The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-19
FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 1870.
THE WAR NEWS.

u EN- French authorities now admit that
Marshal Blzaine has been lighting the late
battles on the west bank of the Mosele for
the purpose of securinga pathway to Chalons.
It ia no longer a question whether the flower
of the French army can hold the line of the
Moselle, for the point in dispute now is whe-
ther they can get away from it, Bazaine has
consumed nearly week in the effort to fall
back towards Verdun, without having made
material progress in that direction. Although
lie turns upon his pursuers like tiger at
bay, and inficts upon them terrible losses,
new German corps arrive upon the scene of
action to continue the protracted conflict,
and to compel him to face indomitabe in
vaders, instead of hurrying to the relief of
the distracted capital in his rear.
At Paris, yesterday, public confidence was
partially restored by a report that Bazaine's
efforts to secure his retreat had undoubtedly
been successful, but this report was based on
the alleged situation at the front on the 10th
inst, while later intelligence indicates that
the fighting continued after that time, and
that the fate of Bazaine's army is still unde-
cided. If the Prussians can destroy it, or cut
OFF it's retreat, the great work of the whole
campaign will be substantially finished, for
no large body of regular troops will be left to
oppose the triumphant march of the invaders
to Paris.
Bazaine's retreat is absolutely essential to
France, and he is making exertions commen-
surate with the importance of his task. The
immense losses of the Prussians bear testi-
mony to the valor of his troops; and even if
the immediate result is disastrous. it cannot
be doubted that the French soldiers, despite
q thousand disadvantages, have been fighting
as desperately as the bravest of their ances-
tors. Dispirited as they must be by the con-
seriousness that their boldest attacks can at
the best only secure their own retreat, they
struggle on day after day with a courage
worthy of the legions of the first Napoleon,
and if their valiant efforts fail, it will
only be because success is impossible.
If any confirmation of the importance OF
the Prussian successes were needed it would
be fully supplied by the condition of affairs
at the French capital. NJ. Olivier, the
Minister who began the war, has fed to
Italy, where Prince Napoleon has followed
him, and it is alleged that the Empress has
gone to Belgium. Such desertions can only
be explained by consciousness on the part
of the fugitives that ''bad begins and worse
remains behind" Besides, the Corps Legis-
Iatif is discussing propositions to concen-
trate in Paris all the food for miles around,
and then lay waste the entire region
in sight, so that the near approach
of the enemy is officially treated
as a highly probable contingency. General
Trochu, lately entrusted with the organza-
H. % hal q
Commander-in-Ch Chief of all the forces at
Paris, and in his proclamation urging a sur
render of all partisan feelings aud the adop-
ton of ''the demeanor of a great military
nation conducting its 0aCn deStiRies, he plainly
intimates the magnitude of the existing
perils. He also paves the way for his own
elevation to a commanding if not supreme
position by the tone of his address, and his
declaration that he "belongs to no party save
that of his country" indicates that he unites
political sagacity with his acknowledged mill
tary skill. Some such man is needed now to
fill the gap that will be created by the i'm
pending downfall of the Napoleonic dynasty,
and if Trochu can pluck the flower safety
from the nettle danger, he will become the
arbiter of the destinies of France.
Peace negotiations are talked OF, out II is
doubtful whether Napoleon will retain SEM
bIance of power long enough to complete
them. The nation which he plunged SO reck-
Iessly into dangerous war can scarcely fail to
secure as a compensation for its msfortunes,
his voluntary or enforced abandonment of
the throne, and the contest may be speedily
closed by his downfall and the payment of
the war expenses incurred by Prussia.
THE ENGLISH MISSION