The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-17
FRENCH LINES OF DEFENSE.
The Natural Ramparts of Paris-The Lines of
the MoselIe, the Meuse and the ArRonnes, and
the Network of Rivers to the East of Paris.

the MoseIIe, the Meuse and the Arsonnes, and
the Network of Rivers to the East Of Paris.
On the 14th it was announced that Count de
Palikao, the new Premier and Minister of War,
had issued an address to the troops, in the
course of which, after blaming for firing too
quick and wasting their ammunition at Weis-
senburg, he
grand line of defense from Thionvllle to Metz and
Nancy, and they must hold their ground. Back of
that is the line of the Meuse; then the Argonnes:
then the line of rivers illustrated by the campaign of
1914 and behind all tins is Paris and behind Paris is
all France, with four millions of armed men and q
thousand millions OF treasure"
review of these ''lines within lines" will
not be unnteresting at the present crisis.
The Line of the MoseIIe.
The line of defense from Thionville to Metz
and Nancy, which has already been abandoned
by the Emperor, is based on the river Moselle,
which rises in the southeast corner of the De-
partment of Vosges, flows first in a general
northerly direction past Remiremont, Epinal,
Toul, Frouard, Pont-a-M -Mousson, Metz, land Thion-
ville and then, vergng towards the north
east, separating the Duchy of Luxemburg from
Rhenish Prussia, passing Treves near its confu-
ence with the Saar and finally emptying into
the Rhine on the left of Coblentz. Its total
length is 32S miles, and it is navigable up to its
confluence with the Meurthe near Frouard.
Ascending the stream towards the SOUTH we
encounter just within French territory the small
walled town of Serck, which has already fallen
into the hands Of the Prussians. The next place
of consequence is Thionville, eleven miles to the
southwest, with population of 5000 souls. 1t
is strongly fortified, and has been the headquar-
tiers of the extreme left of the French army from
the outset of the war.
Seventeen miles to the south, and ITO east of
Do &c in al ip,itx 70 ;nb
fought the battles of the 18th and 18th, the most
formidable stronghold in all France, and place
that has never surrendered or suffered a hostile
army to enter its gates. OF the situation, his
tory and defenses of this city we have already
given full details.
A little to the east of south, and fifteen miles
distant, is Pont-a-Mousson, an unfortifed town
of about 5000 inhabitants, which has figured
conspicuousy in the cable reports during the
past few days, having been first occupied by the
Prussians on the 18th for short time, and being
again reported in their possession. At this p ace
the Moselle is crossed by fine stone bridge of
eight arches which has probably been destroyed
by the French.
Ten miles south of Pont-a-Mousson is the
village of Frouard, at the point where the rail-
road to Metz branches off from the main line
between Paris and Strasburg, and near the con-
fuence of the Meurthe with the Moselle. After
the evacuation of Nancy by the French, and it's
occupation by the Prussians on the 18th, Frouard
fell into the enemys hands, and portion of the
railroad to the west of it was destroyed, thereby
cutting off MacMahons communications with
Metz by the most direct route.
The course of the Meurthe is to the southeast,
and five miles from Frouard, and twenty nine
directly south of Metz is Nancy, one of the
finest provincial cities of France, with popu-
lation of nearly $4,000, and an interesting his
tory, which we have already given at length
For long time considered indispensable to the
security of the line of the Moselle, it was held
by the French until the 18th, when MacMahon,
having concentrated his army around it on his
retreat from the disastrous field of Woerth,
abandoned the city to the advancing army of
the Prussians.
miles west of Nancy, is situated the strongly
fortified town OF Toul, with a population OF
about 5000. 1t is on the left bank of the Mo-
selle, and may be regarded as the southern
point OF the defensive line of the Moselle. The
railroad from Paris to Strasburg passes through
IL, but the French have lost their communica-
tions with Toul by this road, the
Prussians having destroyed it near Frou-
\ ard, while they themselves have done
the same In the neighborhood of Barbecue and
Commercy, to the west. On forsaking Nancy
Mcmahon continued to hold Toul, and on the
afternoon of the l4th, when a demand for its
surrender was made by an advanced party OF
200 Prussian Uhlans, the garrison declined to
surrender. Toul has long been regarded as a
military point of great value, and its fortihca-
tions were strengthened by Vauban, but of late
years it has dwindled in importance by reason
of the overshadowing strength of Metz.
Even If the French continue to hold posses.
sion of Metz, their recent movements have been
such as TO render
The Line of the Meuse
their most reliable barrier against the Prussian
advance at present. 1t is based on the river
Meuse, which takes its rise in the Department
| of Haute-Marne, near the fortified town OF
Langres. It's general course is a little to the
west of north. Trayersing the Department OF
Vosges, it disappears under ground neal
Bazoilles reappeariDg near Neufchateau
miles distant. Then passing Commercy, Yer
dun-where it becomes navigable-Nieziere:
and Givet. in France, it trayerses Belgium anc
Holland, and enters the North Sea by thre,
| principal mouths, after a total course of 49,
miles. Its general course in French territory il
almost parallel with that OF the Moselle, at
distance OF about so miles to the west.
About thirty miles due west from Metz, OF
the railroad from that point TO Rheim
not yet completed east of the city