New-York tribune., 1870-09-06
FOLLOWING THE PRUSSIAN ARMIES.
LIGHTING BEFORE METZ-THE GERMANS POUR
ING INTO FRANCE.
IFRoM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

IFROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
HEADQUARTERS OF THE GROWN PRINCE OF
PRUSSIA PROVINCE OF LORRAINE. Aug. l6-There IS
news Of some sharp fighting before Metz and 1t seems
certain that the French have been once more Wored
tbouCb the exact details OF what has happened not
AT hand We only know that after contest in which
there was considerable loss both sides, the French
forces retired upon their stronghold and that their force
H. described a. ebuee the Prussan dspatchthat is
az overthrow" Will not attempt 10 skttch the PROB
able movements OF this army in consequence Of the sue
cess OF Gen steinmetz, nor 10 deal in any progn0s
tics as 10 the effect Of fresh disaster on the
French plan OF defense. Napoleon has suffered
hInsef 10 be Outstrpped in every way; invaded
before he was ready 10 invade, surprised, pushed
back and weakened by loss Of prestige but he
has many courses t open 70 him. and il Is mere guess
ing TO speak Of his future ents We only know
for certain that Gen senmetz Prince Frederick Charles
and the Crown Prince drawing together upon the
French position and that there is perfect communication
from right 10 left OF the German line. Ths Is enough 70
suggest grave doubts % whether Napoleon can halt
before he gets ChAOns In the last fight Gen. stein
metz was helped il Is said by some troops from Prince
Frederick Charcss army They certainly very near
each other and the communication between them may
al any moment lead TO active support SO again with
rbe Crown Prince who, you know, has been al the
time 70 the southward His H Hghness is quite ready
10 act with the other armies The Prussians are, be-
leve at this able TO bring man for man against
NaUOleOns
above for service the fanks They are, in fact too
strong for him unless some wonderful feats OF arms
should shake him free and gain time 70 the French
ton 10 De armed
A. came from Prussia through the heart OF Germany,
tho whole nation flying 70 arms and here they are
pouring I'm Ike "a deluge The Germans were safe from
invasion themselves before had been ten days, and
they were more than match for France within twenty
cays Of the declaration. How far they are now too
strong for their opponent do not venture TO say but
when see this constant stream Of men and horses, OF
gun, and wagons pouring over the French borderiand
fee a. though Napoleon the First himself would almost
despair Of making impression on the hostile masses
II 10000 10000 were killed by the French In ex
change for tenth Of the loss their own part they
would still have to deal with reserves and garrisons
which would make their victory doubtful As TO an in
yason Of Gcrmony, IL would need snch success
ON the French part az We need not dls-
cuss The question now is OF saving France,
not Of finyadng4Gdmany. With six er eight months
grace the Emperor might recover himself But LIS actYe
enemy viii not give him six weeks In that time the
Prussians and their southern allies will either be in Paris
will have dictated peace to the French in the heart
Of France What will Germany take 70 remove her grip
from her opponents throat9 What sacrifice Of territory
payment Of money will induce the German columns 10
reace their steps ieI may 20 underrate the brave
French army and It's skilfu generals but well remem
her those CHASTITY heaps Of dead on the field OF Worth
ana Acknowledge that Napoleon Ill hah men VINO VIII
die for him by thousands IL is from 40 doubt Of the
French wimg mgness meet every danger that take
gloomy view of the position which France holds.
She had chance as II seemed toiher OF being Joined by
Southern Germany, and the chance has proved a
mere deusion She hoped for by Of the
cbsssepOt or the mtraeuse, and they have failed her
French soldiers are tOChasty for breechOaders and
10 the mneh-Fanted nitI aeuses they did practically
nothing at worth wessenburg They die not pre-
vent strong place Ike wessenburg from being carried
by assault nor hinder the German movements ut worth
Iof more than few minutes France has ad-
vantage, real or fancied, ave the desperation
of men who night for their homes She stands face
to lace with an enemy better prepared already
than she can hope 10 be by mouths of training and
all the dreams es conquest and glory, which were
INDUCED in by the French SOLDIERS three weeks
ago have ended in Gull standnp night at fearful odds
see the columns pas thousands upon thouss nds Of
fighting and the trains Of mnnition or of powder
brought steadily 10 the front There two other armies
ne this, Of the Crown Prince acting on the
EaaDeTors len AID center 1bare lss Of rsserses