The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-23
His Views on the War.
Won MOItke, the Strategist.
Etc. ETC.. Etc., Etc, ste.
THE SITUATION.

Contradictory Reports of Bazaine's Position
and Movements His Reported Escape from
Metz, and Roundabout March to the West
aIacNIahon and the Grown PrIuce--The Atti-
tune of the Neutral Powers.
Where is Bazaine? Where is MacNlahon
Where is the Crown Prince? Where Is Frede-
rick Charles? The dispatches of last night,
although very voluminous, render it quite as
difficult to answer any of these questions as if
welwere entirely without news Reports from
London still insist that Bazaine was completely
isolated by the battle of the 18th, andlcut off from
all his resources, and this view was sanctioned
by the Journal OtfcieI yesterday morning in
a statement by authority that no dispatches had
been received from him for two entire days.
Later in the day, however, it was announced in
the Senate that. after q suspension of communi-
cations for forty-eight hours, the Government
had received despatch from Bazaine confirm
ing the previous despatch to the effect that
after a battle of nine hours on the 18th, the
French commander continued TO hold his ORR
ginal position. Dispatches to the New
York Times, written under similar in
Bpiration, declare that the series of battles
cluding on Thursday only resulted in giving the
Prussians control of the roads between Metz
and Verdun which diverge at Gravelotte, six
miles west of the former place, while BaZaine
still maintained his communications with Thion-
vile, and the main body of his army had sue
ceeded in withdrawing from the neighborhood
OF Metz by way of the last-named place, and
thence to the northwest along the
railway which runs parallel with the
Belgian frontier through LonguyOn and
Montmedy to Mezieres strongly-fortifed town
on the Meuse, not more than ten miles from the
Belgian frontier, and forty-seven miles n. E. of
-. al k,-,
Liberte of Paris states that Bazaine, after the
encounter of the 18th, succeeded in reaching the
railroad to Montmedy and Mezieres, by which
he received all the supplies that he stood
In need OF. These supplies, according
10 La Liberfe had been pushed for
ward as far as Sedan, fortified
town on the Meuse, eleven miles E. s. E. of
Mezieres. The Times despatch, however, goes
into more details, and reports Bazaine himself
at Spiucourt, near Montmedy, the latter place
being fortified town on the Chiers, tributary
of the Meuse, 25 miles due north of Nerdun, 45
miles n. W. of Metz and 60 miles n. f. of
Chalons. The Times correspondent then
proceeds to speculate upon Bazaine's fu-
ture movements and his speculations
are reasonable enough, provided the report
OF Bazaine's escape by way of the frontier line
il true. BaZaines purpose was thought to be
10 cross the Aleu6e near Sttnay, ten miles
w. S. w. of Montmedy, then to move across
the plateau OF the Argonnes and strike the
Aisne at Vouzieres Qhe morning papers make
horrible work with the spelling of nearly all
these proper nanes), about twenty-five miles
still further to the w s. W. From this point, a
march of some thirty-five miles up the tortuous
course of the Aisne or of only
twenty miles if a direct route is practicable
would bring him to the neighborhood of Ste.
Menehould, where the Auye joins the Aisne.
Ste. Menehould is 20 miles E. n. F. oi
Chalons and % miles W. S. ". of Yerdun.
To continue the speculation, MacManon is to
effect junction with Bazaine at this point
and grand stand is to be made against the
Prussians near the spot where Dumouriez and
Kellermann headed Off the Prussian invasion
under the Duke Of Brunswick in 1899.
But this plausible programme, even if it Ia;
been entertained by the French commander
depends for its success on various contingencies
The inactivity of Prince Frederick Charles and
Won steinmetz is altogethr improbable during
the roundabout march of Bazaine from Met,
by way of Thionville, Montmedy, and Youzere
to Ste. Menehould, a distance OF some l2J
miles, while the distance straight across th'
country due west is under GO miles. The Prus
slams would have but half the distance to MAKE
10 reach the confluence of the Auye and th'
Aisne that is contemplated in the sup
posed scheme of Bazaine, of which they arr
probably quite as Wen adYised as the Paris cor