The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-09-02
BY !
FRANCO-PRUssIAN WAR
News of August 3Oth

gust Both, says: The whole tenor
of our dispatches this morning
shows that a battle has probably
begun on which depends the fate
of France. MCMAHON with the bulk
of tho French army, mozed rapidly
to the north, and yesterday morn
ing occupied a line from Rethel to
Montmedy, with Belgium in her
rear. The position is IN a valley
Eve miles wide. The Prince Royal
of Prussia has stopped his march to
Paris and turned north to confront
him. STEINNEFZ. leaving sufficient
force to keep BAzAiNE closely
imprisoned, has also moved off 20
the northwest and thus the two
great armies stand face to face. Nc
MAHoN has taken up a position from
which he does not intend to retreat.
He is evidently stalking all on the
chances of a single battle. If be
WINS a decisive victory the advance
of the Germans on Paris is stopped.
The Crown Prince must fall back to
succor his colleagues and to protect
his own communication. MCMAHON
winning the contest, becomes even;
losing, his cause IS lost. The entire
Germsn army moves to Paris, and
we do not believe the Capital will
stand a siege.
A dispatch from Irlor, Luxcm-
burg, dated last evening, says a bat
tie ragged all day at the village Of
Dun, which is some twelve miles
south of Stenay. Another dispatch,
dated Paris, midnight, says 1t is
believed there that a tremendous
battle was being fought yesterday.
Nothing is said of the results,
though at Arlon there was q report
tina: MCMAHON had been defeated.
Tho march of the Crown Prince
on Paris Is advancing more slowly.
He is probably watching the con-
fict to the northward, and to a
certain extent awaiting Its result,
ready, if necessary, to AID the main
army. If MCMAHON fails To gain
the battle, then he is ready and
near at hand with his 220, 900 men
to march on Paris, which he can
reach IN about three days.
New York, August 80.
The city tonight is full of reports
OF heavy fighting yesterday and to-
day. Private dispatches to French
merchants say that Mcmahon at
tackled the army of Prince Freder-
lex Charles when the Crown Prince
was thirty miles away, ard 1t was
believed that the Prussians had
been defeated, and were %retreating
in great disorder across the Moselle.
Mcmahon is reported ready to meet
the Crown Prince, and is confident
of defeating him. There is some
uneasiness among the Germans. to-
night, over the fear that these
French reports may have somo
foundation, but there is no despond-
ency.
The following news from the
French war Office has just been re-
ceived:
"NearIy 900, 600 men are now in
the triangle formed by lines run
ming from Rheims TO Rethel and
Vouziers. BazaIne is not shut up
He has 100 900 men. and Mcmahon
is 10000 strong. They are steale
ing two marches on the Prince Roy
al. who is TWO days ahead of Prince
Frederick Charles, and>it Is hoped
that the latter can not ccme up in
time.
Fifty thousand men left Paris on
Monday for the vicinity of Rethel.
1t is said the Prussian forces there
are 500 1000 strong"
A dispatch dated Brussels, to-day,
says Mcmahon is about to make a
desperate effort to force his way
from Sedan along the line of the
Montmedy & ThionviIle Railway,
with the object of attacking from
the north whatever PrusEran forces
may be gathered in the triangle
formed by the fortresses OF Melz.
Verdun and Toul, regardless OF
their numbers. Mcmahon hopes TO
have co operation ut all those pla-
ces. The attempt is u bold and
desperate one, as there is no escape
from destruction IN case of defeat.
1t Is believed that the Emperor and
his son will await the result of this
muvemant at Sedan and be ready
to cross at Bouillon, in Belgium, in
the event of a defeat.
London, August Boa dispatch
from Copenhagen t1>day says the
French IToncIads ArmIde and Roch-
ambeau anchored this morning off
Frederick's Haven, Jutland. An
attack or the Baltic fortresses is ex-
pected Immediately.
a dispatch from Brussels. dated
8 o'clock-evenlng, says railway
connections between that city and
Paris are suspended. Fighting has
taken place between the advanced
forces of two armies on the line Of
railroad from Montmedy to Sedan.
An Official dispatch from Mundel-
sheim to-day, via Berlin, says the
combined infantry and artillery
brigades opened parallels yesterday
within SIX or eight hundred PAGES
of the fortress of Strasburg, without
loss or opposition. Forty-two new
guns were placed in position.
Brussels, August 30.-Belgian
troops are Fastening 20 the frontier
from all quarters. A battle be-
tween the French and Prusslans is
apparently imminent, and the SER
vices of Belgian troops will no
doubt be necessary to protect the
country from invasion.
Officers and others from the front
insist that a great battle was fought
Sunday, the 9th inst; that BazaIne
and McMahon had gained immense
advantages. They say the latter
expected to meet by this time the
army OF the Crown Prince, to which
Requirements were constantly ar
irving, There is no doubt q great