Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1870-08-05

from being interrupted. When we
got about thirty miles west and little
south of Sarreguemines, the aspect of
affairs became tanner, and we did not
see camp oftener than one in ten
miles, and only passed at the stations
occasionally trains laden with military
material and personnel; but the line
from Strasbourg to some distance be-
yond Sarrcguemines has left stamped
upon my brain impressions not likely
to be eilaced by stronger ones of the
same kind.
fear cannot reduce these impress
sions TO writing. but some faint idea
may DO conveyed 10y imagining cram
med railway line in which all the
trains were filed with soldiers cheering
and being cheered stations lined with
sympathising spectators trucks laden
with guns in such numbers that one
ceased to take interest in them the
roads, when they could be seen from
the trains, incumbered with cavalry /,
and lastly, for the 20miles between the
Bitche and Sarregumines, tents, 50
thick that / could hardly make out
whether was passing through one or
several camps.
My own belief is that grand move
mcnt across the frontier will begin on
Wednesday or Thursday. The center
and nearly the whole of the right
wing, except the Army of Africa,
which is rapidly coming up, and of
which the Corps d. Gtat is already at
hand, are now in line between Bitche
and Sarrcguemines. The left wing,
which is immensely strong at Metz
and Thioneille, will make tpr Kaiser
10, a. NJ
be along the western slopes of the
Vosgcs, although a corps will probably
be ordered to move in parallel direc-
ton along the east of that range, to
TO watch The detiles, and to give warn
ing of flank attack by the Prussians.
IL is not unlikely that the French ar
my will then descend the Valley of the
Maize, and that the King of Prussia, if
he is willing to fight at all on the left
bank, will accept battle somewhere
about Kreutznach, position strong in
itself, and aflording- secure retreat
upon Mayence, bulwark of Germany,
and the standing menace of France.
With regard to the chances of sue
cess of the two combatants in the first
battle, l believe the odds to be i'm
mcnsely in favor of France. For the
last twelve days she has been massing
the whole Of her army on the frontier,
and within one or two days marches
of Bitche and Sarregumiues. J have
read of Il certain number of battallions
being sent forward, and Of others rc-
maining behird; but as far rs l can
Judge, the French are reevacuating every
garrison en- masse. | put 800, 600 down
as the lowest number the Emperor
means to have under his hand, and in
complete communication ut the en-
trance of the campaign; and | believe
the concentration now to he within
forty-eight hours Of completion. The
number of guns will be large, but they
will nOt he adequately housed. The
cavalry also will not bear high pro-
pOrtion-probably under one-tenth OF
The infantry. The whole of these troops
are ina magnificent state of discipline,
and the officers are much more numcr-
ous than those of the prussians. The
French Artillery was superior TO- the
Austrian at SOlierinO, aud the Austri-
an was superior to the Urussian at
Konigratz. There is no doubt of the
Chasscpot being a better weapon than
| the Prussian arm. can hardly be-
| lievc in the Prussians having yet been
able To effect such concentration OF
| strength rs the French have certainly
| done, and believe that, on the opening
| of the campaign, either with or with
out battle, the Prussians must retire
| behind the Rhine.