The Portland daily press., 1870-07-28
EH OR E I G N.
THE WAR.
The Plans and Position OF
the French.
The Neutrality OF Luxembourg
Violated
Another Battle Reparted.
France Desires Peace, bat Tsco
Late.
France.


| ing at them. Although the French carry their
infantry and artillery good deal over the rail-
ways they seem inclined to allow the cavalary
to march along the reads. ! saw more than
single party of horsemen and in one case o
whole regiment walking along the highway,
which just before were arrived at the Vosses
run parallel with the rails. The regiment in
the highest spirits.
About o'clock we reached the. .Vosges. This
range of hills, which takes its rise near Bel
font runs tolerably parallel with the Rhine
until it slopes down to the low lands about
COblenz and Mayence, where the Strasbourc,
Bitche and Metz lines pierce the range. As a
military obstacle the Vosges have always been
considered the second line of defence pos
sessed by France on the east. Still the thin
ness of the range, the breadth of which near
Bitche is under twenty-five miles, and the
large numbers of valleys which cross it in
traverse direction, prevent it from forming a
very considerable military obstacle. There is a
society called the Francs Tireurs Of the Vosges
which on small scale bears some resemblance
to our volunteers
As a self-organzed force it seems contrary to
the military genius of France. They have al
the French journals, who are, however, row
beginning to express their astonishmert at
finding that the bands of the Vosges are seri-
ously demanding permission to elect a general,
and to cooperate with the regular forces.
After winding for some time through de-
fle,and before we had altogether discarded the
western slopes of the VOsges, we arrived at
Bitche, small fortified place with a strong
citadel, the strength of which seemed to be in
the high and scarped sides of the hill upon
From Bitche to Sarrquemines we passed
camp after camp. True, many of these were
small, bu: everything connected with them un-
mistakably revealed that these were the outly-
Sarrequemines is about twenty miles, and
throughout this distance and for twenty miles
west OF Sarrguemines, forty miles in all, the
line constantly approaches within few miles
of the frontier.
Between Bitche and Sarrguemines their
numbers evidently inspired the French with
confidence, but beyond the latter post it was
clear that the line, which, as it leads from Metz
to Bitche, is just now Of extraordinary import
ance, was carefully picketed. Ofcourse only
saw portion Of the precautions taken, but I
could observe that at the important points,
such as where roads crossed the line, there
were camps of cavalary and artillery combined,
evidently placed to support the videttes and
pickets, which are watching the frontier, to
save the line from being interrupted When
we got about 30 miles west, little south of
Sarruqemines, the aspect of affairs became
tanner, and we did not see camp oftener than
once in ten miles, and only passed at the sta
tions occasional trains laden with military ma
terial and personnel, but the line from Strss-
bourg to some distance sbeyond Sarrquemines
has left stamped upon my brain impressions
not likely ever to be eff aced by stronger ones of
the same kind. fear cannot reduce these
impressions to writing, but some faint idea may
oe conveyed by imagining crammed railway
line, in which all the trains were filed with
soldiers, cheering and being cheered; stations
lined with sympathizing spectators, trucks
laden with guns in such numbers that one
ceased TO take any interest in them; the roads,
when they could be seen from the trains, en-
| numbered with cavalry; and lastly, for the
twenty miles between Bitche and Sarrque-
| mines, tents SO thick that could hardly make
! out whether 1 was passing through one or sew
/ eral camps. Abundance Of goods, forage aud
wood was stored along the lines This last
puzzled me, until found that this portion Of
the French railways are supplied with coal
| from the Pfussian mines, which it is feared
they will food before abandoning.
But one feature struck me as conspicuous by
l its absence-there was but little show of either
baggage or baggage animals. I saw none OF
the droves of cattle which might have been ex-
pected to be seen with large army"
Ny own belief is that the grand movement
| across the frontier will commence on Wednes-
/ day or Thursday. The centre and nearly the
whole OF the right, except the army of Africa
which is rapidly coming up and of which a
coup etat is already at hand-are now on the
line between Bitche and Sarrguemines: the
left wing of which is immensely strong at
Metz and Thionville, will make for Saarlouls
and Birckenfel, the right and centre heading
for Kaiserslastin, and thus the movement will
II
though the corps will probably be ordered te
move in a parallel direction ong the east o.
that range to watch the detiles and to give
warning of any land attack by the Prussians
It is not unlikely the French army will then
descend the valley. The King Of Prussia il
| willing to fight at all on the left bank will &C
cept battle somewhere about Kerntzenach
The position is strong in itself and affords {
secure retreat upon Mayence, the bulwark o
l Germany and standing. menace of France
1 With I'd tn ho nha Of cl1pc of
| combatants in the first battle, believe the
l odds are immensely in favor of France. Fo
| the last twelve days she has been massing The
| whole of her army on the frontier, and within
mines. have read of certain number o
battalions being sent forward and of Others re
/ naming behind, but as tar as can judge th,
French are evacuating every garrison en- maase
put 800, 900 down as the lowest number. Th,
| Emperor means to have them under his hant
| and in complete communication at the en-
trance of the campaign, and believe the con
ceutration now to be within 48 hours of com
pletion. The number Of guns will be large
but they will not be adequately housed. Th'
cavalry also will not bear high proportion
probably under one-tenth of the infantry. Tht
whole of these troops are in a magniicen
state of discipline. TIE officers are much NOR
numerous than those of the Prussians. Th
at Solferino, and the Austrian superior to tn
| Prussian at Konigratz. There is no doubt O
| the Chassepot being better weapon than tn
Prussan arm. I cannot hardly believe in tn
Prussians having yet been able to effect sue
| concentration of strength as the French bav
done. believe that on the opening of th
campaign, either with or without battle, tn
). Prussians retire behind the Rhine. The weath
er is most inviting for military operations
Even lady could not consider it hardshi
! to be forced TO sleep under tent. The coun
try seems made for war, from the absence
. | fences to embarrass movements. Water, fuf
, | and stands of stacked corn for forage are to b
, met with everywhere. There are many vii
! lagos 10 which the troops might If necessar
| sleep at night. At present the authorize
avoid blleting men upon the Inhabitants, an
| form their corps outside of the towns.
! Now tor a few words as to the attitude of th
q | people. haze by this time gone through
: | large section of France. In the war section
find the opinions too clearly and evidentl
marked to make me personally doubtful Of IL
a state of public opinion First, by the Office
the war is received as at once their due, and
q the greatest boon the Emperor could besto
!. | upon them; second, the soldiers accept it wit
&c | enthusiasm and in many cases with pleasur
. | third, the reserves, who have zen olt on 6
. unlimited leave, take it as a terrible du
which it is their hard luck to have to dischare
= out rapidly their opinions merge in those
n their comrades; fourth, the upper classes, col
- mercial, educated, Sc, all talk of La Franc
how the Prussians must be beaten, and how
France should be ana is united, and how it
not paIrlotie 10 aOuSe the Government. III
being settled they Immediately pull the Go
70 ernment to pieces. They say Mexico was II
-, -, cause of Sadowa. We should have fought
hh' 1866. In both Bismarck outwitted the Ga
o. o. ernmeut. The pretext for war is a bad on
~ ~ we should not have fought till 1871; still W
a.s as was inevitable and La France must be and
!" united. Fifth, the peasantry and low
Is cIasses-their attitude is plainsnd unequi,
~ cal; they elect the war; their homes may
to to burned, their crops and cattle taken by
~ Prussians. Although it must be said thats3 y
firmly believe this will happen to their u
man neighbors over the border, still tney
claim war fete. The soldiers, most OF t6'
en- talk German as well as French, to De 81
mt that is not saying much. Many do not
the French at all: still, as Theirs says,
Iu- wise policy of Colbert has made OF them
ew best Frenchmen in France and the larger
numbsr of men who speak their own ton
ian that fall in the first battle the better they
The be pleased.
are ffussi"'
ced FRANCE VIOLATES THE NEUTRALITY OF
, of TREvEs, July 27.-The French yesterday
I'D, lated the neutrality Of Luxemburg. A p
the numbering 100 men from Silerick crosse
l oh xho UMnruailloisa y