The Sun.
London, England, 1870-09-23 00:00:00

THE SIEGE OF METZ.

The correspondent of the Telegraph, writing from the
camp before Metz on the 18th inst., says :—"The day
before yesterday the dull monotony of our sojourn in the
Valley of the Moselle was somewhat relieved by the intel-
ligence that something was about to be done. That
something was to be the shelling of the battery in
the course of construction by the French in the
neighbourhood of St. Privat t Now, this St.
Privat must not be confounded with the place of that
name which cost the Prussian Guards so dear on the 18th
)f August, at the battle of Gravelotte. A glance at the
slap will shew it to be a small hamlet lying to the south
')f Metz, and to the east of Tournebride. Here the
'much have erected a work, and are busily engaged
:.dishing it. The Prussians have also erected a battery
to keep this one in order, and it was arranged that a little
interchange of shells should take place. It, however, all
came to nothing, as we never fired a shot. As in along
sieges, the belligerents have become excessively ami-
able to one another ; for instance, in the direc-
tion of Pouilly, to the east of Metz, the French
in Fort Queulen permit half a company to march
about and even to drill ; but if two men
are added to the number, an immediate dis-
charge of shells testifies that the liberty taken
is too great. To-day a flag of truce, borne by an
officer of rank, came to Prince Frederick Charles's
quarters at Corny, from Meta. His purpose was to ascer-
tain if it was really true that Napoleon was no longer at
the head of affairs, and, if so, what was the state of
Paris and the Ministry. His Highness furnished the officer
with all the information he required, and also gave him a
list of the gentlemen who are at present at the head
of affairs in poor France. How this will suit his Majesty
of Metz, I give you leave to judge. I am perfectly certain
that Bazaine is as well acquainted with the movements of
the Prussian troops around Metz as I am, and for this
knowledge the Prussians have only to thank their
kindness and liberality towards the inhabitants of the
villages of St. Ruffine, Rozerieulles, Vaux, and Jussy on
one side, and Augny, Marly, and Pouilly on the other.
The plan of operation is a simple one. A pass is obtained
from the commandant of the town or village, enabling the
holder to go to Ars to purchase bread and subsistence.
The vineyards are thick, and the undulating grounds
are specially adapted to concealment. The French and
Prussian sentries are but 600 or 700 yards from one
another, and are spread somewhat breadcast. What,
then, is there to prevent a peasant, who knows the ground,
from stealing through the sentries and getting to the
French outposts ? If he is caught, his answer, ever
a ready one from the peasant of Lorraine is, ' I have
missed my way in the dark whilst returning
from fetching subsistence for my starving family.'
This morning an instance occurred which goes far to
prove what I have stated. It is made a sine qua non,
that every pass submitted to the commandant
of a village must first be approved and signed
by the Mayor of the place, who is held responsible
for the good conduct of its possessor. Yesterday a
Man obtained a pass, signed by the Mayor of Augny,
to proceed to Ars for the purpose of buying
bread. Arrived at Ars, he disposes of his pass to a
confederate, who, in the early morning, when the fog
from the Moselle covers the valley and makes everything
indistinct at a hundred yards, tries to crawl through the
sentries in the direction of Metz. But, unfortunately for
him, my old friends, the 23rd Fusiliers, were on out-
post, and he was discovered and captured. The Mayor
was sent for, and told that he alone was responsible,
and a fine of 1,000 francs was imposed upon him,
whilst the man was kept close prisoner. Now, if he,
taken as he was red-handed in the act, had been shot then
and there, an example would have been made which might
save the army many a misadventure."