Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-08-23
The Situation.

BIdu tlldJ w lIidTu WUu.
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The Situation.
And now the scene changes to Cha
Ions. Before the solid impact of the
Prussian advance the legions of France |
are forced from point to point, from
one chosen position to another, from
fortress to fortress, with an energy |
that is tireless, generalship beyond |
praise, and rapidity heretofore I'M
known to the art of war. The left |
wing of the Prussian army, composed |
principally of South German troops,
under the command of Prince Fred
erick William, have done the most Of
the marching and the heavier portion
of the fighting on the Prussian side.
At Wei88enburg they defeated Nc
Mahon. At Haguenau they overthrow
that General. Then commenced the
advance. From Haguenau through
the Vosges mountains, to Saverne
from Saverne to Nancy; from Nancy
across the Mosclle to Toul; from
Toul to Comercy on the Mouse and
thence to Barbecue, a town beyond
the Meuse and situated on the river
Ovain, tributary of the Maine, about
40 miles from Chalons. Such is the
record made in campaign Of ten
days. Constant marching, occasional
ly fierce fighting, always victorious.
Looking back to the hour of the French
success at Saarbruck, the reality of
to-day assumes the phase CT a gigan-
tic fctionl
The dispatches from Paris have
much to say Of grand strategic move
ments on the part Of the French in
process of development. They hint
at successes, and talk of checks on the
Prussian advance. But French STRAIT
egg and French victories have one
popularity; they precede a still fur
ther retreat of tho French foroco.
Thus we were told by Napoleon on
Sunday that the Prussians had been
beaten back from Metz with fearful
loss. But Monday finds the French
army in full retreat on the line of the
Mouse, followed by the PrussianS so
closely that the retreat is a continuous
battle. Again, we are told from Paris
that the Prussian5 have met with ter
rible reverses, and are falling back to
Moselle. Swiftly on the heels of these
tidings come the announcement that
Napoleon is at Chalons, that the beaten,
half-starved and footsore remains of
McMahon's corps are at Chalons,
and finally, that the whole French
army is concentrating at Chalons for
another effort to stay the march Of the
German forces. A few more such
French successes must discover King
William at the gates of Paris
1t seems clear that while the
French, under Bazaine, have sustained
continual reverses since they left the
] Moselle on Sunday, and have been
pushed with tireless energy by the
Prussians, they have succeeded in
preserving their lines and in securing
a junction with Mcmahon, to prevent
which was doubtless one object of the
sudden and impetuous attack of Prince
Frederick Charles. Whether this
Junction of the French forces and the
hurrying up of the new levies at Cha,
Ions, together with their own losses
which must be considerable, for the
French fight desperately even in re
, treat-will cause a halt in the Prus
sian advance, as M. Gallardet assures
the French organ in New York, re
mains to be seen. Arguing from the
past, they will do no such thing. De
lay would be dangerous, and expose
their extended line of communication
to attack. Delay would give the
French time to form new combination;
and every hour of inaction would ado
to their strength and diminish thu
t chances of a Prussian occupation o
e Paris. Having made more than hal
( the distance to the French capital
q over three strong defensive lines, it il
not to be supposed that the Prussiar
Generals will relax their vigor whel
; the goal is almost in sight. The Lon
s don Times says the finishing strok,
e to the French army was given at Metz
q that another and decisive battle vii
! be fought at Chalons, after whicI
English Intervention will take place
/ Doubtless joint Intervention by tn
e great powers of Europe will be mad
to save France from utter ruin an
spoliation, but it will not be extende
- until such time as the French peopl
are humbled sufficiently to crave il
, 1t cannot be otherwise than a sourc
T. of uneasiness to the other powers {
h Europe, this ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of Pru'
d. STA, especially with the willy Bismarc
4 as the real head and director of tn
Germanic Confederation, and we ma,
% therefore, expect to see line draw
e. across which Prussia will not be pc
Is mitted, unless she is prepared 10 DEF
e. the combined powers of Europe.
Meanwhile, it remains to be see
er how the disastrous retreat of the
- armies from Metz to Chalons will
received in Paris. The stories (
strategical movements in retreat,
fighting by detachments, of parti;
: successes, and of new movement
" whose combined result is to give
~ decisive victory in the near future-a
., these show a purpose to deceive tt
~ Parisians and fear that the re;
), facts, if known, would imperil tt
Government. We shall have stirrir
news from Paris soon boston Jou
nal.