New-York tribune., 1870-08-24

| THE DECISIVE VICTORY OF THE VAR.
The complete and graphic account of the
last Of the series OF battles around Metz
which is printed on or first page is the first
and only detailed history of it yet published in
New York, London, Paris, or Berlin. 1t was
written by THE TRIBUNE's correspondent at
the Prussian Kings headquarters same
to whom the Country was indebted for the
first outline of the battle "a column in length)
forwarded to us direct from Saarbruck by
telegraph within few hours after the battle
was ended. He witnessed the fight from the
same elevated position on the field as that
from whose summit the King, Bismarck, and
Won Moltke watched and directed it. 1t is
the story of the battle by an eyewitness, the
story of what he saw only, but so full, 80
clear, that the bold tactics of the battle are
made as plain to the reader as previous
reports rendered the daring strategy of the
campaign which this victory crowned with
success.
The tactics of Sadowa were repeated at
GravelOtte. The Prlssians began the engage
ment with divided army, or rather two
armies moving from different directions, with
orders to form junction behind the enemys
position. Bazaine covered the point which the
Prussians had selected as that upon which to
converge, and actually lay between the two
armies which he had to fight. 1t was not
until after nightfall that the junction was ef-
fected and the victory won; but 1t was then
complete, and forced Bazaine into Metz, where
it had all along been the design OF the Prus-
slams to confine him. The battle was purely
defensive on the part of the French. None OF
the several bloody repulses of Prince Frederick
Charless attacks were signal enough to enable
Bazaine to follow with an offensive movement
to extricate himself from his great danger
He held the strong positions of the field. The
second line which he assumed was pronounced
invulnerable, and the direct attack of Prince
Frederick Charles would doubtless have failed
to dislodge Bazaine, had not Won Steinmetz
struck the right flank of the French soon after
nightfall. The Prussian attacks were in over
whelming force and persistent; at every hour
from morning until night reenfOrcements for
them arrived upon the field; and the French
were outnumbered at least two to one. The
slaughter was horrible, the Prussians losing by
far the greatest number of men in consequence
of the desperation with which they attacked.
The attack of Won Steinmetz on the French
right was but the repetition of Prince Frederick
Charles's famous assault on the Austrian right
at Sadowa-of Bluchers grand charge at
Waterloo. 1t was as decisive of this battle as
the others were of the fates of Benedek and
the First Napoleon. Bazaine could not hope
to resist it, and retired to Metz. Darkness
was his ally; else the attack of Won Steinmetz.
must have resulted in the rout if not the total
destruction of his army.
Our account is noble tribute to the grand
courage and sublime devotion of the soldiers
of the two armies. Attack and defense alike
were admirably sustained. Repeated failures
did not dampen the ardOr of the Germans;
and they returned without murmur or hesta-
ton to assaults which they must have felt
were hopeless. The French maintaining
strictly the defensive, seem to have fought
with sullen desperation rather than the wild
enthusiasm which has characterized them on
former fields. The tactics of Bazaine will
command the admiration of all soldiers. The
skill with which he withdrew his army during
the hottest part of the battle to second and
stronger position proves him an admirable
tactican.
The hope grows stronger daily that this
battle will prove the decisive one of the war.
There is no evidence of any further advance
of the Prussian army the French are thrown
wholly on the defensive; delay seems impera-
tive, and peace cannot but follow. God
speed it!