The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1870-09-08

McMahon's aim was to gain the fron-
tier TO effect q Junction. with Bazaine,
moved in three Tines. Tho Grown
Prince south of Nancy, marched by
way Of Commcrcy, Bar Lo Due, St.
Dizier, and Vitry. The fourth army,
under the Prince Royal Of Saxony,
moving north Of Pont a Mousson,
moved toward Chalons and at the
same time observing Metz, while
Steinmetx, reinforced, proceeded thro'
Verdun TO Rheims, his right sweep,
ing the Belgian frontier 10 the hope
Of meeting Mcmahon. Thus the
German advance covered the country
from Belgium along the Mouse to the
Aube, rendering it impossible for
McMahon to reach Metz.
The suffering of the inhabitants of
Strasbourg is terrible. They are
starving and are compelled to live in
cellars day and night to avoid the
increasing FIRE of the Pfassians.
Another fruitless sortie was made
by Mcmahon on Monday.
The Prussian, sharpshooters are
within five hundred yards of Metz
Many houses are being burned and
the arsenal ut one time was on fire.
The ammunition was safely removed.
The fortress continues to resist. l
Bussaret, Aug. 80.
Tho Prussians attacked McMa-
hons army to-day near Beaumont,
defeatedit and drove it back upon
tho Belgium frontier. Tho French
camp fell into the hands of the Prus.
slams. The pursuit Of the French
continued for several miles and was
interrupted by . number of cannon
and prisoners, which were taken
The extent OF the battlefield was so
vast that it is impossible to obtain
further details up to this moment.
Brussels, Aug. 81.
The King of Prussia has sent the
following telegram to Queen Augusta:
The Grown Prince has boon in &C.
ton with the fourth, twelfth and
seventeenth corps and fourteenth
Bavarian. Mcmahon was beaten and
driven beyond the Mouse. Twelve
gums, one thousand prisoners and
some material were captured.
London, Aug. 81.
Public meetings were held oil over
Prussia to sustain the Government
in prosecuting the war to the end,
and to discourage all attempts ut q
premature negotiation.
The Times says: Mcmahon seeks
to get back again towards Paris. On
Sunday, according TO the French re-
ports, he retreated to Vonziers and
Rethel; but Belgian accounts report
him on Tuesday at Sedan with the
Prince Imperial, and hourly expect.
ing the Emperor: The Prince had
hastened forward leaving the Empe-
ror, whose illness prevented him from
travelling rapidly. Germans say that
the French were 90 sure Of victory
at the opening Of the campaign that
they made no arrangements to save
their baggage in case of retreat, hence
they have been compelled to abandon
it in great quantities.
Paris, Aug. 81.
The Journal dos Debats says the
forest Of the Argdenes, where q great
battle is to take place, is traversed by
rivers, creeks and swamps, in such i
manner that it is impossible to march
armies through it, except five passes,
viz: lie Chesne, Populeusx, Croix aux
Bots, Grandprc, LIE Chalade and 1zut-
tes, places sure to be frequently men,
toned soon.
Now York, Sept. 1.
A cable special to the Tribune, da-
ted London, 31st, midnight, says:
A special correspondent telegraphs
from Berlin, this evening tnat the
advance guard of the Twelfth Corps,
yesterday, successfully engaged the
French Fifth Corps at Neuvort.
Trustworthy accounts put McMa.
hon in line from Meziers to Sedan,
with his right wing on the railroad
from Meziers to Rethel. The exten-
sion Of his left wing from Sedan to-
wards Langwy, is not fully known.
The railroad from Mezicrs to Thi-
onville has been destroyed at two
points by the German troops.
The reported suspension OF travel
on the lines from Paris to Calais and
Paris to Brussels creates the belief
that McMahon's army may be event
ually transferred by the Northern
Railway Company to Paris. The
opinion is strengthened by the re-
ported presence Of the Prince Impe-
rial.
The seige Of StrAssbourg is pro-
crossing favorably.
Metz is quiet.
New York, Sept. l.
The Herald's special, dated Lon
don, Aug. 81, says:
An engagement took place yester-
day between Mousson and Carignan
between the forces of the Prussian
cavalry and the advance guard OF
McMahon's army. After o hard con.
test the French fell back and the
Prussians took possession of Cang-
nan, on the line Of railroad from Sc
dan to Thionville, (about 22 miles
from SEDAN, destroying the railway.
To-day fighting was renewed ut Ar
migeti, on the same line of railroad,
10 kilometres from the Belgian tron-
tier. In consequence Of the position
Of the contending armies, the Belgian
troops, under Count Flanders, have
been stationed at Philipvillo.
Paris, September 1.
The commander at Strasbourg
publishes the determination of tho
people to arrive In the city, rather
than surrender.
The Prussians have refused the
appeal lately made by the citizens
to spare the dwelling part of the city
on the ground that 1t would thus de.
fer captivating. The same object
declared their refusal to permit the
departure Of women and children.
London, Sept. 1, 3 p. m
There is an unverified rumor that
Mcmahon is crossing the Mouse at