New-York tribune., 1870-08-22
THE POSITION OF BAZAINE.

THE POSITION OF BAZAINE.
KING WILLIAMS DISPATCH CONFIRMED THE
ROAD BETWEEN vERDUN AND METZ ocCU-
PIED BY THE PRUsSIANs.
PARIS, Aug 81, 1870.
A correspondent of the Gaalois declares, from
actual observation that the road from Metz to Yer
dun is now occupied by the Prussians, and he is pos
tive that at Verdun no news had been heard of Ba-
zaine since the 18th. The headquarters of Prince
Frederick Charles were near ST. Michel eight leagues
from Verdun.
Telegrans of Saturday morning have only just
been received in Paris from the of war around
Metz The conduct of Marshal Bazaine causes the
gravest apprehensions. 1t was previously under
stood that be situated to be able to march
without opposition on Metz or Nerdun, as he pre-
ferred and now he seems to be inactive 1t requires
70 hours for a message to pass between him and
MaeMahon, and their communications are frequently
interrupted altogether. The French troops IN the
hattie of the 18th again found themselves without
ammunition. Paris now knows that the Prusslan
Crown Prince is at Vitry-le-Franeaise and battle
decisive of the war is hourly expected between him
and MacMahOn.
THE PRUSSIAN VICTORY OF THURSDAY
A ATRIBUYE CORRESPONDENT AN EYEWITNESS OF
THURSDAYS BATTLE-THE POSITIONS OF THE
ARMIES - ARTILLERY FORCES TIE FIRST
FRENCH POsITION-HEAvY FIGHTING FOR
SEVERAL HOURS TO FORCE THE SECOND PO-
sITION.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuNEI
LONDON, Aug 21 1870.
The special correspondent of THE TRIBUNE, at the
Prussian Headquarters sends the following account
of Thursdays battle written the same night on the
field. forwarded by messenger to saarbruek' and
reaching London thence by telegraph on Sunday
evening:
"The battle fought to-day, Thursday the 18th,
1--WE call il the battle of Gravelotte began at 10 in
tbe morning and lasted till after this evening Until
noon it was an artillery duel The French lines
being stretched along the hills covering the two
roads leading from Metz to Verdun, having on their
right flank farmhouse known as La Yillette, with
awaited garden held in great force a sunken road
that led straight from Grayeotte to the center of
their position.
"On the French left, the road wound over the
srest of a hill on which II earthworks had been
thrown up Eight mitrailleuses, beside artillery
were posted to command every approach to this
.trong position, and their guns swept the valley
reaching from Gravelotte eastward, by which the
Pussians had to advance. Behind this line OF
strong defense lay the forts St. Quentin making the
position apparently one of impregnable strength
and completely protecting the French rear, .z.--
The position at first held by the Prussians was to
the east OF the French facing toward Metz, occupy
ing the southern1nost road to Verdun, and reaching
ever the chain of hills lying between Gravelotte ana
Rezonyle. The result of the artillery contest was
70 compel the French to abandon their most ad-
vanced positions. and the line by which they hoped
TO cover both roadswas pierced and driven back
AT noon the Prussians able to push forward
theit artillery the French guns proving unable to
resist the weight Of the PIussan fire. The PrusSian
batteries shortly after noon were in position on
either side of GravelOte that neither OF the roads,
which at that point branch off to Verdun north and
Sonth-westeTly, any longer open to the french
army. I reached the field just as this forward
movement Of the Prussans had been accomplished.
Ihe ground was favorable for a good view OF both
positions and ii was apparent at glance that the
french had already Telinquished a line OF defense
important to them tsctically well as straeg1cally
by o'clock the French batteries covering the
Nerduh road from the north and east were silenced,
ana the fr'ssians had advanced 80 far from the
South OF that road as to occupy the farmhouse at
mAimaison' little northwest from Gravelotte.
twenty minutes later the French fire 30
S'AeKeneh aud wavered that the Prussian
"atteries were once more pushed forward, and
bOok up new position in front of Gravelotte.
Al S@0 the Prussan cavalry went into action. They
advanced mder hot fire from the French guns
ihe attack was made in considerable force by the
Chlans' both euirassers and hussars but they were
al INST without infantry support and could make no
serious impression a position still naturally
s'rong and still held in force by all arms Of the
French.
hal IL L.