New-York tribune., 1870-11-12

THE FRENCH SUCCESS on THE LOIRE
The German report of the lato operations
about Orleans is brief; tbit of the French in
definite. We gather, however, that the French
forced tho engagement; that it lasted two
DAYS, and that ~ the chief result Of the strug-
Gle the Germans were compelled to abandon
Orleans.
Judging from the French report. the battle
was a bloody ono. The commanding general
puts his casualties at less than two thousand.
and states that tho German losses were
"much larger" The Tours officials, how
ever. not content with this statement, in o
later dispatch assert with much pOsitiveness
that the German loss was 10000 in killed and
wounded and 1900 in prisoners. Clearly the
engagement was o defeat for the Germans
but how serious their losses were is uncertain.
They were driven from overy position
80 says tho French Communicated GER
tanly they retreated. 1t was understood
that the Germans held the line Of the Loire
solely to defend the rear of the army invest
ing Paris, and that tho French hoped for
nothing more at present than to maintain tho
communications between Tours and Lyons.
The German force was small, unless reinforced.
according to q doubtful report, by 10000 men
from Metz. The French, on the contrary, were
strong in numbers but weak in organization.
Their army he's certainly been formed with
diligence, and its success in recapturing Orleans
indicates that it is composed of good material
and Is ably commanded.
But what is France to hOpe from this first
success 7 When the news of the evacuation OF
ofabf hat ia
Germans had yielded the position the better to
carry out some strategical design against the
French Army Of the Loire. But their resistance
seems to have been so earnestly made, and the
retirement was so clearly forced by the superior
numbers or tactics Of the French, that this
idea is no longer to be entertained. Few
strategists would hive consented to Sacrlhce
the number of men which fdl in tho Orleans
fights for the mere chances OF success In
future movement. But having gained Orleans
and recovered the Loire, what are the French
to do nextf Gen. Won Der Tam has been
driven further back towards the army whose
rear he guards but he has not exposed 1t to
attack. The further he continues his retreat
the stronger he becomes. He can fight as well,
if not better, with his rear in Versailles itself
armies has been forced back towards its sup
ports does not make the German situation IN
any sense critical The French Mt Orleans
have three courses open to them. lhey
can pursue Won Der Tam towards Paris
and demonstrate against the rear OF the
Crown Prince, OF even attack him IN
his position sOuth of Paris while 1rochu
simultaneously makes the grand sortie for
which he is said to be preparing. This may
be the purpose of the French, though 1T does
not offer many chances for success. move
ment to the northeast against the commu-
n.cations of the Germans Is possible but az
long "a any considerable force holds DUOn IL
will be dangerous. AS o last alternative, the
French may continue on the defensive; but as
their position at Orleans menaces no army
of the Germans, and will neither raise the siege
of Paris nor prevent the march towards Lyons,
they are not likely to remain idle. An
active campaign of some kind on the part OF
the Loire Army is demanded by the situation
and by the French people. IL Paris is well
yctuaed the operations will probably be
directed against the German communications.
The German armies in the east are undOubt-
edly much scattered, and the temptation
offered to an enterprising commander Is very
great. But such a campaign will be attended
with many dii1iculties and may result in very
grave disasters, like the faulty enterprise Of
MacMahon. But the Army Of the Loire must
move. 1t is the only organization ready for
the field to which the French can now trust
their cause, and its success depends largely on
activity else the concentration of the veterans
from Metz with those of Gen. Won Der Tam
may place it in dangerous position.
NOTING md STORING THE GRAIN CROPS.