The Sun.
London, England, 1870-08-10 00:00:00

THE BATTLE AT WOERTIL

The following is the Prussian account of the Battle of
Woerth :—" The French loss in the battle at Woerth was
at least 5,000 men hors de combat, amongst whom were
many officers ; 6,000 prisoners were also taken. The
army of Marshal M`Mahon in their flight left behind
them their entire baggage, many cannons, and two rail-
way trains with provisions. Our cavalry in the pursuit
came upon many thousand fugitive stragglers who had
thrown away their arms. The loss on our side was be-
tween 3,000 and 4,000 men hors de combat.

The Times correspondent says :—" It is positively ascer-
tained at the Ministry of War in Paris .that Marshal
MacMahon had only 35,000 men, and that the Prussians
numbered 140,000. It is believed that General Trochu,
who is on his way to Paris, has been appointed Minister
of War."

DEPARTMENTS PLACED IN A STATE OF

SIEGE.
An Imperial decree has been published, placing in a
state of siege the departments comprised in the first,
third, fourth, and seventh territorial military divisions,
the departments of the Cote d'Or, Saone, and Loire, Ain,
and Rhone.

THE ATTITUDE OF ITALY- AND AUSTRIA.
The Paris correspondent of the Vanchester Examiner
sends the following telegram :—" I hear, on what I have
been accustomed to deem good authority, that Italy will
fulfil her secret league with France by sending 100,000
men to the assistance of France. It is rumoured that
Austria also is preparing to do the same."
A telegram states that the reports as to the mission of
Count Vitzthum are only so far correct, that both Austria
and Italy have agaeed to act entirely in common in all
contingencies.

WELCOME OF KING WILLIAM AT
NEUSTADT.

A great demonstration has taken place at Neustadt, by
the Hardt, on the occasion of the passageof King William.
The railway station and the picturesque hills which
surround it were densely covered with Bavarian and
Prussian troops, and all the inhabitants of the outlying
villages. Several speakers addressed the crowd, and
cheers were given for the King, Count Bismarck, Generals
Moltke and Reon, the assemblage concluding with a
general shout for Germany's unity and freedom, which
echoed like a peal of thunder through the hills as the royal
train proceeded on its way to the seat of war.

THE FRENCH DISASTERS.

'FROM THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OP THE CENTRAL

PRESS.)

IMPERIAL HEADQUARTERS, SUNDAY.

The most terrible news has arrived here. The French
have been beaten near Saarbruck, which place has fallen
into thehands'of the Prussians, vOlio have likewise advanced
and captured Forbach. An even more crushing
disaster is announced from the right. MacMahon
fought and lost a hard battle a few miles

to the south of Weissenbourg (Wissemburg the
French here call it), and he is now driven to Saverne,
on the road to Nancy. Such is the ominous intelligence'
that has overwhelmed everyone here with gloom. It is
impossible as yet to gain any satisfactory details, and I
am compelled to have recourse to the post to send even
these few facts, for all telegraphing of Ivar news is
rigidly prohibited. It was at first reported that therta
was fighting along the whole line yesterday and last
night ; but this story of general conflagration resolves itself
into two very considerable battles, one on the right, and
the other on the left centre.

On the right the fighting commenced on Thursday,
when the Crown Prince, with a powerful army, invaded
France at Weissenburg. Here he defeated a small force
of Frenchmen, under General Abel Douay. This affair was a
regular surprise, and was far from creditable to French
generalship. General Douay had only a division
with him, a force of about 8,000 men, and
this little army was by some disgraceful mismanagement

left to fight a vastly superior force without support from
any quarter. Some say that the Germans were ten to
one ; it is at least' pretty safe to assume that they were
three or four to one. MacMahon, to whose corps
General Abel Douay is attached, could not have known
of this sadden attack, or he would have sent help, if any
had been within reach ; but in any case his leaving a
single division to be thus overwhelmed was an error of the
first magnitude. The fight was exceedingly desperate,
It could, however, have but one issue. After giving and
receiving very severe losses the French division was broken,
scattered, and utterly routed, leaving numerous prisoners
in the hands of the enemy and General Douay dead on the
field. It is rumoured that this commander committed
suicide, unable to bear a defeat which he could not
avert. On hearing of this battle MacMahon at once took
action. He collected his other divisions, which
were all far away from Weissenburg, advanced
from Hagenau in a north-easterly direction, and
came upon the Crown Prince at Froschwiller, near
Reichshoffen. The ground here is very rough, broken
into deep gorges by a spur of the Vosges Mountains, and
covered with wood. Nearest Weissenburg is the little
river Saurbach, which runs through a valley by the
village of Woerth, and falls into the Rhine. Further still
from Weissenburg, and parallel with the Saurbach,
is another river, the Moder. It would appear that the
battle has been joined on the hills which separate
the two valleys. MacMahon took a strong position, but
he seems to have been both out-numbered and out-
generalled. Whsat was the exact manner of this defeat I
cannot yet precisely tell. There are numerous accounts
floating about here, but the great difficulty is to persuade
oneself to giVe credence to them. One story is that
MacMahon was successful against the Germans yesterday
morning, but was beaten later in the day. This would
imply that he had held his ground for some ,
time, but was finally overpowered. Another
account apologises for the defeat by stating that the Mar-
shal had no more than from 20,000 to 25,000 men with
him—an explanation to which no credence can be given.
MacMahon must have had with him at least his own corps.
He was very likely also supported by parts of other divi-
sions, in which case the whole army he opposed to the
Crown Prince would amount to 60,000 or 70,000. This is
probably the correct estimate. I incline, also, to accept
the account of the battle which atateki that Mac-
Mahon held his ground for several hours against
the attack in front ; but that ultimately a large body of
Bavarians fell upon his flank, and decided the fight. It
wcisesawemreo sfteainr important engagement.
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three Prussian armies from becoming one. The idea 'of
such a battle being waged with only 25,000 men
on the
side a the Viench is mere trifling. MacMahon was foolish to try the issue with G. 0,000 to 70,0.00,, ~for tim
Crown Pririce, hall at least 100,000, and odds of ten to
seven are too great when the larger army.has also in its.
favour the prestige of 'a previous considerable triumph.
The effects of this battle may readily be guessed at by
what one sees here in Metz. The people are in a terrible
fright, and grave alarm is depicted in the face of every
officer. How intense must be the agony of the Emperor
the reader may be able to conceive for himself. The Im-
perial staff is getting ready to start to assist in
the concentration of the army. The inhabitants of Metz
are hastily forming themselves into volunteer corps.
.But the dismal narrative of disaster is not yet complete.
A. battle was fought and lost. near Forjuacl4 on Saturday