns of the village of Gravelotte are quite sufficient evidence. — Correspondent of the Telegraph. THE ANGLO-AMERICAN AMBULANCE CORPS.— A correspondent, writing from Paris on Saturday, says :—" The Anglo-American Ambulance Corps left the Palais de l'lndustrie this afternoon, at half-past four, and, if not the showiest, it was certainly the most amply " found " of any which had preceded it. The medical men attached to the American colony of Paris are numerous, and their experience of battle - fields renders them valuable auxiliaries at the present moment. The surgeon-in-chief, Dr. Syms, is a man of world-wide reputation, and he has around him an efficient staff of young surgeons anxious to take the field, but some agency hidden to the outside world seemed to paralyse all their efforts until the arrival of Dr. Frank, the delegate of the London So ciety, who went to work with his usual energy. Select ing as surgeon-in-chief of the English Society Dr. M'Cormac, of Belfast, who has been waiting since his return from Metz the formation of the American Corps he at once decided that English alone, and Anglo- Americans should belong to it, and that they should start at once. I examined the stores with interest, and the unpacking of the numerous packages of Dr Frank created amazement, even in the vast hospital magazine of the Champs Elyges. Instruments of every kind, ether, carbolic acid, lint dressings, oil cloths, sufficient in quantity to make a dearth in the market. The start was accomplished with a certain amount of solemnity. Old Doctor Chenu assured the bystanders that it was with tears in his eyes he saw the representa tives of the great English and American nations go out hand in hand to accompli'h their mission of mercy; while Count Flavigny, the president of the French So ciety, thanked them warmly in a few suitable words, adding that France would ever be grateful for the effi cient aid thus rendered her at the moment of need. Then amidst the cheers of all, the cortege left the Palace. The procession was headed by some of - the office-bearers, preceded for a time by the president, who for the first time identified himself with a public demonstration. Then the twenty Infirmiers ' and three lalies, each carrying a flag, viz., that of France, England, and America, followed. The surgeons in chief, Drs. Syms, M'Cormac, and Frank, with assistant-surgeon dressers, waggons, saddle-horses and led horses came after, everything being turned out in the very best style. Their reception along the line of Bouievards was enthusiastic, and the dense crowds often stopped the.r_-It and, cheering, threw in their mite, so that tLe 3;:viety will not have made a bad day of it. Dr. Syms, detained by indispensable business, delegated his authority to Dr. M'Cormac, and thus the Anglo-American Ambulance Corps left for M6zieres, cheered at the railway station not only by the good wishes of their friends, but the railway officials." A PARTY OF M.P.s.—We have a section of the British House of Commons here to-day, Sir C. Dilke, Mr. Auberon Herbert, and Mr. Winterbotham, who have joined the Juanitas, and whom I have just seen with their badges on their arms preparing for their work as brothers of charity. They travel with a train of hospital supplies under Count Golz, and along with them are eleven Sisters of Charity and Deaconesses. They have had, they tell me, some amusing adventures on their way, have been arrested by both sides, have had odd lodgings and adven tures, and have passed over the recent battlefields in the Crown Prince's track. These gentlemen are attached to the hospital establishments of the Crown Prince's army, and will follow head-quarters, one day's march in the rear.—Tines' correspondent with Prussian Army. THE RETIREMENT OF ROYALTY. - The Queen has left for Balmoral, as usual, this autumn At a time when some as yet unforeseen contingency may plunge England into a continental war at a moment's notice, this retirement to a spot so distant from the seat of government is, to say the least, impolitic. Why does the Queen retire to the Highland district in question at all ? She does not shoot grouse; the scenery, though attractive, must surely have begun to pall upon her by this time, and there are plenty of other spots equally sacred to the memory of Prince Albert. The question of repose and tranquillity can be met by the answer that equal quietude may be enjoyed at Osborne or Windsor; whilst the oft-repeated plea of ill-health is utterly incompatible with the fatiguing rail way journeys so frequently undertaken. Perhaps when the English Church has been disestab lished, the new law courts erected, St. Paul's Cathedral completed by those voluntary contributions at present dropping in so slowly, the municipal government of Lon don reorganised, and the promised groups of statuary placed upon their respective pedestals on the Thames Embankment, a change may take place in the British Constitution. Should the time ever come when the nation found that it could dispense with the encumbrance of royalty, we would direct attention to the Isle of Man. This section of the empire would offer an admirable retreat for a pensioned-off sovereign. The various court functionaries could be provided for there, since the Keeper of the Swans, the Master of the Tennis Court, and the Clerk of the Garden Account would no doubt be able to execute their important duties equally well there as at present. As the days of heavy cavalry are numbered, the mounted regiments of the Household Brigade might be drafted off there perma nently as a standing army ; .whilst a circular railway, constructed round the island, would fully gratify any existing love of long journeys. —The ,Period. THE NEW LEADER OF EUROPE. Whatever immediate results the great struggle in Europe moy have, whether France shall make a despe rate effort and throw back the invaders, or Napoleon be hurled from his throne and a Provisional Government erected, or Prussia be induced to make peace, holding the old Alsatian provinces as security for indemnification of the war expenses—whether these or still more marvellous effects follow this brilliant campaign of the German forces —one event shines forth clear in the dim future, crowded as it will be with grand achievements and the changing destinies of empires. It is that from this, the momentous year for many decades, and perhaps centuries to come, a new Great Power leads European civilisation. Th leadership of Europe has been held in succession, or ha been shared, by many of its chief nations, In the time of Henry VII. and Elizabeth, the I oiling Power of the civilised world was un , u EtiGnably Spain, or the Germanic Empire of Willa t wa' the head. For a period succeeding, huland held the van of commercial progress, and controlled the ocean, followed by England. But the struggle for the Continen tal leadership lay in general between Germany, always broken and at war with itself, and France, which made up for inferior numbers and power by' the martial qualities of its 'people. This struggle continued with varying fortunes for centuries, Teutonic firmness, for the most part, repelling and quenching French ardour. The same battle-grounds which appear in this war have been stained, century after century, with German and French blood, and have been made glorious by the heroism and generalship of the great commanders of both races. Through all these years of contest, however, it can never be said that Germany, as a unit, was pitted against France. At length the democratic uprising of France, guided by the genius of the greatest military commander of modern times, gave that country the victory in the century long struggle, and put Ger many under feet. France was now at the head of Europe. After Napoleon's fall, England may be said for a certain period to have been the controlling Euro pean Power, until the vast population of Russia and the increasing respect for her military force, placed her at length in the front rank of the Great Powers. During the last fifty years, however, England has gradually sunk f r om he r p os ition ; _ _ the Crimean war, and her internal difficulties, have dis- placed Russia ; and, until the victory of Sadowa, the increasing wealth and power of France, with her central position, and the audacity of her military chiefs, had given her the pre-eminence in Europe. During the six teen years before 1866, France was unquestionably the leading Power of the civilised world. Aud, however we may admire French genius and capacity for organisation, all must admit that the great influence of this brilliant people were thrown on the side of the worst evils of civilisation—of standing armies, of fettered presses, personal government, and Ceasarism, as the best form of political administration. Wherever France should control, whether in Italy, or Algiers, or Mexico, or Spain, there Iv, -11U1 prevail "Napoleonic ideas," government by ol) for the sake of one, military glory, a universal su:::.tge. of the ignorant supporting v a military, chief, and all the oppression of free thought by an Imperialist rule. Her leadership in Europe has been a hind.:a,nce to true progress and civilisation. The victory of Sadowa shewed a new and formidable rival arising into supre macy. Since 1812-14 Germany had hardly been "mown as a Power on the Continent. For a brief period then the great German masses seemed to unite, and, despite• all divisions of government and religion, to hurl them selves as one Power on the invaders. The fruits of this great popular uprising, instead of cementing union, seemed only tir— increase separation and strengthen despotism in the fatherland. Through all succeeding changes the one cry and passion of the German people has been'for " unity." But even revolution did not give them that, and it was reserved for an abitrary statesman and an absolute sovereign to win for Germany: what her people could not gain, a p o p u lar unity. The natural results of the brilliant campaign of 1866 were to sweep away all the petty barriers of govern ment and ceremonial which had so long separated German communities, and to make Germany, from the Baltic to the Maine, one nation, and the rival of France in European leadership. The campaign of 1870 will do more. It welds Germany into one compact mass from the North Sea to the Bavarian Alps, and places this vast community at the head of European civilization. No such grand and momentous event has happened since the overthrow of France i 1814. A Teutonic instead of a Latin race leads Europe, and nationalism in place of Carisna; par liamentary institutions instead of personal government, peaceful development under constitutional forms, rather than military glory and Imperial rule, will now be the models presented to the world. Teutonic seriousness, Teutonic love of liberty in Church and State, a nd the Teuton's disposition for peace (unless he feels his rights trampled on), will be the qualities of the ruling race. The Latin races have done their part—and not always an inglorious one—in the world's history. Now more earnest and moral and free races must guide the helm of progress. Protes tantism and Parliamentary Government must lead Euro pean advancement. By a marked coincidence, the Pope ceases from his temporal power with the fallof Cmsarism• A new European era opens with a vast Germanic State- - controlled by Parliaments and without standing armies marching at the head of civilization and progress.— New York Times. The Gloucestershire movement in aid of the sick and wounded is being vigorously urged by the Countess of Ducie, who is obtaining liberal contributions in monei and,material, and has opened a special subscription for the purchase of surgical instruments and drugs. The Midland Railway Company has undertaken to transmit all packages addressed to her in the movement free of charge. The Bishop preached in behalf of the movement in the Cathedral on Sunday, and the city authorities are 11 ( matter. BIRTHS. On'the 29th inst., at Waddon, near Croydon, the wife of Charles Marshall, of Southwark, of a son. On the 27th inst., the wife of Fred. Walker, of 230, Re' gent-street, of a daughter. AIIARRIAGES. On the 27th inst., at Hornsey Church, Joseph Benjamin the, only son of J. B. Williams, of Shakespeare Villa Finchley, to Emily Gurney Norminton, of Arlington' street, Camden-town. On the 27th inst., at St. John's, Angell-town, Brixton , William, eldest son of W. H. Miller, Esq., of Lambeth, to Sarah, fourth surviving daughter of J. D. Austin, Esq., of Chertsey, Surrey. DEATHS On the 27th inst., at 11, Camden-road, William Croft, Esq., aged 87. On the 27th inst., Henry Jubber, Esq., of Percy-cross House, Fulham, Middlesex, aged 63. London : Printed by GIDEON ACLAND BOYCE, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, and Published by him at THE SUN Office, No. 112, Strand, in the Precinct of he Savoy, in the County of Middlesex. Wednesday,'August 31,1870.