The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-30
The General Situation,
THE SITUATION.
The New Battle -(srcund--A Resume In the
Light Of Last Nights Dispatches.

L12nt OF L8st NI9hCs UespatCness
The New York Times of this morning has the
following resume of the situation, as presented
by last nights Dispatches
srrne Forest of Arden which the reverles of the
melancholy jacques have made classic ground, has
become the theatre Of more portentous drama
depends says the Journal OflcieI upon the battle
which may take place In that vicinity at any mo-
thing seems to depend upon it. For let MacMah0n
suffer decisive defeat in his present position, and
might prevent the Prussians from beseging Paris
at their leisure. Let the great reserve army which
lately moved. out Of Chalons become as thoroughly
Inanded at Woerth and concerted action with
Bazaine becomes much out Of the question as any
effective succor to Paris, Or any formidable breach
of the extended Prussian line. On the other hand
French victory at this point might SO seriously de.
range the Prussian communications with their base
OF suppliesl as to necesstate general retreat upon
the line of the Moselle. TO appreciate the diocul-
triumph Of organization which G each m days march
represents, we must keep steadily in view the very
Germany. They have as yet failed to get possess
sion Of any connecting railroad line which Is not
and niue much y as '0 we hear Of their exaotins
demands upon the inhabitants for supplies we must
not forget the wretched breakdown of the French
commissariat with all the advantages OF being in
their own territory and among their own people.
which are now advancing across France, is daily
problem of toleraby complicated kind and its sue
essiu IT. is senn @ i've
strategcal conduct Of the campaign.
It is perfectly clear that concentration Of troops
from all three divisions of the German army is
taking place at corresponding ponts of the valleys
of the Meuse and Asne, between which from north
Evidently the opinion Of the Prasslan Gene
with, and Paris taken afterwards, has prevailed
over that ascribed to the more impetuous
ment OF one despatch about the impending
battle being probably west of Rheims and Epernay,
with the other indications that are given OF the
movements on either side. The present seat of ope-
rations is at least thirty miles northeast of the posi-
psraelogram about out t6irtyave miles BY fteen, Of
which Vouzers and Rethel on the Aisne and Ste
Corners By the IS southeastern angle, represented
by Stenay, the Prussians are entering who
have advanced % by the northerly route from before
in the west is made by the divisions that have been
pushed forward from Nancy to Chalons along the
this combined movement evidently is first
70 Isolate MaeMahon completely from any
side or Bazaine on the other and then it seems not
at all improbable that MacMahon will make stand
Rethel with his right resting on the railway leading
northward to Mezieres, may retire still further
and Mezieres Immediately in his rear.
Apart from great and decisive battle, which
may or may not happen, according TO the diSpo-
sition OF the French commander the Prussians
VIII certainly endeayor to get possession OF the
between Montmedy and Rheims which as YET
is not controlled by them, This line so
Of which Mezeres is situated at the apex line
drawn from Rheims TO Montmedy, to form the base
tnIongS voSSers Bszanay, and stenay, % ali naneS
in one connection or other with the latest move
ments Within the space so bounded the interest o
the campaign Is at present concentrated"
The Arsonnes-nI -nIaesIahon ON the Historic
The Argonnes hills are on the western edge o.
Lorraine. They are not oyer, 1900 feet high
but they are covered with such dense woods,
and the ground is so rugged and impracticable
that they are o serious obstacle to an assaultine
army. The main roads are through the defen
sible defles of the Pass Of Chene Popu.
Pass of la Croix and Bois, then the Pass O
Grand-Pre the Pass of Grandes lslettes
through which runs the great Paris and Lor
raine road. The roads have mostly clay bot
toms, which of course makes miserable travel
ling, unless they are paved. The Argonnes are
moreover, circumseribed with railways. ThC
great central junction of five roads at Rheims il
of special importance for purposes of defense
the camp at Chalons with Verdun and Metz
and the railroad system on the eastern
frontier. This line Is the shortest betweeI
Paris and Mannheim, and is commanded by tn,
fortresses of Metz and yerdun. In 1892 Du
mouriez and Wimpffen with their ill-clad ill
armed, jll-fed, and ill-paid Republicans, fortified
themselves In the Argonnes, and turned the It'd,
OF invasion with which the kings threatened t
eDgulf the young republic. The Duke of Bruins
wick, the Austrian Clairfait, and the flower of th
royal German armies were crushed here and a
Yalmy and Jemappes, and from the soil o
France wet with the blood of her patriots
sprang fourteen armies that stabbed their horse
in every capital In Continental Europe. Th'
Champagne country In the neighborhood of th
Argonnes Is sandy, ungrateful soil but South
ern Champagne is a rich. luxuriant country
from which comes the glorious vintage tina
mAketh the heart glad. The natives are almos
the lineal descendants of those great Frank
sons Of Bacchus and Of Mars.