The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-08-05
skirmishing on the Front French h
Forces Close to the Prussians-rhe e
French Bridging the saar.


LONDON, Wednesday; August 2.
A correspondent writing from saarbrTek en-,
on the 2sth ultimo, reports that large French
forces are said to.be assembling Immediately
behind the hills; but deserters from them say
they have nothing to eat, and their appearance
confirms their report; they are half starved
and woe-begone. Some French infantry en-
tered Prusslan territory at o'clock this morn
ing to dig up potatoes. They were driven off
without any potatoes, and with the loss of two
men. Potato-dlgglng has been attempted at
Intervals all along the frontier.
The common belief now, as to the plan of
campaign, is that three armies will form at
points from SaarbriickeQ southwark; the
southermost 10 advance on Strasbourg; the
Iext Oil Nancy. and the third to mask Metz CO.
operating with the second.
The French can hardly have been acquainted
with the weakness of the Prusslan force In
Saarbriicken during the last few days. 1t Is
not now so much at their mercy. The Prus-
sian patrols are very active, and penetrate to
the extreme right and left Of the valley. The
non-success OF the enemy's sharpshooting en-
courases them to 20 within unnecessarily
short distances of the French outposts.
a Pr,,ssian party made their way yesterday
along an open marching space below the
woods which stretch to the French camp,
when some Chasseurs burst out Of the wood
within fifty yards shooting. The Prussian
party made off as fast as they could, the
Frenchmen firing Mt them behind. This Is the
worst exhibition yet Of French unsteadlness
and want of selfrestraint. If the Chasseurs
could have remained quiet minute or two
longer, they might have destroyed or maze
prisoners of the whole party. Even when
thew had nothing to do but take good aim at
the flying horsemen from fifty yards onward,
thew did not succeed in hitting their bodies
Three shots were received in different parts OF
mems equipments. Bodies OF Infantry are
continually going out to reconnoitre.
The same correspondent, on tie Soth ult.,
saws that the Prassian patrols, during the
night had suffered more severely than usual.
One party was surprised by the French con-
cpaled in a wood, who suddenly fired upon
them. wounding a Uhlan and fuslller OF the
second battalion of the 10th. Two other men
were wounded in the different patrols.
The French are building bridge over the
saar. between Grossblittersdorf and Huckwe-
ler near saareguemlnes. The work done
Yesterday on top of the hill turns out to be
protected battery. Two cannon have appeared
there Fighting is expected in the course oil
q day or two.
French Guns ear the Prussian Froht-
Comparison OF French and Prussinn
shooting.
A correspondent writes from saarbriicken
ON the 2sth ult, that o company OF Infantry
and n squadron of Uhans entered that town
m that morning. About fifty Of the infantry
had gone ont to reconnoltre. The report OF
thirty or forty Prussian infantry from Saarlous
having discounted O squadron of cavalry and
three companies of infantry is confirmed.
The owner of o mill near Ludweiden, where
the skirmish took place, came into town on
the qsth with Intelligence that six French
n,eees OF artillery had appeared on q neigh
boring hill. This is the first artillery seen.
Prince Frederick Charles Is expected at
Kreuznach and the Crown Prince at Kaisers-
| lauterh.
From the top of the hill behind saarbricken.
where the Prussian picket Is, one can hear the
! French band playing. The French shoot at
any Prussian who walks along Forbach road.
AZ half n mile out of town, one has to ''look
out, If the shooting of the last few days Is
any indication OF the general character OF
French and Prllssian shooting, we may expect
to hear that the French, with plenty of time
to aim, make very fair shooting up to surpr,s,
ingly long distances: but that in rapid firing
they are very wild. The Prussiaus. on the
other hand, will not even attempt shooting at
long ranges, but at ranges suited to their guns
under 800 yarls-are steady and certain
marksmen. The artillery firing OF the French
on that day was very good.
The Purpose of the Prussians to Enter
France-American Families Cannc,
get Away.
A correspondent at Frankfort writes on thu
18th rltimo, repeating that the purpose OF III,
Prussians TO enter France is fully believed
Many American families in Frankfort art
vainly trying to get away. Hamburg is G!let
with Americans