Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-08-08
LATEST TELEGRAMS.
Specials TO the Ledger.
.MrRroAS PRESS ASSOCIATION, VIA 8. p. 4 A.
TELEGRAPH COMPANY.
The European War.
First Great Battle!
TOTAL ROUTE AND DEFEAT or THE
FRENCH ARMY.
Thirty Cannon, Six Mitrailleurs
and 5000 Prisoners
Captured.
ONE HUNDRED FRENCH OFF,
GERS AND TWO EAGLES
INCLUDED.
THE FRENCH RETREATING
TO THE INTERIOR.
The Prussians Over the From
tier and Advancing. !
THE FRENCH RETREATING
TO THE INTERIOR.
The Prussians Over the From
tier and Advancing.

BERLIN, August Later dispatches
have been received in this city from the
Crown Prince Frederic William of Prus
STA, giving an official account of the re-
suit of the battle fought near Bitsch yes.
terday. The battle was fought between
the French right, under Mcmahon, and
left under the Crown Prince, command
ing in person, near Woerthe, a Saar vii
lage of France, department Basuhen,
twelve miles southeast of Weissenberg,
and ended in the total defeat Of Marshal
Mcmahon, witk the greater part of his
army. The French were repulsed and
driven back on the fortress of Bitsch, in
the department of the Moselle.
A telegram has been received from the
Prussian commander at Myence, dated
Saturday evening I o'clock, stating that
the French army has retreated along the
whole line, and is now retiring into the
interior. Before evacuating the town Of
Saarbruck they applied the torch and
fired the town.
LONDON, August THE latest official
report from the French commander re-
ceived in Paris, was dated Metz, Satur-
day, o'clock, which says Mcmahon has
not had time to send a report to head
quarters, but intimates he is still in a
good position, where he has been rein
forced with another army corps.
The army massed near Metz is still
making stratagetical movements and will
concentrate at another point within two
days.
Marshal McMahon further says: I'VE
anticipate great stratagetic advantage
to be derived from the advance of the
enemy and his movements within our
territory"
BERLIN, August THE victorious
Prussians captured from the French at
the battle Of Woerthe thirty cannon,
four mitralleurs and four thousand pris-
oners. The battle commenced at nine
clock in the morning, and the engage
ment was fiercely contested until four in
the evening, when it terminated in the
total route and defeat of the French
army.
The advance of the French center,
comprising the second corps, under Gen.
Frossard, was defeated near Saarbruck.
Frossards corps began to retreat toward
Metz.
On Friday night the heads of the vic
torious columns were following in hot
pursuit of the retreating French, and
overlook them on Saturday morning.
The French were formed in line of bat
tie in strong position on the hills near
Speicheren, town to the west of Saar.
bruck, in the direction of Metz.
Gen. Van Hammer opened the attack
and advanced tothe assault of the French
position. The guns Of the French, posted
on the nights, opened a terrific cannon
ade, which was replied to by the Prussian
artillery. At the sound Of the cannon
the divisions Of General Barrekow and
Lieut.. General Steepnagel moved for
ward to support the attack of Gen. Van
Hammer.
Lieut. Gen. Won Goeben then assumed
command Of the entire Prussian army,
and continued the assault. A tremen-
dous fire was then opened along the
whole line, which continued steadily to
the advance up the nights At the
summit fierce contest took place, but
the Germans carried the position by
storm, notwithstanding a most deter
mined resistance Of the French.
The Prussians followed up their vic
tory and the French became disorgan-
lied, routed totally, and we're driven to
flight, being unable TO rally.
MArEScE, August Yesterday bril-
liant victory was won at Hagennan by
the Sd German army, under command
Of the Crown Prince Frederic William,
over the united French corps d armie Of
Marshals Mcmahon, Canrobert and De
valiant Up till now, eight an, 6OOO
prisoners have been brought in, over one
hundred Of whom are officers; besides
these six mitralleurs, 300 cannon and
two eagles were taken.
The above was addressed by Count
Won Bismarck to the North German
Embassy yesterday.