The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-08-17
Special Report of the Slaughter of
the Z0uave Corps.
Napoleon's Condition of Mind---"l
am Cut OFF"
Paris i'm q State of Com
SternatiOn.
ENGLISH STATEMENTS OF TIE SITUATION.
FRENCH REPORTS.

The lido Of Victory Turning from Prussia--
Public Confidence and Hope-Reporfs of the
Prussiau Operntions-Metx and the Other
Fortresses-Thc Agitation in Lyons-Thc
Field Dispatches Too Brief Latest from
Mctx-Thc PrussIans Said to Have Lost a
Great Batilc-Gcnernl Ncws and Public
ssumor.
PARIS, August 16-Evening.
TIE evening reports say Official confirmation Of the
news Of the great victory over the Prussians is I'm
patiently awaited. Great crowds Of people have
collected at the Boursc, at the Ministry OF the In
terror and In the streets
Important news has been received from s,ras.
bourg today Tho Prussians IN that Vicinity seem
inclined to retire. Some shots have been exchanged
The people OF Sirasbourg ore determined to defend
the place to the last extremity.
The Pgrie to-day publishes an article saying that
false reports have been circulated to the effect that
no arms were 10 he obtained for the troops The
Patste anlrms that there q complete provision of
arms OF all kinds ana quotes o statement made In
the Chambers that the supply Of guns is large ana
the quality excellent.
The Nonitcv to-day says
During the battle on Sunday Marshal Bazane had
In position masked battery Of mtralleuses. Four
regiments of tue Prussian Royal Guard approaching,
the batteries were unmasked and two OF the regI-
Mcnts were completely annihatcd
The Patrte, referring to the fact that Paris is with
out oflcial news from the 'front.' says that Marshal
Bazalne evidently determined strict secrecy so
foro hip
munication with the camp at Cnaons
News from the various departments show that the
people are deierminedly warke. The public depres-
SION, occasI0ned by the recent reverses, is giving
way to q fierce desire to drive the Prussans from
French SOIL
An official despatch from the Project Of Meuse
10 the Minister OF the Interior is published
here to-day. He says body OF German Uhlans
has been seen In the neighporhood Of Commercy
marching towards Bar lie Due He has, therefore,
vance OF the enemy.
The French journals complain of the brevity Of
the dispatches from the seat of war; Even the
C0nstituttO'uae1, semi-o1lcial organ, says the
position OF either OF the armies
The Journal 001ctel to-day contains decree de-
claring the cities OF Cherbourg yrest L'Orent and
Rochefort III state Of siege.
Algeria has been declared IN state OF SIEGE
The Fau'ots says the pubic is astonlsned to find
the despatch announcing battle at Longueville
signed only by Napoleon. That Journal adds that
II was countersigned "Bazaine but the latter name
was suppressed In the publication Of the despatch
which was regular In every other respect.
The Sub Project OF verdun telegraphs as follows
70 the Minister OF the Intcri0r--
VERDUN, August 16-0 A. NJ
No news from Metz. Nothing is known to have
occurred to-day.
All day yesterday the roar OF cannon was heard
between Metz and verdun.
Persons who have reached here from that dtrec
tion Say that great battle was fought opening at
daybreaK, and that the Prussians had lost more
than "a. 900 men In the combat and been completely
defeated. During yesterday at the extremity Of
my arrondlssement twenty-eght kilometres from
The fortincations OF verdun, the enemy mad been
seen directing his retreat to the south.
Though this intelligence was transmitted by au
thorty the government has not a. yet been able to
verify It, ana 1t Is given the public under reserve
b. the Minister Of the Interior
The Bishop OF Luxembourg and several clergymen
have gone 10 Metz to administer consolation to the
dying.
Tie fresse gives the following explana.i lion OF the
movements OF the rrussians. After the battle OF
Forbaeh on the 9Th inst the army OF Prince Charles
advanced ana established its headquarters at st.
AVOID. After the battle OF wlssembourg the armv
OF the Prince Royal went by way OF savcrne to
Nancy. WHILE TINS army having no opposition on
Its mont, advanced on ITS route TO Paris as far
as Bar lie Due, Frederick Charles. making a
bold curve. eadeayored to turn The French troops a;