The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-15
THE SITUATION.

A RoreshadoVving of the End-tSreat Battle In
Front of Aletz-ktnR william claims n De-
cised VictOry-Tbe Occupation of Nancy by
she Prussians, and Reported Evacuation of
Metz by the French-rhe state of Affairs sat
sstrasburE.
Just one week after the Crown Prince routed
RacMahon at Woerth, and Won Goeble and Won
Steipmetz drove Frossard from the hills west of
Saarbruek, the Prussian hosts were ready for
another encounter; but Napoleon, according to
last nights dispatches, ready to cast away his
sceptre without striking blow, has averted a
battle by abandoning Metz and Nancy and for
eakinc the line Of the Moselle. The reports of
a battle before Metz which we publish in our
second edition, however materially modify
these advices, as far as the reports concerning
Metz and It's evacuation.
1t will be remembered that MacMahon, on re-
treating from Woertb, took the line of the rail-
road from Strasburg TO Paris with the intention
Of concentrating his forces in the pass of the
Vosges at Saverne, twenty miles northwest of
.Strasburg, and about the same distance west of
Hagensu and the scene of the battle of the 5th.
This position was apparently commanded by the
fortress of Pfalzburg, five miles to the northwest
Of the unfortifed town of Saverne but when the
victorious Prussians approached Saverne on the
evening of the SCh, MacMahon again took the
back track towards Luneville and Nancy, con-
.entrating his demoraized army at the latter
point, while Pfalzburg fell into the hands of
tbs Crown Prince, apparently without
an attemptat defense. lie BUuf the man with
the staggering air and enormous moustache
who had thus far as Major-General of the staff
had the general direction of the campaign, was
sacrificed to the Indignation of the people, his
place being taken by Trochu, whose reputation
as q straLegist was of the highest order, while
i3azaine was elevated to the position of COM
in With the bullI Of his army
concentrated ut Metz, and MacNlahon's demo-
rallied corps in camp around Nancy, the Empe-
ror announced that he would return to Paris
victorious or dead, and prepared to make the
line of the Moselle, with Metz and Nancy as its
two main points, the 'last ditch" and the turn
ing point in the fortunes of the war;
Meanwhile the Prussiau centre had driven the
remnants of Frossard's Corps back from the
S.ar 20 the Moselle, and appeared in considera-
bic force in front of Metz, and within a short
distance of that stronghold. On the 18th the
Prussian advance reached the railroad between
Metz and Nancy at Pont-a-Mousson, about half
way between these two points which are thirty
miles distant from each other, holding that
place for short time, according to French
accounts being driven off, while the Prussian
accounts allege that the retreating was done by
the French. Whatever may be the
truth concerning this unimportant affair,
The Evacuation Ot Nancy by the French
Quickly followed, MacMahOn abandoning his
position at this point, and on the 18th the Prus-
sian advance entered the city, the first intima-
tion of this movement which was received by
the Emperor at Metz being the interruption of
telegraphic communication between the two
cities.
Nancy, which has thus fallen into the hands
OF 'our Fritz is an important city, with popu-
yaVfn Of arlx m nnls IL Cifn fal
the left bank OF the river Meurthe and on the
railway from Paris to Strasburg about thirty
miles directly south of Metz. 1t is one of the
finest and best-built towns of France. 1t was
once the capital of the ancient Duehy of Lor-
raine, but in 1915 passed under the control of
Charles the Bold, of Burgundy, who was de-
feated and slain under its walls in 1417 by
Rene II, Dukei Of Lorraine. In 1854 it was
taken by Louis XIII of France. Since the days
af Louis XIV, by whom its Notifications were
destroyed, it has been place of no inherent
military strength, the old citadel being the only
portion of its defensive works preserved.
On the evacuation of Nancy Marshal Mac
Nahon retreated to Toul twelve miles to the
west, where the remnants of his army were
stationed at the latest adyices. Toul is forti-
fed town on the left bank of the Moselle, with
. population of about 9OOO 1t is on the railroad
10 Paris, but being several miles west of Frou-
ard, where the railroad towards Metz branches
off from the main line, it has no communication
with Metz except by roundabout way through
&halons and Rheims, at least 500 miles in
length. Frousrd, also, is in the possession of
the Prussians, who have destroyed portion OF
the railway to the west of it, thus effectuaIly
severing the communications of MacMahon,
except by way of the long circuit already men,
toned.
THE sitsation at Metz
Is in doubt Last nights dispatches state posi-
lively that Napoleon had abandoned Metz with
out making a stand but as we write we are in
receipt of cable kilograms which state that
another great battle was fought yesterday in
front of that stronghold. One despatch states
that both parties claim the victory, while
another gives the message from King William
20 the Queen of Prussia, in which he claims thai
another decided victory had crowned the Prus.
sian arms. In our later editions we shall pro
babiy be able to give intelligence which will
clear ap the mystery and show just what
amount of hope is left to the Emperor Napoleon
last nights dispatches state that King VII
EAm'e headquarters on the lStn were at F~quel