Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1870-08-06
THE PRUSSIANS RETIRE AFTER A
SHARP CONTEST.
CONTRADICTION STATEMENTS.
NAPoLEoY's DISPATCH TO EUGENE.

NAPOLEON'S DISPATCH TO EUGENE.
LONDON. Aug. 3, 10 a. M.-Saarbrucken
was taken by the French this morning. The
loss was slight on both sides.
LONDON. Aug, 8. noon.-The following de-
tails of the affair at Saarbrucken have been re-
ceiyed here: The fight begun at IL o'clock
Yesterday forenoon. The French passed the
frontier in force. The Prussians were driven
from their strong position by the sharp artil-
lery fire of the French The latter remained
masters of the position, which they won with
out serious loss.
PRUSSIAN OFFICIAL ACCOUNT.
BERLIN. Aug. 1.-The following is official:
A reconnaissance made yesterday by a body
of Baden light horse and Prussiau hussars in
force engaged q French scouting party near
Stargenbruun One officer was killed and
several wounded on the French side. Two
Prussans were slightly wounded,
\ FRENCH ACCOUNT.
PARIS. August S.-The French journals this
morning publish the following account OF the
Saarbruck affair:
METZ. August French troops passed
the frontier at II o'clock. They instantly en-
couutered the Prussians strongly posted on the
heights commanding Saarbrucken, which were
carried by few battalions The capture Of
the town instantly followed, the artillery
compelling the PruSSians to evacuate 1t IN great
haste,
General Frossard, with one divisions, de-
feated three divisions of the enemy. A build
ing in Saarbrucken caught fire from the French
artillery, and half the town was destroyed.
The Emperor. on his return to Metz, after the
battle, sent the following Geographic dispatch
to the Empress:
"Louis 1.-THE Prince Imperial has received
his baptism Of fire. He was admirably cool
and little impressed A division of Frossard's
command carried the heights over looking Saar.
The PrusSians made but brief resistance.
Louis and | were in front, where the bullets
fell about us. Louis keeps ball he picked
up. The soldiers wept at his tranquility,
We lost an officer and ten men.
NAPOLEON"
Metz was Illuminated last night in honor Of
the victory. After the retreat Of the PruSS-
ians, the French did not occupy the place.
PRUSsIAN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
BERLIN. August 8, via London.-The follow
ing official dispatch is published:
Yesterday a small detachment stationed at
Saarhrucken was attacked by three French
divisions After a sharp action the position
was abandoned, the PruSSians falling back on
their supports. The loss was trifling PriSo-
uers report the arrival of the French Emperor
on the bank of the Saar at II o'clock in the
morning.
METz, August 3.-Yesterday when the
heights Of Saarbrucken were occupied, bat
terry of mitraileuse played upon the enemy's
position in the presence of the Emperor and
Prince Imperial A detachment of the enemy
seen near the railway, at a distance Of 1000
mitres, was fred at and left halfof their num-
Der on the field. A second detachment met
the same fate, after which the enemy feared to
appear. The prisoners taken confess to the
superiority of the French guns.
ANOTHER BRUSH.
PARIS. Aug 3.-The advanced posts Of
Marshal Bazaine'S corps had brush to-day
with the enemy's sharpshooterS. Several Of
the latter were killed. The French suffered
no loss.
PRUSSTAN COAST DEFENSE LEVY.
BERLIN, Aug. 3.-The prussan govern
ment has summoned levy en- maSse to de-
fend the coasts.
THE PRUSSIAN FIGHTING FORCE.
LONDON. rug. 3.-The following is given
to-day as the number and disposition of the
Prussian army:
The Duke of Mecklenbury commands 1OS,-
600 men at the mouth Of the river Oden; at
the mouth of the Elbe. FalkenStein has IS 600
men, and near Ems Unowith de Bittenfeld
commands $4,000.
The army of the Rhine consists of the fol-
lowing bodies 10000 at Cologne under
Steimetz; 10000 at the junction of the Main
with the Rhine under Prince Frederick Charles
and 10000 along the upper Rhine under
Prince Royal Frederick Williams The chiefs
Of staff are Moltke, Blumenthal, Sporting and
Stshle,
RESULT or HESITATION.
LONDON, Aug, Sit is generally admitted
by the French that their hesitancy sacrificed
their advantage. An early start might have
overwhelmed Germany, but France is now
compelled to act mainly on the defensive.