The Sun. — London, England, 1870-08-22 00:00:00

TITS WAR. QUEEN VICTORIA AND THE EM PR ESS EUG ENIE. THE BATTLE OF REZONVILLE. ENO !MOWS LOSSES ON BOTH SIDES. THE RAILWAY CUT NORTH OF METZ. COUNTER STATEMENT BY COUNT PALIKAO. THE QUEEN'S REPLY TO THE EMPRESS. The Times correspondent at Berlin, telegraphing from Berlin n Saturday, says:— " Queen Victoria, in reply to the Empress Eugenie's letter about a week ,ago, regretted her inability to mediate. The Queen observed that in Constitutional England mediation must proceed from the Cabinet, but the Cabinet did not think the time come. "The British Cabinet at present seem to•favour the formation of Alsace and Lorraine into a neutra lised State, which combination will probably not be accepted by Germany. "Italy having concluded conditions of alliance with France, -Baron Arnim, the German Envoy at Rome, has been to Caprera. "The Germans are constructing a semi-circular rail way partly round Metz, to enable them to use the Metz and Paris Railway even before the capture of Metz. The railway and telegraph from the Royal Head-quarters to Berlin are in perfect order. The railway from Nancy to Commercy is in course of reconstruc Lion. "Count de Palikao's statement that Bismarck's Cuirassier Regiment was annihilated on the 14th is utterly unfounded. Bismarck's regiment was not present, nor were any cavalry seriously en gaged. Count Bismarck's sons were both wounded. Heavy siege guns have been sent to France. The baths of Norderney and Bork um are reopened, the French squadron being thought harinles?. A large number of guns were taken in Thursday's fight at Rezon ville." In a telegram dated yesterday the same corres pondent says the mitrailleuse cartridges taken in the recent engagements prove that the balls are explosive, contrary to the %) . -t. Petersburg Conven tion. The expulsion of Germans frog France excites strong indignation. Ihe papers demand a pecuniary indemnity for the sufferers, and the punishment of France. Clamours for the restoration of Alsace and Lorraine are universal in the press, the semi official organs not excepted. The German losses in killed and wounded, up to this point, amount to about 40,000. The French army, in the battles of the 14th, 10th, and 18th, had from 12,000 to 16,000 killed. At Gravelotte, on the 18th, 4,000 prisoners were taken; among them were 90 officers and General Plumbin. THURSDAY'S BATTLE. The official Prussian accounts of Thursday's battle are dated PONT-A-MOUSSON, AUG. 19. "A brilliant victory was gained yesterday near Graveloge. The French were driven out of very strong positions, situated one behind the other, and were thrown back towards Metz. They are now hemmed in in a narrow space round Metz, and are completely cut off from their commu nications with Paris, the 12th Prussian Army Corps having taken possession of the railway from Metz to Thiovville. "The losses of our troops are, unfortunately, com mensurate with the greatness of their heroic achievements against the strong French positions which they stormed." ec PONT-A.MOUSSON, AUG. 21 (12.45 P.m.) "French prisoners are still being continually brought in here. Yesterday evening 2,000 arrived, including 30 officers, and to-day another batch with 54 officers, amongst whom is General Plombin. The loss suffered by the French in the fighting of the last few days—namely, near Cour wiles, on the 14th; near Vionville, on the 16th; and near Gravelotte, on the 18th—amount in dead alone tin between 12,000 and 15,000 men. If to this num ber be added the prisoners, and those of the wounded who are generally to be reckoned among the killed in a battle, the total loss on the side of the French cannot have been less than 50,000. We made about 4,000 prisoners at Gravelotte." A telegram from Berlin of yesterday's (Monday's) date says :—"No further official military reports have arrived from the army, giving particulars of the battle of the 18th inst., beyond the announce ment that the main army of the enemy entirely withdrew into the fortifications of Metz during the night of the 18th instant." SAXON ACCOUNT. The Minister of War at Dresden has received a report of the part taken by the Saxon troops in the battle of Rezonville. The Saxon Corps d'Armee, in oonjunction with the Prussian Guards, went into the fight at four o'clock in the afternoon, and were successful. Both divisions and the artillery corps were engaged. The details of the losses sustained are not yet known. Many prisoners were taken. The troops engaged were the Second, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Twelfth, and Third Corps, and the artillery. STATEMENT OF COUNT DE PALIKAO. In Saturday's sitting of the Legislatif Body, General de Palikao said :—" The Prussians have used a report to be spread that on the 18th inst. they obtained great advantages over our troops. I come here to declare that the Prussians who attacked Marshal Bazaine were, on the contrary, driven back into the quarries of Jaumont." The Minister of War added that the Committee of Defence was actively at work. The Government had not the least appre hension, and before long everything would be placed in the best condition. General de Palikao's declaration was unanimously cheered. M. Henri Chevreau, the Minister of the Interior, then announced that the armament of the National Guard of Paris was being actively proceeded with, and that 80,000 men would be armed on the 26th of August. THE ADVANCE OF THE CROWN PRINCE. A telegram from Paris says that Marshal Bazaine i s stated to occupy a _position ena bli ng hi m to m arch upon Metz or Verdun, and to have voluntarily arrested his march upon Verdun. The communication between Metz and Chalons has become difficult, eighteen hours being required for despatches between Marshals Bazaine and raackiahone In the battle or the Itith, tne rrenon again fell short of ammunition. The Crown Prince of Prussia is reported to have pushed forward to Vichy-le-Francais. A. battle VMS hourly expected between the Crown Prince and the army at Chalons under the command of Marshal MacMahon. The Emperor and the Prince Imperial are at Chalons. The Prussians made heavy requisitions at Luneville. IiEINERAL TROUHU'S PROOLAM,A.TION. General Trochu has wristen a letter to the 'lmps explaining a passage in his proclamation, in which he recommended the people to take justice into their own hands, as applicable only to plunderers who, in the event of a siege, would take advantage of the absence of the public force on the ramparts. In Friday's sitting of the Legislative Body, M. Jules Ferry's proposal to authorise the private manu facture of arms was referred to a committee. REVIEW BY THE EMPEROR AT CHALONS. The Official Journal contains the following:— " CAMP DE CHALONS, AUG. 20 (EvENDTG.) " The Emperor visited several army corps yester day on horseback, and was everywhere surrounded by the soldiers, who demanded to be allowed to march against the enemy." PROCLAMATJON OF GENERAL TROCHU. General Trochu has issued a proclamation to the National Guard and. the Army of Paris, express ing confidence in the future. General Trochu says :—" You will restore, by your energetic efforts, the fortune of the French arms, in case Paris should be besieged. Never has there existed a more splendid opportunity to demonstrate that a long series of prosperity and power has not enervated the public manners and the manhood of the country." The proclamation points to the glorious exam ple of the Army of the Rhine, which has fought against threefold odds in heroic struggles, and con cludes by recommending the Army Jf Paris to ob serve a rigorcus discipline and maintain a dignified attitude before the people,. A. long conference was held on Friday between MM. niers, Latour-Marbourg, and General Trochu, THE, SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVEMNU, AUGUST 22, 1870. CAPITULATTN OF PHALSBURG. A telegram. from Stuttgardt announces that the fortress of Phalsburg, in the Vosges, which has hith erto been invested by Wurtemburg troops, capitu lated on Saturday afternoon. FRENCH VIOLATIONS OF THE GENEVA CONVENTION. The official Staatsanzeyer of Berlin contains the following statement:—" Besides violations of the Geneva Convention committed by the French, they have also fired upon an envoy sent by us after our victory of the 18th in stant to ask for a parley, he being the bearer of communications dictated by a feeling of humanity towards the, French who had fallen in battle. The trumpeter who accompanied him was shot." A PRUSSIAN VIEW OF THE RESULT. The Berlin Official Gazette of the 20th says:— "If the noblest of the German nation fall during the present conflict, the German people will at least have the consolation of knowing that the battle has not again been fought in vain, as was the case in the war waged by our forefathers against arrogance and lust for conquest. Nor will Germany be robbed of her most beautiful territories. It will be given to our King to establish a lasting peace, and to create in the heart of Europe a great united Ger man Fatherland, as the guardian of a Godfearing noble morality, and of a real freedom." NEW FRENCH LOAN OF THIRTY MILLIONS STERLING. An official decree has been issued, announcing a loan to the amount of 760,000,000 francs, the issuing price to be 60f. 600., and the interest to date from the lst of July, 1870. The subscription will be open on Tuesday, and will be closed as soon as the full amount is covered. Only the subscrip tions received on the day when the list closes will be subject to a proportionate reduction in the amount allotted. No subscription will be received for a less sum than three francs. On subscribing, mita-fifth of the amount applied for must be paid. THE FORTIFICATIONS OF PARIS. A. decree has been issued dated the 19th instant, instituting a committee of defence for the fortifica tions of Paris. General Trochu is president, and Marshal Valliant, Admiral Rigault de Genouilly, General Soumain, and Baron Jerome David are among the members. THE SITUATION AT PARIS. FRIDAY. Owing to the wretchedly slow and bad supply of news we are still struggling here over the details of the great battle fought on Tuesday. No intelli gence worth mentioning has arrived since. Of course we have, as usual, learned from the English papers a story quite different to that which Marshal Bazaine told. The German telegrams claim the victory. The Paris jour nals proudly reject this assumption, but it has obviously increased the doubt and alarm here. In truth, before we knew that the Germans called Vionville (or Doncourt) a victory, we were quite sufficiently depressed by Marshal Bazaine's bulletin. It alone looked very suspicious. The Commander said that be had won, but all Paris knew that he wished to retreat and he clearly intimates that he is not retreating at present. Is he cut off ? This dreadful question is not to be set aside by the optimist assurances of the news papers. There has been no rejoicing of any kind; but on the contrary this "victory" has made all thinking Paris sad and thoughtful. There are rumours to-day of more fighting ; and nothing can be more likely ; but at present we do not know where or what it is. In addition to the trouble of a mysterious and dis heartening campaign, the state of the Government gives rise to great doubt and embarrassment. What is the Government? Everybody agrees that the Emperor has virtually ceased to reign ; but if he has fallen, it seems scarcely likely -that a Ministry com posed of his most faithful adherents can long retain power. If the Empire collapses, the Imperial Cabinet ought to go with it. And, assuredly if the Emperor is never more to reign, he had better give way at once, for the difficulties, the quarrels, the waste of strength, that arise trom his anomalous position are most njurious. The mere loss in force through keeping so many soldiers in the capital, and afterwards, when they were sent to the front, recalling numerous battalions of Garde Mobile from Chalons, whether they were brought to meet the enemy, is most serious. Clearly there should be some definite settlement. A Provisional Cabinet is talked of, but it is difficult to believe that the men who are named for the office would co-operate a week. Now appears most decisively the weak ness of that wretched Chamber of Deputies, which was selected under official corruption and intimidation. It will not adjourn,' it will not work; it dare not uphold the Emperor ; and it is equally fearful of sup planting him. At this supreme crisis, the National Assem bly is utterly useless. It has no fixed policy of its own, nor the nerve to take one from an adviser. The ',Wide takes a survey of the military situation, and of the proceedings since the 14th. Before that _date Marshal Bazaine had established his line of defence along the right bank of the Moselle, from Fauquemont to Etang, and the length of the little river of Nied. From this defensive position he watched the movements of the enemy, and gave the forces under Frossard and Can robert time to rally. On Sunday, when Metz had com pleted its provisionment in victuals and munitions, Bazaine decided on the retreating movement along the left bank of the Moselle. He crossed the river at Metz, and during that operation was attacked by Prince Frederic Charles Seventy thousand men of the second Prussian army fell upon the French rear guard, composed of the divi sions of Decaen and Ladmirault. The Prussians tried in vain to break the French battle line. They delayed the westward march of the army for some hours, but they were repulsed after suffering immense loss. The fort of St. Quentin, which inflicted great damage, was only armed twenty-four hours before by General Changarnier, and the fire from that quarter was quite unexpected. It was owing to this that they asked for a suspension of arms to bury their dead, which was granted. On the 15th Bazaine crossed the Moselle with all his army without difficulty, but this movement, which was purely strategic, gave to the Ding of Prussia a pretext for announcing another victory. On the 16th Prince Frederic Charles, having also crossed the Moselle. with a large part of his army, attacked the right French wing at Gravelotte and Vionville. At the same time the first Prussian army, un d er Steinmetz (the conqueror of Nachod and Skalitz in 1866) advanced towards the French centre and left at Don court. A great battle ensued, in which the object of the Prussians was evidently to surround the French army on the north and east, and drive it broken to the south to encounter the Crown Prince. If this daring plan had succeeded, the road to Paris would to-day have been open to the three Prussian armies without any forces being left to oppose them but those in process of organisation at Chalons. The successes of Bazaine on the 16th have for the time being diminished this great danger, and enabled the Minister of War to announce that the losses of the Prussians had compelled them to ask an armistice to bury the dead, which was refused them, as they wished to gain time. The Ist Prussian army, according to this, must have suffered heavily, but the chief point is that the junction of the Prussian forces was delayed. It is said that the Crown Prince passed the night of the 15th at Charmes, between Nancy and Epinal. He intends, it is said, to reach Paris by Chanmont and the valley of the Seine, avoiding Chalons. The complaints of the scarcity of provisions among the French troops are very numerous. How is it, it is asked, that the French, fighting on their own soil, cannot obtain the necessary supplies either of food or of munitions of war, while the Prussians, marching through a hostile country, have everything in abundance ? Marshal Bazaine must retreat from positions he might have held from sheer scarcity of rations and of materials of war. This is a very moderate estimate of the week's opera tions, and coming from a French source deserves atten tion. But it obviously fails to reveal the aspect of French chances in all its darkness. The hospitals of Paris are being emptied of their occu pants to receive the wounded in the war, whom each train brings in great numbers to the capital. All the invalids in the hospitals who can possibly be removed are being sent home. Figaro condemns this as a highly imprudent measure. The wounded men have already travelled so far that a little further journey could scarcely hurt them, and they might be sent to the other great towns. Their accumulation in the Paris hospitals is neither wise, on the grounds of public health, nor of the possibilities of the war, since, in the event of a siege, it might prove very unfortunate to have filled the hospitals in advance. The " Marseillaise " is apparently going out of fashion. Two young men were walking along the boulevard Bonne Nouvelle at one o'clock this morning, singing a few lines of the famous song. The police agents pounced upon another passenger, who had not been singing, and exclaiming " On ne chante pas, canaille !" dragged him off to the bureau, and scrupulously took down his name and address. After a few threats the man who had not sung the " Marseil laise " was released. The Government ought to do something for the protection of those pompiers, or firemen, who have come in crowds from the country in order to defend the capital. These unfortunate men cannot take care of themselves. They are spending all their money in riotous living, and hun dreds of drunk and destitute pompiers are wandering about this confused capital. Clesingei, the celebrated sculptor, has entered a regi ment of cuirassiers. The Empress Eugenie has decided that the great palace 'of Compiegne shall be converted into a hospital. The gardens of the Tuileries are to be used for the same purpose. In the island of Alsen and at Sonderburg, where the Prussians have raised formidable fortifications, a bom bardment by the French fleet is expected. The in habitants have fled, and the ramparts are armed with cannon. The French journals continue to claim a great supe riority in the battle that took place before Metz on Sun day—that is, the battle of Borny. They affirm that the Germans left 8,000 dead, whilst the loss of the French was at most but 1,800. The Patric says that numerous Arab and Kabyle chiefs are offering their own and their retainers, services to the French Government. The horsemen who are willing to engage number 20,000. The Prussian press speak of the cession of Alsace and Lorraine as the basis of any treaty that may be drawn up. The organs of the national Liberals propose the formation of these provinces into a new German State, to be neutral like Belgium. The inspector of the Academy at Vievre has received a letter from one of the professors proposing that instruc tion should be suspended for the prosecution of their country's defence, and that all the schools along the rail way line should be transformed into military hospitals. M. Thiers's enthusiasm about the defence of Paris has extended, it seems, to the Government. General Chaband-Latour has frequent interviews with the veteran statesman, and takes abundant council from him. It appears, then, that the military authorities at Paris are hopeful of the capital being able to hold out. The Paris correspondent of the Independence Beige says the Empress is very much isolated. The usual fate has attended the unfortunate. A large number of persons have already forgotten the way to the Tuileries. A few days ago Her Majesty sent for Marshal Baraguay d'Hilliers, to interrogate him as to the state of the capital. He replied that Paris would soon be quite calm. " And the dynasty ?" inquired the Empress. " Oh, as to that nobody thinks about it. France only looks to driving away the Prussians ; for the rest we shall see." The Marshal was soon deprived of his command. The mismanagement as to stores, commissariat, &c., has excited the greatest indignation. It has even been said that it is, after all, fortunate the war has been waged on French rather than Prussian ground, because if the French had been led into the enemy's territory no better provisioned or equipped to encounter greater reverses than those met with by Generals MacMahon and Fros sard, the result might have been the total annihilation of the army. On the national soil its reorganisation was possible and the ruin of the country averted. An English writer says :—" I met an English mechanic who had lived in Saargemiind over fourteen years, who told me that he had at that moment six men quartered on him and two horses. I asked him which his fellow-towns men preferred, the French or Prussians troops, as lodgers, when he unhesitatingly declared in favour of the latter, as they always paid for everything they had, and that he had heard no complaints of them from any body. This, coming as it did from a perfectly dis interested person, I look upon as valuable testimony." The Progres de Lyon hears the old story from the camp at Gathonay. The most complete confusion reigns there. No proper steps have been taken to ensure the subsist ence of the 150,000 men at the Garde Mobile who have been collected there for some days. The pay of a franc a day has not been regularly paid, many of the troops getting nothing, and many more only half a franc. Some who live at Lyons actually take their meals with their parents, but wretched indeed is the case of the rest. An officer of the garrison at Neuf-Brisach writes to his father to say that there are no defaulters among them. All is as yet perfectly tranquil, but preparations are being made in the event of an attack taking place. The commandant has called all the officers together, and in formed them he had taken an oath to blow up the place rather than give it up to the enemy. They all responded to his appeal, and took the same oath. A lady in attendance upon the sick and wounded at Hombourg relates horrible stories of barbarities committed by Turcos. In the last engagement, she says, they scalped several wounded Germans, flayed their faces alive, and stabbed them with penknives. Three German officers found in this state by their comrades prayed to be shot instantly to be relieved from their sufferings; their wish was complied with, as there was no chance of life. Of three Hanoverian soldiers caught by the Turcos they cut off the hands, noses, and ears. Another Turco, who had both legs shot off, crawled with difficulty to a wounded Prussian, and bit him in the neck ; another, also wounded, shot an officer (from behind) dead through the neck. The committed other atrocities in the hospital. The North Eastern Correspondent states that those best informed of the condition of the Prussian army attribute their successes at Weerth and Saarbruck to the acourate information they gained respecting the movements of the French troops rather than to the bravery of the soldiers or the skill of the generals. The army of spies under the command of General Blumenthal has rendered invaluable service during this war. As in 1866, General Blumenthal sends to head quarters each day a statement of the most complete kind concerning the state of the French troops, and by this means the Prussians contrive to outnumber their opponents, whenever an encounter takes place, Besides this, it has been arranged that all the German forces shall be concen trated in France, in order that the war may be finished in a fortnight's time, by striking decisive blows in succession. Orders have been received at Berlin to call out the last division of the landwehr, and to direct their movements on France. It is therefore supposed in some quarters that the safety of France lies in the retreat of the army upon Paris, and that the Prussians will come to grief if they are kept for a prolonged period in the interior of France or under the walls of Paris, THE BATTLE OF BORNY. Hitherto all the accounts published of the Battle of Borny—which took place on Sunday last have been drawn from French sources. It will be well therefore to give a German version of the affair. The Cologne Gazette pub lishes an account from the field of battle, dated Monday, of which the following is a translation. It may be necessary en passant to give a reminder that of the three battles fought during the week, the first took place on Sunday at Borny, on the east of Metz, and was designed to harass the retreat of the French ; the second took place at Mars la-Tour, on the west side of Metz, and was contested by the Prussians with the view of cutting off the French retreat; and the third, fought on Thursday, seems to have decided the fate of the war by locking up Bazaine in Metz. The letter in the Cologne Gazette, dated Monday, says : I can at last send you an outline of the reconnaisance of yesterday, which, thanks to the spirit of our men, became a sanguinary conflict. At a quarter to five the order came to make a reconnaissance in the direction of Metz so as to ascertain the strength of the enemy at this point. They were estimated at 100,000 men commanded by Bazaine. The object of the movement was to delay and to engage this army so as to facilitate the operations towards the south-west. This scheme suc ceeded and more than succeeded. On the left of the first division the thirteenth division advanced by the Laguenexy route. This division began the fight. The first division marched by Pont-a-Chaussy, Flanville, and Montoy. The second division followed the route of Les Etanges. Noisseville. and Servigny, were occupied by the enemy, but at the first sound of cannon they fell back rapidly on the position of Vautoux and Borny. That was the chief point of the position and they had covered it by their intrenchments. Since five o'clock our advance guard had been engaged near Montoy. It was weak in comparison with the forces of the enemy which opposed it, but it was strong in courage. The thirteenth French division fought there against the 43rd regiment and two companies of Chasseurs from East Prussia, The main body of the advance guard, two companies of Chasseurs, and the 3rd regiment, advanced towards Montoy, in order to establish communications with the 2nd division. The chief part of the Ist division (the Geil brigade) advanced between Planville and Montoy. The 41st regiment marched at the head in the direction of Nouilly. The Crown Prince's regiment was stationed provisionally at the embankment at the south of Noisse ville as reserve. A desperate fight, very firmly sustained, went on along the whole line. The terrible fire of the artillery, and the incessant rain of the in fantry were heard without interregnum. The advance guard and the main body of the army, however, succeeded in ranging themselves in a semicircle on the slopes to the north-west of Montoy, occupying the two roads leading to Metz. The batteries of the 13th division were on the left of this concentric position, those of the 2nd division were on the right. There were fourteen batteries of our first corps there. The concentric fire lasted from five o'clock till eight o'clock in the evening ; that is to say, until twilight. It seemed to make great blanks in the enemy's lines. On the other hand the French artillery caused us few losses, their aim was not good. Most of our wounded, even those be longing to the artillery, owed their wounds to the firing of the infantry. Our artillery would have been still more successful if it had not had to contend against two obstacles ; first, the direction of the wind, which hid the enemy's position by thick smoke; and, secondly, against the setting sun, which glowed red in the faces of our artil lery men, and blinded them. It was hardly possible to look steadily in the direction of the enemy for a few minutes consecutively. As I said above, the fight was desperate. The left wing of the 2nd division, the 4th, 43rd, and 44th regiments sustained the heaviest losses. At one time, when it was near seven in the evening, the First Division, which was supported by the Second Division on the right centre, had lost nearly all its officers. At this moment, General Bentheim saw a soldier coolly smoking his cigar in the midst of the terrible struggle. This sight amazed the general. He went up to the soldier, asked him for a light, lighted his cigar, rallied the officerless battalions, and with his cigar in his lips and his sword in the air, he led the decimated troops again to the fight. The struggle was prolonged until nine o'clock, when it was already night. All our divisions remained on the battle-field until it was quite dark. They occupied their position until past ten, when they received the order to rejoin their bivouac. Once only, when the evening was already far advanced, the enemy endeavoured to take the offensive against our extreme right wing in the direction of Nouilly. He was obliged to fall back on Metz, It is impossible here to form an exact idea of our losses, but they were not unimportant. The firing was very heavy and continuous. This morning our general commandant sent to General Bazaine to ask for an armistice in order to bury the dead and remove the wounded who had fallen under the batteries of the fortress. The Marshal readily consented, and at this moment they are burying the remains of these brave men. We have received no orders to re sume the attack. The object has been gained. The enemy has been driven back into Metz, and the field is occupied by us. HOW PRUSSIA MADE READY. An important article describing the movements of Prussia in the first few days of the war, is published in the Staatsanzeiger, the official Prussian organ. It says : " Our military leaders knew well that France would put forth frivolous pretences to bring about a sanguinary collision. And it has now, indeed, come so far, that the political eccentricities have been matched by cor responding military measures. A mass of 100,000 French troops were hurried in precipitate haste to the Rhenish borders, while the Prussian battalions were as yet distributed over the garrisons of the monarchy. The start of the French was greatly favoured by their network of railways, but far more so by the large bodies of troops massed together in permanent camps. The Prussian situation was not equally favour able. Although immobile troops might have been hur ried to the frontiers, a different mode of proceeding was preferred. Corps taken away from pacific pursuits might, perhaps, be in a position to gain a momentary success, but they are not organised to brave the vicissi tudes of a great war. It was, therefore, deemed well tc prepare the forces for t* contest in the regular way, and to protect the German territory to some ex tent by the small numbers which garrison the western boundary. It was fully known that if the enemy were possessed of some energy, it would have been impossible that we should offer strenuous resistance or prevent his subsisting at the expense of a portion of our country. All the German troops remained, therefore, in their garrisons until they were ready to join in the actual operations of the war. The hasty and confused organisation of the French army at our borders was opposed by feeble garrisons, and, the commanders being deceived, their army was not placed In a position to live at our expense. It is well known that the main forces of the French were moved towards the Saar, and especially towards Saarbruck, on the very day when in Berlin the orders for the mobilisation were issued. In Saarbruck were then one battalion of the 40th Regiment and three squadrons of the Uhlan Regiment, No. 7. The danger of this small divi sion was well known, but it was necessary to impose upon the enemy without disturbing the preparations of the army. During a whole fortnight this intrepid handful faced the enemy, in whose estimation it gained every day larger proportions, until it grew in the French journals to the number of 200,000 men. Daily skirmishes of the patrols were represented in the war news of the French as magnificent encounters. On the part of the Prussians these rodomontades could not be exposed without permitting the secrets of Ber lin to be betrayed at Paris. After the arrival of information, that two French corps were in close proximity to our feeble detachment, this brave band was on the point of being withdrawn. But the com mander, Von Pestel, begged by telegram to be left at his post, and he added, ' The bearing of the French shews that they are afraid of us.' This request was readily granted, especially as it was now possible to reinforce the small detachment by two battalions, and, moreover, to place at a distance of two (German) miles a body of troops to protect the retreat of these defenders. This brought about the famous first battle of Saar bruck.' A WAR INTERIOR. In a letter in the Spectator we read :—Yesterday after noon about sixty or eighty of us ladies were busy with the preparation of things for the hospital, for which purpose a large Rittersaal (beautifully vaulted) in the Castle has been assigned to us ; when the doctor came to tell us that between seven and eight o'clock 200 wounded were to arrive, and he begged those that felt up to the work to render him aid. The did not arrive till past nine ; it was a melancholy procession, and made all the more so because the first part, about twelve carriages, were filled with reserve infantry on their way to the army, and they cheered and waved handkerchiefs ; and then came about forty carriages more, with the red cross upon them, over which there hung so deep a silence that one dreaded the doors being opened. Wine and water mixed, seltzer-water, lemonade, little white loaves of bread, cigars, and all was ready for them, but they took but little. They had all been wounded at Woerth on the 7th, and were belonging to the 3rd corps d'armde principally engaged there— Bavarians—the King's Garde Grenadier (his own beloved regiment, which has suffered most specially), with the rest of the sth and 11th corps ; only one man from oui regiment, but belonging to the Wiesbaden battalion, so he could tell us nothing. Seven of the officers of our regiment were wounded at Wissembourg. H. von E.'s horse was killed under him ; he took two with him, and this was his favourite. The men all say that the " Kugelregen " (rain of ball) was something frightful, but the shooting extremely bad; and that if the fiftieth part had struck, there would not be a man of them left. They quite laugh, at the mitrailleurs, allowing merely that the noise and whirl they create are perfectly bewildering, and would incapa citate less well-organised and intelligent troops. I got hold of a very pleasant intelligent-looking grenadier, who jumped nimbly out of the carriage, being shot in the hand, while it is quite extraordinary that 8 out of 10 are shot in the legs. There being too many ladies and gentlemen already to offer refreshments, I thought I might do more good by cheering up some of the sad countenances. I found my grenadier remarkably intelligent, and, with the Diippel and Koniggriitz crosses upon his breast, I felt he would know something of battle work in general. He said that Geisberg and Woerth had both been more bloody for them than Sadowa, but that, on the whole, the average number of killed were less. He said the mitrailleur might kill one man twenty-five times and not injure his neigh bour, and added, "Among the officers of my regiment alone the proportion of killed seems exceedingly high ; 40 of them were wounded and 22 killed." He also said that they had marched seven hours before they reached Wissembourg, and then had suddenly to begin the fight when they were all more or less exhausted ; and then the battles came so close upon one another. At Woerth they were under fire for seven hours, and on account of the many leg wounds they could not half be removed before the night set in, and they had to lie upon the field of battle with perfect torrents of rain falling upon them. THE EMPEROR.—At no previous period of the war have the Emperor's fortunes seemed lower. Stories of the wildest kind are bandied about from mouth to mouth—to the effect that he is melancholy mad; that he was in sulted when he reached the camp at Chalons; that, i answer to a few feeble cries of " Vive l'Empereur !", the " Moblots," or Garde Mobile, reproachfully and scornfully uttered that offensive word which, according to Lamar tine and Victor Hugo, was Cambronne's dying utterance upon the field of Waterloo—a word which, thus employed, Lamartine pronounces to have indicated a sub lime heroism. Pocr fallen Caesar ! Many who still believe that, whatever his shortcomings as a ruler may latterly have been, he is plentifully endowed—Mr. King lake to the contrary notwithstanding--with personal cou rage, are loud in declaring that ere this he would have headed a cavalry charge and fallen like a soldier, had he not been hampered by the companionship of his son. The Empress is represented as entertaining, the gloomiest views as to the prospects of Imperialism.—Paris Corre spondent of the Telegraph. THE STRENGTH OF THE Two ARMIES.—We have steadily asserted that France was outnumbered, and now believe that our statements were under-coloured — that Napoleon went to war with the old Army of France alone. He registered, but did not dare to arm, his new organisation, the Garde Mobile. If that is correct, if he actually declared war with only his regulars in the field, all is explained. The regular army of France was 400,000 men, of whom 40,000 were at Cherbourg, getting ready for the Baltic, 5,000 in Italy, 10,000 in Algeria, 35,000 in Paris and Chalons, 10,000 in Lyons, and at least 30,000 mow in Marseilles, Toulon, Bordeaux, Toulouse, L'Orient, Rochefort, and the hospitals, leaving him 270,000 efficients for the front—that is, eight corps d.'armee of 30,000 each, and the Guard. This we believe tobe exactly the fact ; and on this army rushed, by German official accounts which are accepted in Paris, the Crown Prince with 250,000 men, Prince Frederick Charles with 250,000 more, and the King with 70,000 or 570,000 in all—more than double the French.—Spectator. ARREST OF AZAMAT BATUK.—The correspondent of the Pall Mall Gazette was arrested twice in one day at Rheims. He says :—" In the morning a couple of amateurs stopped me in my hotel after having breakfasted with me, but soon released me when they became convinced that I was really your correspondent. In the evening, however, my position assumed a more complicated aspect, Two police agents came to my room, ransacked my papers, carried me away to the bureau central, whence the chief commis sioner of thepolice brought me before M. le Prefet. My passport being presented to them, and my connection with the Pall Mall Gazette proved beyond any possible doubt, they had no reason for treating me like a spy : but they shewed me an article of the Gaulois of to-day, which appears to have been the chief reason of my arrest, and which caused the authorities of Rheims to suppose that I could not be al lowed freely to circulate in France. The meaning of the absurd article is wholly embodied in this sentence :—` Aussi ne suis-je nullement etonnd en lisant adjourd'hui les lignes suivantes dans la Pall Mall Gazette, ce calom niateur aux gages de la Prusse.' The reasoning of the Rheims authorities was very simple. If the Pall Mall Gazette is a calumniator paid by Prussia, its correspondent must be pretty nearly the same thing. Therefore, I was released only upon the stipulation that I should not leave Rheims without ,the authorization of M. le Prdfet, and that if I left it I could do so only in order to go to England, until I got special permission from the headquarters to go anywhere else. AT A FRENCH CHATEAU.—We arrived to-day at a veritable chateau, such as one would be glad to stay at, even in England. It is called the Chateau d'Aulnoy sur-Seille. Most comfortable, the walls covered with old pictures. Not a creature in the place, except an old servant, who had a piece of red riband in his button-hole, and called himself " the Count." However, he was quickly found out, as may be sup posed. Though the occupiers of this old place are as kind and careful of it as if it was their own, yet it brings before one more forcibly than ever the blessing of having that little bit of sea between England and the Continent when one sees what a fearful thing troops marching through a country ar Here, for instance, in this fine old chateau, capable of holding 40 guests at least, with gardens, fountains, stables, all in the most complete order, the first thing that strikes the eye is a Prussian sentry at the door. Inside the large hall are grouped the orderlies from the various regiments ; on the right a large room is converted into a dining-room, the library into a sleeping apartment for the orderlies; at the top of the fine old stone staircase, with a gigantic picture of Louis Quatorze half way up, is formed the bur?au, where the business of the Corps 'dArmde is carried on; and the billiard room is full of other minutia connected with the department. Your correspondent is in a little boudoir on the ground floor, and the park has a regiment of cavalry picketed in it, with its attendant bivouac for the men. Now, let any one who possesses a fine country-house picture to himself for one moment what his feelings would be should such a curse fall upon his household ; when, too, he would, perhaps for weeks, be not only compelled to house, but to feed, some twenty five men per day, with the pleasant prospect before him that, should the tide of war change, he would have a re currence of it with ten times more severity. —Times Cor respondent with Second Prussian Army. THE WEEKLY PRESS. READY, AYE READY ! The lesson of the war to England, says the Saturday Review, is this—that nobody can tell on what frivolous pretext, or how suddenly or instantaneously, one power ful nation may declare war against another. Of all in credible things the victorious advance of the Prussians into the heart of France in less than a month is the most incredible. The successful invasion of England by it matters not who—France, or Prussia, or Russia, Parthian or Median—is also the most incredible of possible events ; but not one whit more incredible, more momentous, more awful, than the successful invasion os France. No doubt t is not all over ; Chalons may once again be the scene of a decisive battle of the world. But this is not the question. The question is, whether Sussex and Surrey are likely to give a better ac count of an invading army than Alsace and Lorraine— Alsace and Lorraine, too, occupied by an army quite equal to the invaders, except in the matter of organiza tion and leadership, as contrasted with Sussex and Sur rey defended by the 200,000 Volunteers, without skilled officers and without arms, and formidable only on paper, and the 100,000 Militia, without officers and organization. For a good many years we have complacently assured ourselves that if a foreign army were to land in England, not one of them would leave it ; and we used to be told that we should rise as one man, the main army of invaders would be annihilated in the open, and the British pea santry might be trusted to " cut off the stragglers." The answer is, look at Lorraine and Alsace, and the tri umphant march of Prussia across the Moselle ; but we don't or won't look at Alsace and Lorraine, but to the sport on the grouse moor which is, and the partridge stubble which is to be. CAUSES OF FRENCH FAILURE. The John Bull says that wonderful has been the courage shewn by the French soldiery.' All that man could do Bazaine has done—aye, and M`Mahon too. The true source of the weakness of France was over-security. Prussian scouts are very superior to French scouts ; Prussian means of information of all kinds are incom parably superior. Nye could specify many other reasons for French failure, but this is not the season. We have literally not the heart to do so now; hereafter we may go more thoroughly into moral and social causes. Organisation is incomplete in France; movements are tardy. There is a want of intellectual vigour, and no courage will avail in war without rapidity and what may be best designated as life. But the chief want of all is goodwill. Unhappily the nation is divided against itself ; it has lost trust not enly in the ruling powers, but in its fellow citizens. Distrust and suspicion , have always been the chief weaknesses of the French national character : they were the real occasion of the Reign of Terror, and they seem to us to have culminated of late years. Enthu siasm has been lost even for glory. THE WAR. Alas ! for France, observes the Spectator, for the gallant and gifted people, and the beautiful land ! An armed nation is rushing on her, a nation welded into a bar of steel, and wielded by a single hand., Blacker out-look never had nation. Men, bra' e men, men potentially heroical there are in profusion—the very mob of Paris is material for a glorious army—and with time and organi sation all could be retrieved. But the factories have been making cartridges for the Chassepot, not for the "tabatiere;” the schools for officers have heen kept down because they were so Liberal ; the General of genius has yet to manifest himself—for Trochu, if he is one, must be Carnot, not commandant ; and against that unresting foe who sacrifices battalions to win a hill, those legions driven on by the calm genius who foresees and provides for all, what can an inorganic mass of brave men do ? The soldiers will die uselessly, the Mobiles will be mas sacred, and France will be none the better for the loss of her bravest sons. All points to a hideous catastrophe, which, by a strange irony of fate, will leave France for a moment at the mercy of the heir of that Queen Louise who begged terms from the uncle of Napoleon, and was bidden to attend to women's work. We know that it seems almost dastardly to recommend peace, that the collapse of this mighty empire, which for twenty years has shadowed Europe, bewilders men, who cannot, will not, believe it true ; but yet what help ? A battle before Paris? We, for our part, bow humbly before the gran deur of the patriotism which would dictate that resolve — if there are guns, if there are munitions, if there are pro visions, if there is a man ! No figure in history would be more heroic than Trochu and the Parisians fighting and winning a battle of despair ; but can they win it ? and if they lose, when will France be great again? THE COLLAPSE OF CLESARISM. The Economist thinks we may say safely that it is Csarism that has uttery failed in France—meaning by CHsarism, that peculiar system of which Louis Napoleon, —still, we suppose, nominally the Emperor of the French —is the great exponent, which tries to win directly from a plebiscite, i.e., the vote of the people, a power for the throne to override the popular will as expressed in regular representative assemblies, and to lace in the monarch an indefinite " responsibility " to the nation, by virtue of which he may hold in severe check the intellectual criticism of the more educated cla ses and even the votes of the people's own delegates. A virtually irresponsible power obtained by one man from the vague preference of the masses for a particular name—that is CHsarism, and that is a system which has undoubtedly undergone a sunden and frightful collapse such as none but the very worst hereditary monarchies in Europe have sustained, The reverse for France is infi nitely greater than the reverse of 1866 for Austria. Homo geneous, as few States in Europe are homogeneous, animated by but one spirit in relation to this particular war--if not leading the military science of the day, at least known to be one among the leaders—rich in money—full of credit — high in military pride—there was hardly one element of failure which she had in common with Austria, and yet her reverses have been as signal and all but as complete. It is the very object of the plebiscite to give the Emperor an authority which reduces all intermediate Powers to comparative insignificance if they come into collision with his own. Consequently everything must depend on him, and if he be not practically omniscient there is no substantial check at all on the creatures whom he sets up to execute his will. This has evidently been the ruin of the great military power of France. MARKETS. NEWCASTLE CORN MARKET, SATURDAY.—Farmers' samples sold at low rates at his tmarket to-day. Factors were doing nothing, as they will not submit to the reduction. New sample wheat sold at 525. per quarter. Some small country new wheat was offered at 545. per quarter. Flour and oats were at last week's prices. DONCASTER CORN MARKET, SATURDAY.—There was an improved show of wheat at this market to-day, and a better tone in the trade. Millers bought more freely. Fine samples of old wheat maintained former quotations, but secondary lots were ls. the three bushels lower. Th ere was no change in oats and beans. GLOUCESTER CORN MARKET, SATURDAY.—There was a moderate supply of wheat from farmers at this market to-day, which sold at a decline of 2s. per qr. There was hardly any inquiry for foreign wheat, and the few sales made were at a decline of 2s. per qr. Barley, beans, oats, and Indian corn were unchanged. READING CORN MARKET, SATURDAY.—There was a larger attendance this morning, and the market was well supplied with wheat, nearly all of which was new,' in good condition, and of fine quality. The firmness of yesterday's markets induced holders to demand last week's rates, and trade ruled extremely dull. In a few instances, however, rather less money was accepted, but the average price is expected to close about the same as last week. All kinds of summer corn were firm, espe cially oats. NORWICH CORN MARKET, SATURDAY —There was a good supply of old and new wheat at this market to-day. There was a fair demand at about is. over last week's rates. Wheat was 51s. per quarter. Oats were firm at last week's rates. There was very little business in other descriptions. Averages for the week—wheat, 955 quarters 1 bushel. 555. ld. per quarter. - - LEITH CORN MARKET, SATURDAY.—At this market wheat was from 2s. to 3s. per quarter lower on the week. Flour was 3s. per sack cheaper. Barley, oats, beans, and peas were each ls. per quarter cheaper. The arrivals for the week amount to 14,646 quarters of wheat, 3,839 quarters of barley, 3,036 quarters of oats, 368 quarters of peas, 315 quarters of Indian corn and 3,155 sacks of flour. DONCASTER CATTLE MARKET, SATURDAY.—There was a better show of cattle at this market to-day, and higher prices were obtained. Milch cows and in-calf cows made £23 each. Barren stock, £l6 each. Sheep of good quality made 465. each. No alteration in pigs. ABERDEEN CATTLE MARKET, SATURDAY,—There was a fair average supply of cattle at these markets for the season; but, unless for anything prime fat, sales have been stiff. Best fat beasts, 68s. to 725. per cwt. For secondary and middling qualities there was scarcely any demand. Mutton, 7d. to sid. per lb. LIVERPOOL COTTON MARKET, SATURDAY.—Opening report.—lmport, per bill of entry, 9,632 bales. This market opened with increased strength to-day. Holders are firm, and asking higher prices. Sales will probably be 12,000 or 15,000 bales.—Closing Report : The demand for cotton increased as the day advanced. The sales are called 18,000 bales, 5,000 bales being on speculation and export. Prices are id. per lb. dearer all round. METROPOLITAN MEAT MARKET, SATURDAY.—The supplY of meat has been moderate. The trade has been inactive, at about late rates. Beef, from 3s. Bd. to ss. ; mutton, 3s. Bd. to ss. 2d.; lamb,ss. 4d. to ss. Bd. ; veal, 4s. Bd. to ss. ; and pork, 4s. to ss. 4d. per 81bs. by the carcase. METROPOLITAN HAY AND STRAW MARKET, SATURDAY. —There was a fair supply on (Stier at the market to-day. The trade was inactive, and the following quotations were with difficulty supported :—Prime old hay, 1265. to 1355. ; inferior ditto, 100 s. to 110 s. ; prime new hay, 115 s, to 120 s. ; inferior ditto, 90s. to 105 s. ; prime old clover, 140 s. to 150 s. ; inferior ditto, 110 s. to 120 s. ; prime new clover, 120 s. to 130 s. ; inferior ditto, 100 s. to 110 s. ; and straw 245. to 325. per load. LEEDS TRADE REPORT, SATURDAY.—The woollen cloth trade has assumed a rather better tone. The depression at first caused by the war between France and Prussia has partially subsided, and in the home trade there is a little revival. The reduction of the rate of Bank discount has given more coati dencce to traders, and the lowering of the price of corn has helped in the same direction. Even hope is experienced that some foreign markets will be opened for our woollen cloths, which have hitherto been supplied from France and Germany, the manufactories of which countries are now almost all closed. The number of buyers present here from the metropolis Scotland, and some of the larger English provincial towns this week has not been larger, nor have their purchases been veil great. But the latter are reported to have been rather more freely made than in the previous week. The goods selected have been ordinary plain cloths and such fabrics as have been for some time in vogue for Autumn. Heavy winter goods are still in demand on the home trade account. But a few orders for the Canadian colonies are on hand. We do not hear of any fresh stoppages of machinery in any class of wooilen mills. The flax trade is qnite as active as of late, and prices of raw material yarns and threads are rather more settled. Clothing wools command late prices, but there is no upward tendency. The various branches of the iron trade remain steady; some traction engines are making for Prussia, and orders for more are expected. CLYDE CRUSHED SUGAR MARKET, SATURDAY.—This market closes steady. Prices shew a decline of from 6d. to ls. for the week, except for fine sorts, which are no cheaper. The Flag of Ireland announces that "the talented lady, Mrs. O'Donovan Rossa, is about to treat the Irish people in London to a course of readings in the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly." It believes " that the graces of her accomplished delivery, and the charms of her elocution, combined with the fact that she is the wife of the entombed, enduring Rossa, should bring crowded houses." EXTENSIVE FAILURE IN LIVERPOOL.-It Wag stated in Liverpool on Friday that the well-known and 'highly-respectable firm of Nicol, Duckworth, and Com pany, East India merchants, Cook-street, had at at last succumbed to the pressure which the recent fall in cotton brought to bear upon them. The disaster had been imminent for some time, but we believe it was finally consummated on Thursday. It is stated that the depreciation in values has left them with a deficiency of about £96,000, and that the creditors have agreed to accept a compromise of 4s. in the pound. The head of the firm in Liverpool is Mr. Henry Duckworth, president of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, and one of the magistrates of the borough. Liverpool Courier. BIRTHS. On the 18th inst., at Castelnau Villas, Barnes, the wife of Samuel Wolfe Keene, Esq., of a daughter. On the 19th inst., at The Lawn, Upper Clapton, the wife of Mr. Samuel Underhill, of a son. MARRIAGES. On the 18th inst., at St. Mary's, Staines, Lewis Paine, Esq., of Duncroft, Staines to Ellen Lane, th e e ldest daughter of the late D. N. Frampton, Esq., of Eaton square. On the 17th inst., at St. John's Church, G rea t Stair. more, Robert Hollond, Esq., of the Middle Temple, to Fanny Eliza, daughter of the late F re d er i c k K ea ts, Esq., of Braziers, Oxon. DEATHS On the 18th inst., at Blagden, James Wilson, Esq., aged 86. On the 19th inst., at 3, Cambridge Villas, Brownswood park, Mr. Charles Little, aged 46. 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 the Savoy, in the County of Middlesex. Monday, August 22, 1870.