The Sun.
London, England, 1870-10-19 00:00:00

THE DEFEAT OF THE LOIRE ARMY.

TOURS, OCTOBER 16.
Ever since the enemy was first seen from the towers of
Notre Dame, public reliance here, and iu all France, was
placed upon the " Army of the Loire " as the greatest,
if not the last, hope of the country. It was to be quietly
organised ; and whilst all the Germans were engaged round
Paris or round Metz, it was to fall upon their flank, cut
their commnnications, and finally to compel a retreat of
the invaders. We have at last seen what the Army of
the Loire can do. For the present it has found itself
quite unequal to disposing of one corps d'armde. Led by
General Reyan, the new French force advanced to
Arthenay, where it was, like its predecessors, outnum-
bered and beaten. It then retired upon Orleans, where it
was beaten again, and driven out of the town beyond the
Loire. These disasters may be repaired, but for the pre-
sent the Army of the Loire is beaten, and the heart of
France has once more sank within it.
All the blunders which led to Woerth and Sedan have
been repeated in these two engagements. They aro, in
fact, copies so exact of previous French operations as to
make one utterly despair of ever seeing any improvement.
In the former of the two battles, at least, the French
were surprised. They were out-numbered, badly handled,
and many of them ran away so soon as the combat turned
against them. Some, indeed, fought very well, but
others behaved disgracefully. The Line were the worst
offenders. Many of these turned their backs to the foe
without making the slightest attempt to sustain the
honour of their country. They flew pell-mell from the
field of battle, some breaking their weapons in brutal
despair, some throwing them away, and some stripping
off their uniforms in the most abject poltroonry,
so soon as they arrived at a place of shelter.
The Germans, on their march from Arthenay
to Orleans, found abundant occupation in pick-
ing up good rifles that strewed the road.
Some of them had never been fired off. Such
duings by men belonging to the most warlike of nations
may seem incredible ; but in reality they are both
credible and rational. ,The French troops' are demoralized
by defeat, and by the lack of men in whom they can
trust—and under a good leader they would still fight
well Under the miserable officers who are set over them
they behave like sheep.

The Germans, in their customary way, made themselves
quite at home at Orleans. They took possession of all the
public establishments—the post-office, the bank, the pre-
fecture, &c. In each they have placed—so says one of the
papers here—an administrative staff of their own, which
would seem to indicate that they intend to
remain in the place as long as the siege of Paris
lasts. They can hardly occupy and " administer" all
the chief towns of central France ; but in Orleans at any
rate they have conducted themselves as if they meant to
annex the whole surrounding district. The prefect, M.
Pereira, is virtually a prisoner in his apartments ; and -
even Bishop Dupanloup is a captive with a functionary
at the door of his palace. A little while ago this leader of
the Opposition at the (Ecumenical Council exhorted his
flock to defend their country. Hence the Germans consider
, • ,

him a dangerous person. In the way of a requisition the
invaders asked at first for £160,000. They have reduced
this enormous sum by one half, which was to have
been paid yesterday, without prejudice to other requi-
sitions.

Meanwhile the French army is concentrated at La
Forte, where every effort is being made to reinforce their
scattered ranks. Troops are being brought up
from every quarter, and General Bourbaki
who has arrived here, takes the command. A battle is
expected at once. It will shew whether the late leader of
the Imperial Guard has profited by his stern experience
inside Metz. His course is very simple : the only way to
beat the army of Von Der Tann is to assail it with
superior forces. In discipline and armament the Germans
have an advantage, which can be redressed only by a
preponderance of troops. It was in this respect—as on I
former occasions, that the incompetent men who com-
manded in the recent battles; most signally failed.
The whole army of the Loire is much larger than the force

-
under Der Tann, but the Bavarian was stronger at the
point of contact. Regiments of Mobiles and Line were
marching about in all directions at the time ahen th
companions were fighting hard at Arthenay and Orlea.
There was, unquestionably, a good force at Toi
and another at Bourges which never smelt powd,,
It is even said that one regiment which was ordered to
advance, openly refused, scattered in disorder, and the
men wandered about the place where they were stationed
breaking their weapons.
At Tours, of course, there is a frightful panic. The
removal of the Government is again under discussion