New-York tribune., 1870-12-03
THE FRENCH SORTIE.

We have at last an inteligiblc account OF
the latest efforts Of the French to break through
the triple lines of their enemy; and very lame
affairs, with most impotent conclusions, they
appear to have been. The Paris garrison
marched across the Mane, and then marched
back again. The Loire army advanced from
Orleans only to retire TO the neighbOrhood of
Tours. The efforts which have been put forth
to raise the siege Of Paris have only been less
ridiculous than the plan upon which they were
misdirccted.
The first attempt to break away from
Paris was made at an early hour on Tuesday,
Nov. 20. A feint from Fort Mont Du Valerien
toward the west, begun at 8 o'clock in the fore
noon, was followed by an advance on either
side of the Seine at o'clock. The real attack
was but little more determined than the feint,
though on the east side of the Seine a very
important position of the Prussans at Mont
| Mesley, an eminence commanding both the
| Seine and Mar1ie, and the villages of BOnneuil
and Mesly, where large numbers of the Ger
mans were cantined, was carried, but after
five hours severe fighting this position was
retakcn, and the column west of the Seine
having been easily beaten at L'lIay and Choissy
LIE Roi, the sOrtie on the south was abandoned.
Meantime Gen. Ducrot had thrown pontoons
across the Marne still further to the east, and
at three o'clock in the afternoon advanced
against the Wirtemberg troops, who held the
| opposite banks at Champigny and Nilliers
| The Marine is very tortuOus near these points,
and Ducrot was doubtless able to flank the
WGrtemberg divisions. Both French and
! Prussan accounts agree that the Germans
were forced from their advanced positions;
| but these did not long remain in the posses
sion Of the French. The German reports say
they were retaken; the French that they were
abandoned. AT any rate, Ducrot marched back
20 the Paris side Of the Marne, and retired to
| the protection of the works. The sOrtie was
clearly without material advantage to the
besieged All night and the day after the
battle the Forts kept mp their useless fire. but
it resulted only in the waste of ammunition,
which appears to be more plentiful than food
in the beleaguered Capital.
The movements of the Army of the Loire
were somewhat mysterious. They are said to
| have resulted in victories at several places,
which we have been unable, after most dill
gent search In gazetteers and on the latest
maps, to locate under the names reported.
We have definite information that tho Army
of the Loire advanced yesterday morning from
Orleans. and later adyices state that it was
concentrated between BlOs and Tours, which
would indicate that It's advance was not in the
direction of Paris.
The operations of the last few days, as now
reported, reveal more clearly than ever the
hopeless condition of the French. After two
and half months of discipline and drill, the
Paris army cannot be depended upon in
desperate or determined assault on the Prus-
sian lines. Their officers in vain exposed
themselves recklessy in efforts to lead
them TO the attack. The Army of the
Loire, victorious in one engagement with
inferior forces, is inadequate to contend
with the overwhelming numbers of vet
eran troops which under Prince Frederick
Charles, Won Der Tam, and the Grand Duke
of Mecklenburg advance to surround or force
it from the Loire in confused flight toward
Lyons. Instead Of relieving Paris, the great
sOrtie has weakened lis strength and dis
couraged it's defenders. Instead of breaking
through the lines of Prince Frederick Charles,
Won Der Tam, and that Of the Paris invest
ment thus relieving the Capital the Army of
the Loire is dispOsing itself, by retreat, to
offer weak defense of the temporary capital
at Tours.