Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-08-24
WAR GOSSIP.

| POSITIONS OF TIE BELLIGERENTs,
Our dispatches this morning show
that not less than five battles have Ia
ken place west Of Metz since Sunday
last. The first was at Pagny on that
morning, when the Prussian advance
was undoubtedly checked. It is evil
dent that after this combat the Ger
man forces were moved rapidly in a
northwestern direction, with a view
to strike the French line of retreat
at some point yet farther west. The
two armies must have met at Longe-
vile on Monday, where the Prussians
were again repulsed, and from where
they repeated their tactical flank
movement upon the right of the
French. OF the battle which took
place on Tuesday we have COM
paratively full official reports
from Paris. The locality is
said to be between D0ncourt and
NiOnville, but it is not stated what
DOncourt is meant. ViOnvilIe is stu
ated some twelve miles west of Metz,
on the road to Verdun. Some four
miles north of this place is a village
called DOncOurt.- Ten miles west by
south OF ViOnyille is another village
called DOncourt aux Templiers, on
the road from Pont-a'MOussOn to Yer
dun, and only three miles from the
Metz and Verdun road. We are of
the opinion that the battle took place
between Vionville and Doncourt aux
Templiers. This would give the
French army a front covering its line
Of retreat, whereas a line to Che other
NalfnOn runTaln horrn pAaIa - I
tor any lighting 70 have taken place
at Mars lie Tour, which lies three miles
west of Vionville, on the same road
to Verdun, unless the French line of
battle had formed a sharp angle, with
the apex at Vionville.
That our opinion in this is correct
seems confirmed by tie statement
made by Count Palikao 70 the Corps
Legislatif on Thursday evening. The
Count stated that the Prussians chad
tried to retreat to Mihiel,n a town of
some size on the Mouse river, SOUTH
east of Doncourt aux Tempiiers. This
would imply that the Prussian line
faced to the north and the French to
the south, thus placing the latter in
front OF and covering their line of re-
treat. 1t is true that this position is
very near to Metz, but it certainly
proves that the French line of retreat
has not yet been cut of, even il the
army of Bazaine has not yet succeeded
in extricating itself from the Prussian
flank movement. We are somewhat
puzzled TO account for Bazaine's re-
manning in the vicinity of Metz when
it seems probable that his line of re-
treat was less exposed to attack
on Sunday night that it was
on Tuesday last. It may be, as sug-
gested by a London paper, that he
has been endeay0ring TO get on the
flank and rear of the Prussians, with
a view to compelling them to fall
back for the purpose of covering their
base Of operations. II this has been
his int ention we are inclined TO be-
lieve that he has been unsuccessful and
has been compelled to resume his re-
treat with greater danger Of being
cut off from Paris than ever before.
The dispatches, however, are so con-
fused and contradictory that il is al
most impossible to form a clear |
idea Of the situation. But one thing
seems certain, and it is that up to |
five O'Clock Thursday evening the
French line Of communication with
Paris was open, as we have dis
patches dated at the general head
quarters up to that hour.
as regards the official dispatch
from King William, dated at Pont.a-
Mousson, and referring to an, engage
ment near there on Tuesday, in which
the Prussians took ten thousand prisr
oners, seven Cor seventeen cannon
and two eagles, it is evident that he
spoke of the engagementnear Grave.
lOtte, and not Of The battle between
Fhionville and Doncourt aux Temp
Iiers. A Berlin newspaper publishes
particulars Of this engagement. OF
The enlargement between the main
bodies OF the armies there have been
no official reports Whatever from thei1
Prussian commanders, and this fact