The Sun.
London, England, 1870-08-16 00:00:00

FROM THE FRENCH ARMY,

(FROM THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT .OF THE CENTRAL
PRESS.) • .

CHALONS,

I have just arrived here in full retreat with the d6bris
of MacMahon's corps. Up to Friday it was at Nancy in a,
terrible state of confusion and disorganization, Und it 'lasi
since left to give way to the Prussians. Some two or
three days ago it was evident that the French
intended to make no stand at Nancy, for on Thursday
several trains left for Marshal Canrobert's camp at
Chalons-sur-Marne—the total number .of men departing
on that day amounting to several hundreds. Since then
the migration haS progressed much more rapidly, and at
length behold us " all here." Whilst at Nancy great efforts
Were made to restore MacMahon's first corps as much as
possible. The gendarmes were worked like horses, enL
deavouring to fetch up the Stragglers who swarmed in
all directions round about Nancy. I fear their success
was not proportionate to the intensity of- their efforts.
The break-up was too great to be restored in a few days..
Now that we have arrived at . Chalons we hear
that Nancy was first occupied by only four soldiers !
So complete was the desertion that these
.four solitary
enemies walked in and appropriated a considerable
town in the centre • .af, France, without , meeting
the slightest hosqlity. The fact is that not
a soldier reejoi..4;l.
w i'u the
plaCe. The inhabi-
tants of course would have been equal to four Prussians;
but the Maire thought neutrality the best course. If he
disposed of these four, what would become of him and his
fellow, citizens when a more formidable garrison
arrived ? Yesterday four or five thousand men
of MacMahon's ''unhappy' first corps came trooping along

the dusty road from Nancy to Chalons. It was a deplo-
rable: sight ; brave men thrown away. Although just a
week -had elapsed since the crushing defeat of Woerth or
Freisehwiller took place, no reorganisation had
been effected. There were no regiments, no
battalions, no companies ; horse and foot were
mixed up together. It will be a herculean task to reform,
strengthen, and put such a mob into line again. I have
been to look at the Garde Mobile. Eighteen battalions
of the Seine Department are encamped here. They
look very well; the country air and exposure
have •already bionzed them like veterans, and they
keep up a Martial gait and demeanour. It is no secret,
however, that more is needed to make them competent to
meet • the Prussians. They are badly drilled, or
rather not drilled at all; but their progress
is rapid, for. Parisians are not slow in learn-
ing. A more important defect is their weapons.
Chassepots enough there are not, and it
has therefore been needful to serve out the
old stamp of rifle, heavy and useless. If these
troope are to form line against the Prussians,
it will be absolutely necessary to give them
breechloaders. It would be mere butchery to expose
these half-trained young men to the assault of the Prus-
sians with no better protection than the raise-
rable old rifle. You have probably heard that
OM Garde •Mobile behaved very. badly in the first
days of their encampment at Chalons". So they did, but,
I am bound to say that their conduct is unexceptional
That misbehaviour.. was only foolishness and
impatience of military control. The discipline is very
good at present. • .2 •

now.