The Sun.
London, England, 1870-10-24 00:00:00

IN FRONT OF METZ.

The special correspondent of the Telegraph writing from
the head-quarters of the First Army, Oct. 17, says : I have
now ascertained the exact loss of the division Kummer in
the action of Maizieres and Woippy. I am sorry to say
the numbers are considerably beyond the figure at which
1 put them down. Eighteen hundred killed and wounded,
and 65 officers, is the fearful sum-total of the few
hours. The French loss is about 2,400—at least,
if we can trust to the information we have received from
the enemy's prisoners. The overwhelming force which
the French brought to bear upon this particular point
must account for the dreadful loss of life, and the large
proportion of officers testifies to that indomitable perse-
verance and cool courage which will not be restrained. I
cannot say too much upon this subject ; for the
conduct of the officers of the German army is a
theme that would fill volumes. The loss of the soldiers
may be repaired; but for years to come Germany will
feel most acutely the want of those brave and determined
gentlemen who have stood their country in such good stead
in her hour of trial. At daylight this morning many an
anxious eye was turned towards Metz. The height of
St. Blaise was crowded, and if it were possible to wear
a telescope out by looking through it, such would
indubitably have been the case upon this occasion. As
it may be remembered, I mentioned in my last letter that
intelligence had been received that on the 10th—yester-
day—the Republic would be proclaimed in the beleaguered
city. Everyone hoped the fact might cause some
sort of diversion in favour of those who have for so
long' gazed upon that plain in the valley of the
Meselle, upon that splendid Cathedral, and upon the
frowning batteries of St. Quentin, Queuleu, and St.
Julien ; but even these were silent. The fire from
the outposts, usually so brisk at this hour, was
also scarcely to be heard, and we were about
to wend our way back to our quarters—some
with the firm conviction that Metz must
under any circumstances fall before Christmas,
others that French patience had lasted much longer than
anybody had ever anticipated, but all apparently satisfied
that sooner or later Bazaine must give in—when the well-
known rattle of the mitrailleuse made us turn our eyes
in the direction of the earthwork of St. Privat.
Out of this work the French advanced towards
Frascati, with two mitrallleuses, and a strong
battalion of infantry ; but whether they thought better
of their first purpose, or whether they saw that our people
were prepared to receive them, after firing twice from the
mitrailleuses they retired by way of St. Privat. The
town of Metz itself was unusually still. We could hear
the church bells tolling, and occasionally the roll of a
drum ; but, beyond this, there was no indication that
anything of moment had taken place. Arrived
at my quarters, I found that my anticipa-
tions with respect to the heavy firing on the morning of
the 15th had proved correct. The besieging army was
' bombarding Verdun. It appears that they opened firs
upon that fortress on the 13th instant, and had steadily
kept at work until noon on the 15th. The result is
yet unknown. Intelligence that Soissons had
surrendered to the German arms has also come to
hand ; so that, one by one, gradually but
surely, the strong cities of France are passing into the pos-
session of the enemy. But at what a cost is this taking
place? Does not Germany suffer as well as France ? Do
not the hospital returns, the lists of killed and wounded,
the large number of prisoners she has to supply with
food, and the starving peasantry of France whom she
will have to assist —at least for the present do
not all these things sufficiently attest that the heart of the
nation is bleeding, and that her voice should be raised for
peace? The heavy rain of the last few days has caused
the Moselle to overflow its banks. This has also com-
pelled the French to move their camp from the Island
of Clnunbiere towards the suburb of St. Julien.
Count Bernstorff's circular to Lord Granville
seems to have given great satisfaction to every one here,
and I have had to stand the fire of innumerable pleasant-
ries in consequence. One officer of his Royal Highness's
staff, who sat next me at dinner last night, begged that
I would impress upon my countrymen that for the
future they should send Martini - Henry rifles to
France instead of Chassepots, for that in such a case
Prussia would soon be armed with the best weapon in the
world. In this I think he is not for wrong, and I ima-
gine the whole Prussian army will be supplied with these
rifles as soon as the occasion offers itself. Simple in
its construction, light and handy in its use, shooting
equally well at short and long distances, easy of
repair in case of need, I know of no weapon so well
adapted for a military small-arm as the Martini-Henry—
especially in the hands of a young and inexperienced
soldier. In the loading of the needle rifle there are five
motions, in that of the Chassepot three, and in the Mar-
tini-Henry, if I recollect aright, only two.