The Sun.
London, England, 1870-08-02 00:00:00

A.'r METZ

SATURDAY.

Very many of the troops who were crowded here in such
vast numbers during the last few days have left and gone
forward, the general movement all along the line having
greatly advanced by this time. But Metz still has in its
immediate neighbourhood a vast encampment. The Em-
peror is here, and so is the Imperial Guard, so there is
perhaps not less military life and animation than before.
The St. Martin camp at Metz, which is occupied
by, the Imperial Guard, is extremely well placed, and
affords opportunity for the carrying on of extensive
manoeuvres. It is surrounded by large trees, and the
tents are placed in the shade of these trees. They are
arranged in divisions of six, each separated by a wide
street ; each company is placed in one of these streets ;
the tents of the officers are in the background. There are
two meals a day, identical in character, for they consist
of soup and beef in the morning, and beef and soup in the
evening. The non-commissioned officers take their meals
without ceremony, sitting in 'a ring, after the fashion of
tailors. When the meal is concluded the report is read to
each company, and each soldier is informed of his special
duty, the officers are summoned to their duties by the
ringing of many bells. During the day there are generally
three roll-calls, so that the officer in command may be
certain that the number of his men is complete. The
arrival of the Emperor and Prince Imperial, which great
event happened on Thursday, revived the flagging spirit
of the town, and somewhat calmed the impatience of the
troops ; but since then we have made very little progress
and have gained very little information. If the official
bulletins hitherto issued are to be a specimen of those we
shall get hereafter, there is small comfort in store
for the wives and the children of the men who are em-
barked upon this uncertain errand. We have during the
last day or two seen long lines of carriages full of treasure
come into the town, guarded by mounted men of the
Garde Mobile. We have seen more troops come in, and
more still go out, on the advance to the front. But
of the plan of the campaign no one has as yet
the vestige of an idea, founded upon any information.
Employing pure logic to bear upon the question, it would
seem a pretty safe conclusion that the Saar will mark the
first scene of operations. Either the French will advance
beyond the river into Rhenish Prussia, or the Prussians
will advance beyond it into France. It is now evident
that no serious side attack upon Bavaria will be made.
It is too late for that. If the French could have mus-
tered sufficient force at first, a raid into
South Germany might have proved highly successful in
overrunning the lesser States before they were prepared,
and in separating the South from the North.
If, however, such an experiment -were attempted now the
road to Paris would be laid open to the army of theßhine.
It would be much easier for the Prussians to reach the
French capital, than for the French to reach Berlin
by way of South Germany. Such a hazardous
flank movement cannot be attempted now. Nothing
for it but a straightforward combat on the
Rhine. Such are the speculations with which we
amuse ourselves. People here are also very busy in invent-
ing stories of battles, and in charging the Prussians with
gross misdeeds. One story to-day is to the effect that the
army on the other side of the frontier is levying enormous
exactions on all sides. It is, it. point of fact, doing nothing
of the kind.