The New York herald., 1870-09-08

army CORPS got MS orders what ne was TO do.
On the 4th the blow was struck at WIssembOurg,
on the 9th the battle Of WOerth was fought, and
since then the Prusslan army has never delayed
day dealing blow upon blow on the retieatlng
NAPoLEoN's PLANS DISCOUNTED.
My. friend, for although had only known him
few hours must Call him such, gave me some very
interesting information respecting the means by
which the Prussian stan has obtained such accurate
me that the spy system with mis- governments is q
desperate one it is wen rewarded, if successful,
bOth in money and promotion. He repeated
shortly alter the battle Of woertS winch, by the
as s rssso Sf j mauy = laso Ns wy fa ne
French were defeated at that fight. He said that
the EmperOrs troops are as brave as brave can be,
meet we'll organized army In the field, and that
above all things they are far too careless about
less and far too much given to despise looking after
what they deem trides. And as write these lines
two instances OF their want Of iorethought occur TO
me- Both anecdotes have been told me within the
past few days, and both by persons whose authority
and truthlulness cannot doubt.
FACTS AND ILLUSTRATION.
The first has reference to the affairs at Wissem-
b0urg. AS General DOuay, who commanded the
French at that most unfortunate affair." was sitting
down to breakfast on the morning OF the 4tn, q
young officer, who had pushed up from the rear 10
join his corps, saw on the road indications which led
him to believe that not mere PrusSan DIVISION,
but whole corps darfnee was opposed TO them. AS
in duty bound. the moment he reached camp ne
went to General Douay, and reported to him what
he had seen. The General merely laughed at MIN,
and would not even send patrol out 10 see whether
the young fellow was right or not The chief OF the
stair asked permission TO go himself to rec0nnoitre
but the General would not allow him to do
so. sIt is merely Prusslan brigade" he
said, s'and presently Will sweep them before us;
but let us breakfast rst.u This IS French all over.
Brave to the fault Ia very great one with soldier
of despising the enemy. Had General Douay acted
as nine hundred and ninety nine out OF every thou
sand German, American or English generals would
have done--had he, in Tact. done his simple duty.
he would have ascerained before he moved and
while there was yet time that the enemy was far Too
strOng for him. He would then have been able to
retire towards Haguenau from which MacMahon
was advancing, and the two together would have
been able the next day to have given better ac-
count of the enemy at W0erth.
The second anecd0te which will give you relates
to the spy system in the Prussan army. You will
hardly believe that at the Hotel de rEurOpe at Metz.
the motel where all the generals and chief officers
meet TO dine. and where many, II not all the consul
tattons respecting the army headquarters were held,
the chief waiter was major in the Prusslan army
THIS was only discovered after the recent defeats OF
the French army. And 1t was then remembered
how this pretended waiter used to attach himself
moro particularly to the superior officers Of the
! tntendenCe or C0Mmi5sartat department. VINO uineJ