The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-08-04

The news OF q fight between the French and
Prussians at Saarbruck, and the occupation
OF that position by the French, bring us nearer
to grand approaching conflict between the
contending hosts. The news which we receive
is neither very reliable nor very Ineligible
But then it must be remembered that II comes
from two hostile sources. Berlin has her
account and Paris has hers, and they are
invariably contradictory. Hence, in this
affair at Saarbruck on Tuesday the Paris
despatch says that the French took the Prus-
sian position in battle of two hours duration.
in which the Emperor and his son were pre-
sent The Prussian story is briefly that the
French attacked the Notifications at Saar-
bruck and were repulsed. OF course there
is no possibility Of reconciling these two
accounts. A despatch from London yesterday,
however, states The case more definitely. 1t
says:
The fight began AT eleven O'Clock yesterday fore
noon. The French passed the frontier in force. The
Russians were driven IRON Their strong position
by the sharp artillery fire or the French. The latter
remained masters OF the position, which they won
without serious loss.
The Emperor and the Prince Imperial witnessed
the conflict and retarned to Metz TO dinner.
Much, therefore, is left to conjeclures, SO
vague concerning the actual movements in de-
tail of either army as to render any specula-
ton merely useless. Correspondents, be it
remembered, are exiled from the lines of both
armies, so that we are deprived Of the valua-
bic services of the press, the only medium
through which we might hope for truthful
statement OF events
Marshal Bazaine's troops were engaged in
sharp skirmsh with PrussaDs Yesterday Paris
accounts say that his men were successful. 1t
is alleged that there has been naval engage
ment in the Baltic, and that the French vessels
of war captured two Prussian gunboats. Prus-
STA has ordered levy en- masSe of the nation
for purposes of coast defence. Affairs at the
front are evidently becoming warm.
The repeated skirmshes and assaults on
and over the frontiers which have been going
on for some days are but the oc0,ats c07trriers
OF grand battle. OF this there can be no
doubt. Massive hosts do not fling themselves
against each other at signal like mailed war
riors i'll the Homeric times The Ajax and
Hector of our day have more than their arinor
to carry and heavier weapons than spear or
sword to WELD. Thought, caution and the
measurement of forces. which must be tested
by feeling the position, the strength and the
disposition of the enemy, precede fierce
battle. All these have marked the circum-
stances on the French and Prussian frontier
for the past week Meantime the two military
hiatta ixS H..
the attack on Saarbruck and King William
announces from Mayence that he has arrived
to assume the command of the Prussian army
ito be no campaign by deputy. The
e4V~f i%d heads of both nations are in the field,
and even Count Bismarck is in the saddle at
the head of his cuirassiers. The solemnity
with which Napoleon, in his address to the
army, and King William in his address to the
German nation, intimated that the war would
be hard and long one, prepares ms for the
Witnessed; for it will be "a struggle for national
existence between the two greatest and best
prepared countries in the world. We will
probably not have to wait many days FOR the
first shock
The minor news does not change the condi-
ton of things much in Europe. RumOrs of
what the neutral Powers may do are as nume-
rous and az contradictory as ever. We do not
see that the position Of Russia. Denmark, Aus
tria, Italy, or even Great Britain is materially
changed. The first grand battle viii perhaps
lead to the opening move on the chessboard
which the neutral nations are watching with
the South Germans having come too late to
withdraw them from Prussia, is an effort now
going to be made to conciate the German peo-
ple2 The journal Ogicjd seems casting hints in
tina: direction. In its issue Of yesterday it says
that the present war is not waged against Ger
many nor against King William, but against
Bismarck 1t further regrets that the ''Prus-
sian King submits to the domination of this
violent and INSCRIPTIONS Minister"
It is to be hoped that effort to keep open the
ports of Hamburg and Bremen during the war
will be successful. Our government should
urge such a measure earnestly. This, with the
abandonment of priyateering already adopted,
and the rule that friendly goods not contra
baud Of war are to be respected in hostile ves-
sells, would greatly relieve our commerce in
the North German lines now unfortunately
blockaded.
Political Pap for Political Papers.
The Vicksburg Times in the course of an