The New York herald., 1870-12-10
The Military Situation in France.

| It were easy to reconcile the report Of
| King William of the enormous losses sus-
tanned by the French near Orleans with the
statement from Tours that the Army of the
Loire has again started on an advance move
ment, it we accept the reports emanating from
French sources respecting the strength of that
army. Certainly any force comprising three
hundred thousand men may lose forty thou sand
and yet continue on the offensive If It's morale
remains unimpaired. Our war dispatches
this morning are somewhat puzzling,
although they by no means contra
dict each other. King William confirms
the report published yesterday that seventy
seven pieces of artillery, ten thousand
prisoners and four gunboats were taken by
the Prussians near Orleans. It is evident
that this success, great as it is, was not
achieved without heavy loss to the victors.
The Duke of Mecklenburg telegraphs that the
Mecklenburgers alone lost thirty-twe hundred
of their number, and as they could not have
comprised more than q comparatively small
part of the German army we may safely con-
clude that the victory was dearly bought.
AS regards the dispatches from Tours, we
hesitate to place credence in them. Why Mon
targis, which is situated northeast of Orleans,
should be evacuated by the Germans, when 1t
forms SO important part of their communi-
eating line with Paris, we are at a loss to con-
lecture. Assuredly, while they remain in Or
leans they will hardly uncover the road that
| leads directly to Fontainebleau. 1t must not
be imagined that the evacuation OF Montargis
would enable the French to get between Prince
Frederick Charles and the investing army be-
fore Paris; for it would not. 1t would,
however, leave the road open to Fon-
tainebleau and Champigny; hence we are
disinclined to credit the report in the
absence of any intimaton that the Germans
are executing strategic movements and design
edly uncovered the place. In like manner the
statement that De Paladines' army is again
advancing cannot be implicitly relied upon.
We think 1t true, however, as the dispatches
state, that the army has been divided into
three corps. Such DIVISION If 1t be really
great in numbers, will result advantageously,
as it will enable the French to move upon
Paris in three parallel columns and conse-
quently increase their chances of success.
From Paris we have intelligence of the
reception by Trochu of Won Moltke's informa-
ton Of the defeat of De Paladines, coupled
with the offer Of safe conduct to q
committee of French officers to verify the
report Trochu declined the offer, asserting
defantly that if even the statement were true
the reports from Paris concerning the military
situation are all favorable for the French
Nor is it quite possible for us to deny
their truth. Whatever exaggepations may
be contained in all the French dispatches 1t is
worthy of note that neither from Orleans nor
from Versailles have we received any news
which would indicate that the Army of the
Loire has been too badly beaten for imme
date offensive operations or that Ducrot's
forces do not hold the line surrounding the
peninsula formed by the MarDe, the possession
of which was the cause of the battle Of the 3D.
Even the otherwise full account OF this battle,
which we publish this morning, fails to satisfy
us on this point Champigny, we are told, /:
held partly by the French and partly by th'
Germans. This is a very vague statement. 1
seems to leave the French still on the left banl
of the Marne, but there is nothing certain upor
which to base conclusion. In fact, it is certain
that until we get clearer accounts Of the mill
tary situation than we have yet received j
will be impossible TO arrive at any definite
conclusion.
They HAVE BABY FARMERS in Concord