The New York herald., 1870-10-16
TIE SCENE OF WAR In FRANCE.

The map published IN the HERALD this morning
covers nearly the whole OF France and the entire
Prussian armies have raversed but compara-
lively small part Of French territory Orleans being
the furthest point south OF Paris which they have
yet reached. 1t is true, however, that the depart
mcnts which they occupy, or render almost power
less by their presence In adjacent ones, contain
population OF nearly ten millions. or more
than twenty-five per cent OF the entire
population OF France. These departments
are:-Haut Rhin, Bas Rhin vosges Meurthe
Moselle, Meuse Haute Marine, Aube,
Marne, ArdenHes, Alsne Olse Seine. .et Oise, Seine
et-Marne, Loiret and Seine, together with parts OF
several others. The ground covered by the German
forces may be said to begin at point between Neuf-
Breisach-which Is now Deseged-and Basle, on the
Rhine, running lrregularly thr0ugh Epinal, In the
yOsgcs; thence at point IN front Of Chaumont
running westward 10 Troyes. and from tnat place
In westsouthwest direction to Orleans, where It
turns abruptly, pursues northwest course along
the line OF the Paris and Orleans Railroad as far AZ
Etampcs, where 1t again turns ana continues west
to Evreux, then describes circle to Beauvais, east
OF Rouen and continues north 10 the Belgian from
tier.
All the territory north and west Of this line con.
tains the field OF operations Or course the ground
Is not entirely overrun by the Prussans nearly all
Of the ortresses and large being still held by
the French. But between these stronghods the
German armies move about practically unopposed
by their enemy. the operations OF the Franc-treurs
being anything but Formidable as far any serious
opposition to the Pruasians s concerned. The I'M
mediate scenes OF operations are numerous.
On the Rhine, Neuf Bresach and Schees-
tai are besiegcd and Belfort Is threatened In the
vosges, Phalsbourg, a small but powerful fortress.
situated near Savcrne. on the Strasbourg Nancy
Railroad, Ii also invested On the German frontier
Btche, position absolutely impregnable to assault
from It's situation on the top Of precipitous rock
accessible only BY steep and narrow path. On the
Mosele the city OF Metz and the fortress OF Tnon.
vile are beseged. All OF these points included
within the territory demanded by Prussia as the
price or peace. and which Is marked or by line OF
dots on the map. The coveted ground embraces an
OF the old province or Alsace and the greater part
OF Lorraine.
On the lower Meuse verdun, situated
few miles west Of Metz, is also be-
seged. West OF Thionvllle. Longwy and
MOntmedy, both on the Belgian frontier be.
tween the Mouse and MOsclle rivers, are Invested
SEDAN, the scene OF Napoeon.s surrender, Is In the
hands OF the Prussians. But ten miles west or that
place the great fortress OF Mezieres is SIN
held by the French. and is besiegcd.
we doubt, however, IL more than partially.
All the other strongholds on the Belgian FROM
tier are hreatened-Rocroy Avesnes, Maubege Va
lenciennes, Cambria. Peronne, Ham, Arras, Sc.
Laon Is in possession OF the Germans, ana
Soissons 10 now besieged. AT the last accounts
the German forces we're moving upon Amicns and
Rouen, both strongly fortified towns, situated NOT
far from the sea coast, Amiens being north and
Ronen west-northwest OF Paris. There now remains
but the French capital to mention az being Invested
o fact Of which the reader Is well aware. Active
movements have been made within the last week.
and are apparently still making. in the direction OF
Tours. The defeat OF the French at Orleans last
week and the approach or the Germans to Bols have
been chrOnicled. 1t seems, however that a large
force OF French are at Chateaudun a town situated
some miles northwest OF Orleans, between that city
and Chartres, ana at last accounts pattic was ex
pected there.
AS stated before, excepting the fortresses and
few OF the large towns there not point within the
zone OF operations which Is not either In the aetna,
possession or at the mercy Of the Germans Rheims.
Complegne, Meaux, 'Melun, Versailles, Chalons,
Beauvas, Troyes Barleduc, vitry lie Francois Ton,
Nancy, Luneyille, Saverne. Epinal Colmar, Scras.
bourR, Haguenau, Lauterb0urg, Welssenbourg. Sar.
reguemlnes and other important towns are held py
the Germans, and their large detachm mcnts move al
Will throughout the territory, meeting with oppo.
sition only from the hastily organized National
Guard and Franc-tlreurs.
Nevertheless, as the map shows az least three
foufths Of France is yet untouched. The movement
upon Lyons seems to have been abandoned or post
poned 80 that the French have yet great extent OF
territory In which 10 organize new armies ana from
which they can draw supplies. They have also a
population Of nearly thirty millions from which ,bev
can obtain soldiers. AZ the south or France IL quite
denscly populated, and produces more provisions
than It consumes. II Will be seen that there st re-
main to the French all the resources requisite Tor a
protracted and vigorous resistance.