New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-10-28

GARRISON sURRENDER-16O,0OO PRISONERS.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THB TRIBUNRl
LONDON. Thursday, Oct. ~. 1870.
The special correspondent of THE TRIBUNE
at Berlin telegraphs this day: "The King sent
the following dispatch to the Queen this morn
ing (27th): 'Bazaine's army and the fortress OF
Metz have capitulated. There are one hundred
and fifty thousand prisoners, of whom twenty
thousand are sick and wounded. This is
most important event God be praised!
"WuLIAM'n
PRELIMINARY PLANs-A PROJECTED soRTIE-
MEETING OF THE GENERALs-BAzAINEs LAST
| HOPE.
| TRIBUNE correspondent before Metz on
the Goth telegraphs: Five days ago Gen. COT
fnieres, commandant of the city and fortress
of Metz, informed Marshal Bazaine, command
ing the army encamped outside. that he could
supply no mole provisions and the MarshaPs
army must shift for itself. ThereupOn Bazaine
ordered his outpOsts to cease firing on the
Prussian pickets, and tactly allowed bis men
to desert in groups of dozen or two at a
| time.
| On the afternoon of the Gath trustworthy in
| formation came from Metz, by a civilian spy,
that an outbreak en- mdsse would be made dur
| ing the night toward Gravelotte, as Bazaines
offers to capitulate with the army alone had
been repeatedly and peremptorily refused.
The outbreak was to be made without hope of
saving any organized force; but simply to en-
able the superhuous mouths to get beyond the
| German lines and force them to pursue them.
| By this means it was intended to hold the
fortress little longer with a small garrison.
| But at seven in the evening Bazaine had
| succeeded in convincing Gen. COfinieres that
the blOodshed necessarily attending such an
attempt was too dear price to pay for few
weeks prolOngatiOn of the resistance. mes
senger was then sent to Prince Frederick Charles
intimating the intention of the fortress to capt.
| ulate This was the first proposition, ever
made for including the fortress and outside
| army Accordingly at midnight the Prussian
| troops which had been massed silently toward
Gravelotte received orders to retire to their
| camps.
Yesterday afternoon Changarnier, with
plenipotentiary, spent an hour with the Prince
and departed much disturbed, excusing some
absent mindedness of his own by saying: "No
wonder the Prince was so severe"
BY arrangement at this meeting. Gen.
Stihele, Col. Won Herzanig, Chief of Staff, and
the Quartermaster- General Of the Princes
army rode to Fescay Chateau, three miles
sonth of Metz, just within the Prussian lines,
whittier the two French commanders, with
Humbert second in command of the Fortress, had
been brought by Prussian iieldpost- chaise. The
meeting lasted from six to seven in the even
ing, and resulted only in parting with the
agreement that disputed points were to
he rediscussed this noon. Matters were
so far advanced that the Second Corps
received marching orders for Paris yesterday
| noon, and started early in the evening. Other
troops were concentrated at the nearest attain
able points to Metz last night to prevent n de-
sertion in mass-Bazaines last means of pro-
longing negotiations.
All the way from Mars Ia Tour to COurcelles
and from Jouy to Mazieres all the village
quarters were lit up and all the bivouac fires
were burning. At this morning, moving
masses covered the roads and fields. No dis
turbance occurred. None of the troops sus-
pected the truth.
The isolation of Metz-it is hardly proper
10 call IL an nvestmentwas completed on Aug Is; the
operations which eliminated yesterday In It's surrender
have therefore, extended through two months and nine
days The which has capituated originally FORMED
the left wing center of the grand army Of invasion
with which Napoleon prepared to descend upon the Rhen
ish provinces Germany, and consisted Of the Second
Third Fourth, and Eighth Corps, commanded respect
lively by Frossard, Bazane, Ladmrault, and Bourbaki
Forced by defeat Of MacMahOn il the Vosges Noun
tans TO retire from Saarbruck these Corps we're concen
trated few miles east Of Metz. On the advance of the
Prussian center and right wing the French withdrew
into the defenses Of Metz Aug. IL; and the next
day. finding the Prussians advancing at
Pont .Mousson, resolved to leave Metz to
the protection Of its regular garrison. Ihe
retirement began Sunday morning Aug lp, ana was
discovered by the Prussians when only onehaf OF the
French army had crossed the Mosee. The Prussans at
once attacked and after fight, in which their
right sustained heavy losses, compelled Bazainc, VINO
had now assumed chief command to delay the eVaeua-
tion In the meantime the Prussian center was boldly
crossing the Mosee at POnt6Moussan, with the pur-
nose of thrusn1 itself between Metz and Verdun, and
cutting of Bazane from his lines Of retreat While the
right thus held Bazaine, the center got behind him.
After two very desperate battles and several minor en-
counters on Aug 6 and IS, the latter nj 6raVeottea
few miles east Of Metz, Bazane was thrown back upon
Metz and sullenly retired within Its walls The Prus-
sian center and right, content with what they had
achieved withdrew to strong positions on the hes o
and certifying them prepared to cut the fortress
OF from supplies and the garrison from escape.
MacMahons army having escaped inpitiable condition
70 Cbalons now prepared by desperate enterprise W
aid RaZaine Inc result VI th"' w"
hnou,n Caught in flank while the march toward
Metz MacMahon fell easy prey to Prince Frederick
| william and the Saxon Crown Prince and surrendered
ON Sept l. at Sedan. In aid Of his movement Bazane
made an effort TO escape, ana attacked inc Land"er
which had reinforced the Prussans at Noseyile, north
cast of Metz In this sore the French were repulsed
with considerable slaughter. and much discouraged
This sore was repeated ct various times upon several
roads but nowhere could Bazsine find weak point In
his enemys line could ne take him at disadvantage