New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-09-03
WAR TOPICS.

The official report OF Tile campaign OF
Prince Frederick Charles and Gen. Won Stein
metz from Saarbruck to Metz makes plain much
that was previously more or less confused.
II seems that in the attack at Forbach the
French Second Corps of Frossard was caught
in railway trains going to the aid of MacMa-
hon. and their camp pontoon trains, and even
Frossards private supplies OF champagne and
kitchen utensils, were captured. The sur
prise on the part of the French line was
not less complete than that at Weis-
senburg, and shows the thoroughness
with which the adventurous Uhlans masked
the infantry of the German army. In the sew
eral other operations of the German forces the
great effectiveness of their cavalry has been
illustrated in the same way. The report al
luded to says the pursuit of Bazaine, rapid as
we have imagined it, was delayed by the ne
cessity of building the railway. Nevertheless
Bazaine was overtaken before he could get
out of Metz, and the two Prussan armies
marched entirely around him. The engage
ment east of the river at Metz on Sunday,
Aug IA. that at Mars La Tour on
the 10th. and the final triumph on the 18th,
are briefly but clearly described. We begin in
this new light to comprehend the magnitude
of these engagements and the completeness OF
the victory over BazaiDe. Later and not less
extensive operations in another part OF the
country absorb public attention at this moment
Nevertheless, these reports OF past victories,
coming as they do from those who won them
and are entitled to tell them, will be read
with interest.
The suggestion of the French officials and
IL. IL in, thn 6ni
departments of France should impede the
progress of the Prussians by harassing them
after the manner of Southern bushwhackers"
or Mexican guerrillas, has been responded to
in a proclamation by the Germans, warning
all those who engage in such uncivilized war
fare that, if captured, they will be tried by
drum-head court martial, and, if found guilty,
sentenced to ten years service in German
prisons. Of course there will be raise( great
outcry against this proclamation by those who
have already forgotten our own practices SIX
or eight years ago. Sherman and Sheridan
shot such fellows as King William threatens
with Imprisonment; and we never heard that
any authority condemned the practice as I'M
Unsuitable or inhuman. The treatment ex-
tended by the Germans to the French
PEASANTS HIS Dttu HOJ ulClCiy hihu, Duo hi"N'
and those who requite such kindness with
murder well deserve the threatened punish
ment. But there is little to fear from the
peasants 1t is an established rule in military
matters that guerrillas never harass an adj
vancing column. While the Prussians are
advancing they will have nothing to fear from
French guerrillas.
The whistling by which the French Min
listers seek to sustain the courage of the Par
isians is decidedly original. They have caused
it to be announced that King William is in
sane, and has been sent back to Berlin. This
is of the negative sort of encouragement, how
ever, and not fully satisfactory to the ardent
Frenchmen, so the tune is changed to more
positive strains, such as this: experts regard
" the new rifed naval artillery (three thousand
"of which are being mounted at Paris) as
"murderous weapons"
Tile London Times has signally failed in its
favOrite occupation of predicting the results of
the French and Prussian campaigns, and in ex-
planning "the situation" yesterday, it edited
its readers with the sagacious opinion that "the
"Prussans, finding their enemy still strong in
numbers, have been obliged to remain near
fortified towns in order to watch them.n
Perhaps the purpose is to catch them also. 1t
looks very like it as far as Bazaine at Metz
and Ulrich at Strasbourg, not to mention Mac
Mahon at Sedan, are Concerned.