The Sun.
London, England, 1870-09-01 00:00:00

THE WAR.

The news published this morning renders it
evident that terrible fighting is going on around Metz'
but it cannot be ascertained that either side has gained e
decided success. An official -despatch, dated 'Metz'
August 17, 3 p.m.," states that a serious engagement,
took place on Tuesday in the vicinity of the fortifica-
tions, and that the French obtained the advantage,
but " lost heavily,"—two words fraught Wit
tragical significance. Amid the smoke and coil'
fusion which obscure those red battle-fields,
we can distinguish only the fact that thousands of human
beings have been slaughtered, and that no limit can Yet
be assigned to the work of destruction. Every device
which the ingenuity of man has yet conceived for sweep'
ing out of existence vast masses of men, is brought t 0
bear upon this desperate contest, and already rivers
blood have been shed. The Prussians no more dare ie
make their losses known than the French. No statements
have yet been put forward on either side. It is all guess'
work, but when the Prussians admit one day that thel
have purchased a "bloody victory," and the French SC.
knowledge on another that they have sustained hog
losses, it scarcely needs official returns to assure us Ost
the carnage has been fearful. Those who predicted
that one severe engagement before Metz would Put
an end to the war, may now begin to realize
their mistake. The armies which were di''
patched to meet each other last month may be sir
nihilated without bringing the war to a conclusion'
Both France and Prussia are capable of putting other
armies in the field, and they would do it, for this is
struggle of life and death—a struggle, take it all in all, the
like of which Europe has never seen before. Napoleon
did not deceive the French people when he warned WO
at the outset to prepare for a long and bloody Nor'
Which side was best prepared no one can hesitate
to point out. It was the side which we were
asked to believe had been taken unawares, but which is
reality had counted upon this war as one of the inevitable
events of the age. The slaughter which has been going
on since Sunday morning may be continued for days t°
come, or it may be interrupted for a time, and trans'
ferred to another scene. It is only certain that
every inch of ground will now be hotly coo;
tested, and that since the French have everything
stake, they will never relinquish the contest lint:
they have exhausted every resource at their command"
When that is said of a great and proud nation, it means s
great deal more than the confident capitalists of Wsll'
street seem disposed to understand. There are times \ ;lien
a nation must sacrifice its last man and its last coin rathef
than yield to the enemy. The French people have n°l/
to face such an emergency. They have risen. to the
occasion by offering all that they have for t11:1
prosecution of the war. If they complain 0; their
Generals, they do what all nations have done under
the sting of defeat. The cry for peace has not, been
heard in the land. That the Germans are equalil
resolute is but natural, 'pr they are in the flush of vie.
tory. Their spirit would doubtless undergo no change
under defeat. Hence, from the first, there has been
every reason to believe that the war would be protracted,
and there is less reason than ever now for changing that
opinion. Napoleon, who took up the sword, may perish
by the sword—but these two great nations will never
yield until complete exhaustion renders further exertioo°
impossible, —New York Times, August 18th.

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