The New York herald., 1870-10-12
The Military Situation in Trance-Ih'
Threats Of DETERMINATION.

Threats Of determination.
been fought, and the result Of it has proven
the deplorable fact that we stated yesterday,
that France needs general. The conflict took
place at Artenay, o small town near Orleans,
and was evidently movement Of the French
to break the centre Of the Prussian line pro-
tecting the rear Of the line Of investment about
Paris. The battle lasted for three hours, at
the end of which time the French fell back
into forest, where the battle was resumed,
with what result is not known. The Prussians,
it is stated. were superior in numbers, yet no
reinforcements were sent forward from Tours,
where several thousand troops are collected.
They probably will be sent forward when it is
too late, thus allowing the Prussians to whip
them in detail--the most grievous fault that a
military commander can be guilty Of, and one
that is most strongly condemned by Jomini
and the other accepted authorities on the
science Of war. MaoMahon or Uhrich would
never have been guilty Of such criminal
neglect, and the old Napoleon would have had
the commandant guilty Of such folly shot at
once The relief Of Paris may be indefinitely
this the spirit Of the people must
be greatly depressed and the enthusiasm
that was SO rapidly filing the ranks of the de-
tenders must have received severe check.
Metz holds out still, and has another enemy to
contend against In the form Of sickness in the
town. A report comes that Prince Frederick
Charles of Prussia is dead, but it is probable
that he is only another Of the fortunate heroes
of this war who have had their obituaries
written without paying the usual penalty
Lord Lyons that Prussia is willing to make
peace anywhere, and at any time, but that it
will have no truce.
The war is rapidly assuming all the woful
aspects of a war ofextermination. The Franc
tireurs carry the black flag and are shot
wherever captured by the Prussians the
people Of Mulhouse were fired upon by the
Prussian forces on evacuating their town
shocking atrocities are alleged to have been
committed by the Pru ssians in places where
lucy dttCuplGu W Ill Ou pcu5ultS
already impoverished the uhlan prisoners at
Tours were barely saved from the exasperated
crowds that saw them being conveyed through
the streets, and a Prussian threat to shoot the
municipal authorities at Ablis, where the
tireurs surprised detachment of them, has
been answered by a retaliatory threat on
the part Of the French authorities at
Tours to kill a prisoner for every
man Of them executed. When The war
fully assumes such a terrible aspect as this
the Prussians will find deadlier enemies than
the raw Gardes to conquer. Their army of
invasion will find almost insuperable obstacles
If it wars against a united or an exasperated
people. The Prussians must practice courtesy
and kindness to the peasantry, contcive to
allay the popular anger against themselves, or
they will inaugurate such national war as
that which the people Of Spain, backed by the
allied armies and led by their priests and
monks, waged against the first Napoleon
during the Peninsular campaigns-a war
which produced the dreadful spectacle Of
women and children killing isolated soldiers,
and counted Saragossa among its heroic
defences.
The Indiana Election and tho British
Mission.
The election in Indiana yesterday settles
several questions of more than ordinary i'm
portance. If the returns show that the repub-
licans have secured the Legislature Senator
Morton will accept the mission to England;
otherwise he will not. For this reason he has
not rendered his resignation to Governor
Baker, who, in such an event, can only ap-
point successor to fill the vacancy until the
new Legislature, elected yesterday, convenes,
which will be on the first Wednesday in January
next. Should the Legislature be democratic
senatorial vacancy would be filed on the first
day Of its meeting and ex-senator Hendricks
would undoubtedly be elected. Senator Nor
toms term expires with that of President
Grant, on the 4th OF March, 1873. 1t is not
the purpose Of the Senator to surrender so i'm
portant an office to the democracy for SO long
time. IF the returns, when all in, therefore,
make it clear that republican Legislature is
elected Senator Morton will resign his seat in
the Senate and his successor will be appointed
by the Governor to serve temporarily until the
Legislature in January elects member of that
party to serve out the unexpired term.
This nice question has entered iato the
recent canvass, and was the cause of one of the
sharpest conflicts ever made in Indiana. Upon
the suppositon that Senator Morton had really
accepted the mission to England the demo-
Gratis in Indiana have exerted their utmost
strength to secure the Legislature, in order,
also, to secure the Senator. Hendricks, the
favorite son Of the democracy OF
that State and one of the ablest representa-
tive men Of the party in the West, will be re-
elected if that party have triumphed, provid-