The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-08-17
AT LUXEMBOURG.
French Delay i'm tho "On to Berlin" March
Why 10 Ii 1.-THE Consequences Eager for a
Battle, but Defeated mt the Outset.
IuyrNROIrR0 Aupust z 1870.

French Delay in tho "On to Berliu0 March,
Why IL Ii 1.-THE Consequences Eager for a
Battle, but Defeated mt the Outset.
LUXEMBOURG, August g. 1870
After three weeks OF state OF war, by the lapse
OF which time II was fondly imagined by some that
have been signed at Berlin, the French army, which
was 10 have crossed the Rhine like streak Of light
ming OF the very commencement OF hos,ilities, and
marched victorious to the capital OF Its enemy finds
itself still on ITS own ground with but one foot ad
vanced for moment on to tue territory Of Germany
The French have prudenty waited until their legons
were well in hand ana until their communications
with their base well established, that the line
could swing like pendulum, from lett TO centre
and from centre TO right
The Germans have thus gained time to concen-
trate their forces ON the fortresses OF the Rhine.
with their van pushed towards the Saar to keep
the enemy at bay until their base OF operations was
established and supplied, and their lines of commit
uicaton definitely arranged with the purpose Of
Withdrawing when these objects were accomplished
and enticing the enemy to follow them to the
Ghine; - $3.50 '-@ y
The eagerness OF the French army for glory and Of
the French people for q bulletin precipitated the
Emperor into his Grst unsuccessful attempt on
Saarbruck. which 1t did not then suit the Prussians
should be taken. This attempt was soon followed
by another, the success OF which proves
clearly the past and indicates tho future
policy OF the Prussans. Mayence ana Coblentz
and other strong places on the Rhine are put In
thorough state Of defence and the Prussians Will
abandon the line OF the Saar and slowly fall back to
the Rhine, upon the banks Of which river will take
place the first great battle OF tne war.
sAARBRUCK.
Tie capture Of Saarbruck was, as battle, not
worthy Of the name 1t was mere affair OF
outposts, and about equal in importance to the
Kentucky the name OF which l forget), which
signallzed the first occupation Of Columbus by
our troops under General n. b. BufOrd. The fight
lasted less than two hours, and twelve men were
killed. The town was nearly destroyed by shot and
shell, and 1t sounds well in bulletin that Sarbruck
Is IN ashesn II the possession Of Saarbruck had con-
tnued to be object OF importance the Prusslans
Its defence would have been so obstinate to have
brought on general engagement. 1t was, without
doubt given up after FAINT resistance to cover ope-
rations In the rear not completed; and the French
will find when they push forward towards the Rhine
that the railway Communications by which the
PrusBans advanced and are now retiring have been
destroyed fast they have served their purposes
and That they have been rendered useless an
vading force.
GRANT AND NAPOLEON.
Like General Grant, the comnander-in-clie of tho
French armies in the field has taken his son with
him TO the front. where, have no doubt, the boy
behaved himself with the GOODNESS Which becomes
the race from which he springs. Unlike Grant,
Napoleon has telegraphed to his wife that their son
"a
that he had showed admirable sa,llrotd and had
preserved bullet which had fallen near him In the
rrea Grant n on MS pony WAS WIN ms MS ises
OF Vicksburg and 1t was with difficulty he could be
kept out Of the thick OF the ght. At the siege Itself
be slept on his bed OF reeds IN his fathers simple
publican tent and without uniform, but In his plain
schoOIboy clothes and unattended by special aide
decamp, or even orderly lie daily went to the front
and was exposed TO danger and to death, but he
never thought Of picking up, nor was he prompted
to pick up "bulet that had fallen at his feet nor
Grant at CovingOn or st. Louis, as did Napoleon to
Eugene de Montejo Bonaparte at Paris, that their
lie use his presence with him to inspire and stimu
late the ardor or the men under his command, who,
of the commandern- chief as he was, he was only
taking his ch6nce with themselves In the service OF
his country. Fred Grant may live to be President OF
the United States, or, at least, commander or her
army. Who will say that the Prince Imperial OF
France will ever become Napoleon Iva
PRUssIAN ORDERS-NAPOLEON'S MISTAKE.
The real truth OF the aflair OF Saarbruck Is that
the Prussians had orders week ago TO evacuate
the place and Withdraw towards Saurlouis and on
serious attack was made upon it. That attack was
fastened by the absolute necessity which existed
for Napoleon to do something to sgnalize his
having Joined the army, and was meant only for
theatrical and melodrlmatc effect. He has over
ton scene at the beginning instead Of the end OF
the play VIII only whet the appetite of lie FESTIVE
display, which, with united Germany in his front,
he may find 1t not so easy to crafty. II the plans
Of the Russians are as have stated above much
time Will elapse before he can ever have q chance
OF sending another melodramaCic bulletin to the
Empress.
If, on the contrary the German army continues to
make stand, as some think ie will. on the Saar,
the bulletins-the private ones, at least-nay have
to be OF entirely another complexion. Though the
unre5istlng town, unOccupled by any but its usual
peaceful inhabitants, mas been shelled and laid in
ashes the Saar has not been crossed and 1t may be
that the Emperor In his anxiety that the Prince I'M
perlal should receive his baptSm OF fret In as safe
place and speedily as possible, may have inter.
fered with the wiser plans and run counter TO the
cooler counse5 Of his Marshals or France.