The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-08

| Teurs Uacoveroa-Gravisy Of the Hreach
| Our dispatches this morning indicate that
| General De Paladines has succeeded in avoid
| ing the danger which finally overcame Mar
shals MacMahon and Bazaine. Whether or
not the battles near Orleans resulted In the
complete turning Of his left wing, 1t was clearly
the object of the Germans to force his army
back upon Tours, and either shut 1t up
in that city or drive 1t westward to Anglers or
Nantes. It seems, however, that Dc Pala-
dimes, instead Of retreating In the direction Of
Blois, threw back his left wing and centre,
leaving Tours on his left flank and virtually
making Lyons his base Of future operations.
We are impressed with this belief because
our latest dispatches from Tours report
fighting on Monday on the right wing Of the
French army near Montargis. II is made
clear by this statement that De Paladines did
not retreat In a westerly direction upon Blois,
but that his defeated left wing fell back, COW
ering the railroad to Bourges and Lyons.
Taking this view Of the situation as the correct
one, 1t becomes almost certain that Tours has
been uncovered by the French. This would
give us an explanation Of the panic in the
city. 1t is true that the place Is strongly forth
fed and can be defended by the corps organ
lied by Count Kerairy, which was recently
intrenched at Lie Mans, some miles distant to
the northwest. But we doubt if there is at
this moment any French force between
Orleans and Tours capable of successfully
resisting the Prussian army If 1t advances upon
the temporary capital of the French republic.
All persons familiar with the geography of
France will be struck by the fact that II the
right wing Of De Paladines' army is near Mon
targis its line of battle must stretch across
the Loire; in other words, the army must be
astride the river. Ordinarily this position is
most dangerous one, but it need not be ne
cessarily so in this instance. Even if the Ger
mans succeed in breaking the line that part
on the right bank of the river has safe line
Of retreat as long as Glen is held by the
French. At the Same time much depends
upon the ability of the Army of the East and
the Garibaldans to keep General Won Werder,
who has for some time past been moving
towards the Loire, from advancing beyond
Autun. Considerable as tho distance may
appear between this place and Montargis
it is not so great as to prevent It's being ira
versed by forced marches in four or five days.
But there would be no necessity whatever for
Won Werder to go to Montargs. He need
only, by rapid march of two days, strike
the Loire between Cosne and Nevers
to cut off De Paladines entirely from
Lyons. Aud If he succeeded in this the CAPT
tulation which the French Army of the Loire
has escaped by uncovering Tours would be-
come necessity in the vicinity Of Bourges.
We are consequently of the opinion that unless
De Paladnes can at an early day beat the
Prussans in his present position he will be
compelled to withdraw his right wing to the
left bank Of the Loire, and to take up new
position fronting in q northeast direction,
which will insure him safe line of retreat in
the event Of the armies of Prince Frederick
Charles and General Won Werder forming
junction.
1t is worthy Of notice that by the result Of
the recent battle near Orleans the relative
positions Of the contending armies have been
so changed that while De Paladines' forces
are no further from Paris than before their de-
feat, the Germans are greater distance off,
and now virtually have their left flank, in-
stead of their rear, to their investing line
before the capital. Hence if, by any stroke
of fortune, the French should gain victory,
the Germans would be in imminent danger of
being cut off from Paris. The chance of their
being beaten, however, is SO remote that it
is scarcely worth considering