The Sun.
London, England, 1870-09-26 00:00:00

THE SIEGE OF METZ.

The general impression that RseEeml‘'slEtoTpZrevail SEPT.—)23lds:l:llog
from what one sees of the newspapers—that the Gernle
Army before Metz is in an excellent conition, and t
French inside in a deplorable plight, is certainly 3°,t
borne out by the facts, so far as one half of the story;
concerned. The fact is, that watching Metz is an exce%a
ingly difficult and uncomfortable occupation, costi
of
of
about as many lives as a regular siege, and productive
intense misery to the German troops, indeed, this dutY
guarding Bazaine is the most unpleasant that the II?!
have known during the campaign. Since the third there h3s•
been no fighting, the vast army which encircles the cekns
trenchments in all directions is not troubled by anY e_
of the enemy. But the sanitary condition of the
mans is unquestionably bad. Dismal complaints they
raised on all sides. The only comfort the men have tt if
find in the conviction (not certainly. well founded) tba,he
their state is miserable that of their adversaries inside:en
city is worse. The wounded in the hospitals have ;lib
sent on to Germany; but the beds are all full again io
the
.victims of typhus and dysentery. The gr°lll3.„h
round Metz is very clayey, and the incessant rains "'tithe
have washed it since the blockade of the
fortress commenced have left the Germans light
most miserable of camping grounds. The
g7ted
tents in which the troops are housed are not at all uds,
for such a purpose ; they do not keep out the cold win 4
which are so severe as to render the nights well
insupportable. One officer the other day said that the
ir
v uniforms and linen of the soldiers were rotting °a th,,ery
bodies. There is no want of meat, but there is iY;
bad supply of bread ; what the soldiers have is nac'n''';
and the corn which grew around Metz was, of cotlrsi;
stamped into the ground during the great battles will%
lasted so many days. For this reason also there land
great lack of straw for the beds both of men
horses, and a large portion of the troops use „s°„--:
unthrashed corn which they have taken in the neigh'-'- f
ing barns, but this sort of stuff on such a clayey soil is ce
no great service. The commander of the armY, Prin
Frederick Charles, has resolved to bombard the fortrest
but probably that course is taken only wiht
the view of finding occupation for the men, en
w--(i
would bear in action discomforts which e
their great patience can hardly tolerate duriliwg
a life of enforced idleness. Prince Frederick can a°3rtt
hope to take Metz. The general impression here IS that
the fortress ea,nnot be captured except by starving °lll',,i:
French ; and this no doubt will ultimately be accomplish
but it is a tougher job than the besiegers imagined w°';
they began the work. Two hundred thousand Pe°l)
(inhabitants and soldiers) would soon, it was confideatlYt
thought, eat themselves into a state of destitution. 13.1
a month has passed, and Metz still stands where it (ha,
with all its living occupants safe within it.
It is difficult to speak with certainty as to the state of
affairs in Metz. There is reason to believe that the
.
customary order of things is reversed on this occae
sion : the French know pretty well what tb
tittle
Germans are doing, but the Germans know very
of what is going on inside Cie beleaguered place. Some
c
are certain the troops and the inhabitants are alike ha h'
ch
starved. And it would seem, on the face of it, that all
ci
an immense host could not exist a month on the 10%,
which might happen to be in the city without being 111..°3
well-nigh brought to the end of their resources. 1311' i
must be remembered that Metz is the premier fortresses
France, and that doubtless great precautions had he
taken to put it in excellent condition. The provisl°ll:
which would last the town and garrison a long sieog
may last town, garrison, and Bazaine's army
unexpectedly considerable period. At all events there I
testimony of abundance of food being inside the walls' nor
j
is there from the outside any appearance to be discover
of the effects of want within. Bazaine's men are einPl°Y
ed
in building great redoubts and the like, though what they
are wanted for, except to give the men a job, like
Frederick's bombardment, it is not easy to divine. The n
is a rumour that negotiations for a surrender have
opened, Bazaine • desiring certain conditions, and liare
German commander insisting upon an absolute surrender.
But these stories do not seem worthy of belief.

The fall of Toul was occasioned by a fresh batch
r°ef
heavy guns which the Germans brought up. The eaPtund
of this fortress, which barred the way between Nancys 0
Chalons, was of the utmost importance to the Gems,
and yet they were unable to take it with 0rdin5",..,,,
apparatus. They therefore brought up to trains of twenkY
four pounders which speedily effected a change,
The report of the death of the second son of the P 7,1,4
sian War Minister, General Von Boon, is confirm.
The Prussian officers are in the habit, notwithetanctil!;
directions to the contrary, of preceding their trooPol
attacking the enemy, which accounts for the great Pi;
th
e
battles of fosses among them. It is said that after the
battles at Metz, the King, while acknowledging
ic.
bravery of his officers, said that if they continued to e•
pose themselves so recklessly, he must take some Pre
ventive measures.
The North German Gazette explained the removal of
General Steinmetz from the command of the First Al
This step has not been taken through any fault the °.,
general may have committed. His return to an office
the Prussian provinces may find its simple explanaticli
the circumstance that a single commander of the
investing Metz is quite sufficient, and that the interl9o'.
tion of a second commander might involve procrastit'f't
tion. It does not now appear advisable in the bighee
quarters to form another separate army, as one division
of the collective German armies lies before I\l_e:tz;
and the rest—organised, indeed, as two armies—is m°v,'ll'
on Paris.
The North German Gazette apologises for the arrest of
~,
Dr. Jacoby, the well-known Prussian Democrat, %""'
with that remarkable respeCt for the liberty of the Persepo
which prevails in free and happy Germany, has be'',
thrown into prison for speaking against the distnerahe•
ment of France. Says the Gazette :—" It should, 11,1:
ever, be considered that the resolution and speech a
Jacoby find their level not only in Germany, but also n'
France, and that the newspapers there, which daily Pf,
off on their readers such monster lies respecting Germany'
not be candid enough to say that the attitude
Dr. Jacoby excites with us merely a shrug 0f the
shoulders."

The Prefect of La Manche has issued a very belliels:
address to the inhabitants. La Manche is out of ''"t
present range of the Germans, but the Prefect fears Oa.
they may make a raid into it in order to obtain 11°11
sions. Let us, therefore, he says, make ready for theru;
" Let our National Guard be organised and drilled, 01115
the direction of the Gendarmerie, which is composed
brave soldiers inured to the use of arms. Not havills
instructors to send into the cantons, into the country
parts, I have, nevertheless, solicited their co-operaticob
which has been eagerly promised. We must carry anrtnrhe
war in detached bands ; we must adopt a guerrilla war
which shall harass the enemy day and night, and i..7riel
shall leave him neither rest nor peace. Our country
eminently fitted for a contest of this description."
'll
The Rev. Robert Moiat, the veteran missionary'
South Africa, stated, in an address which he deliverea 10
Manchester on Friday evening, that he entertained 11
fear for the safety of Dr. Livingstone.

BIRTHS.
On the 22d inst., at Tunbridge-wells, the wife of ivx•
Shaw Stewart, of a son.
On the 22d inst.. at Kensington, the wife of Johnagty
Good, of a son.

MARRIAGES.
On the 22d inst., at St. Luke's, Kentish' New-tovil2'
William Beeson, Esq., of South Croxton, Leicee,tere
shire, to. Rosa Emily, only surviving child of the
Henry Pidcock, Esq., of 8, Caversham-road, Nent's
town, London.
On the 22d inst., at St. Andrew's Church, Thornhill;
square, Charles Edwards, to Ann, the only daughtro
of the late David William Witton, of Great St. Helell
and Richmond, Surrey.

DEATHS.
On the 20th inst., at Tunbridge-Wells, Edward Austell
Taylor, Esq.
On the 23d inst., at)l.7, Devonshire-street, Warb
urt
Davies; Esq.

London : Printed by GIDEON ACLAND BOYCE, ot
No. 112, Strand, Printer, and Published by hin2
THE SUN Office, No. 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the
Savoy, n the County of Middlesex.
Monday, September 26, 1870.

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