The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-21
The War situation-Ducrot,. Movement,

inc war acknowledgements MOvements.
The confronting armies along the line Of
the Loire are still manGuvring for vantage
ground. The Germans in front OF Bourbaki
are said to be falling back, and shifting of
the French forces towards the left is percep-
tible. The object Of Chauzy is probably to
engage the attention of the forces under
Prince Frederick Charles, until strong
movement, preparing in Paris, Is sprung
upon them. He does not propose to
drive the Prince or to fall back
very far before him. There is something
grander on hand than mere stubborn fight
between the two armies on the Loire. The
Prince possibly suspects this. If he is falling
back before Bourbaki it is not that he fears
to encounter him, but that he has scented the
strategy of the French commander and is pre-
pairing to thwart it, The projected movement
in Paris amounts to about this :--Ducrot, with
one hundred and fifty thousand men, intends
to cut his way through the lines and join
Chauzy.
Ducrot, it must be borne in mind, has re-
manned at Vincennes, on the southeast of
Paris, outside the walls, ever since his gallant
sorlie of few weeks ago. His columns
occupy that portion Of the defences lying
between Fort De Clarendon and the Park of
Vincennes lie can form one portion under
the guns of Clarendon and another in the
narrow neck of land formed at st. Maur
by the bend in the river Marne,
and with heavy artillery fire from
the forts and earthworks to support him
can push rapidly and vigorously against and
through the lines in front of him. A success
FIJI movement of this sort will cut the German
lines only temporarily, to be sure, unless the
besiegers choose to pursue the fleeing enemy,
but il will put into the open field splendid
nucleus for the Army Of the Loire and the
other rising armies of the republic, and it
will give France general that she needs.
With his army of one hundred and fifty thou
sand men in the open country about Corbeil
or Meun Ducrot will have nothing to fear.
His men are now the Oldest and most expe-
rienced soldiers of France. They are veterans
compared with the men Of the Loire, and
Ducrot, compared to Chauzy or Bourbaki, is
as General Grant to General Pope. There
are no formidable forces to harass him after he
once passes the investing lines There will
remain three hundred thousand men inside
after Ducrot has escaped, and Won Moltke can
not open the gates to them by chasing Ducrot
with his besieging force. Prince Frederick
Charles will have Bourbaki close on his heels,
and the Duke of Mecklenburg is watched by
Chauzy. Thus Ducrot if he fully achieves
success in so desperate a movement as
breaking through the enemies line, II will be
the one piece extra in the game Of chess.
By attacking Prince Charles in the rear he
may completely upset all Prussian calculations
based on the defeat of the French Army of the
Loire. Besides, the consuming force of Paris
will be reduced by the withdrawal of so many
hungry men, the rations will last longer and
the force of defenders in the city will be
still large enough to hold the heavy
works against all corners. These are
the military advantages to result
from the successful sortie which General Du-
crot proposes. 1t is not certain thing, by any
means, that he can make it. 1t is desperate
chance at the best, but we hardly know of any
chance less desperate that offers more compen u.
sation if successful. Gambetta evidently puts
great hopes in the success of this coup. He
stated in the meeting Of the provisional gov
eminent in Bordeaux, according to our special
telegram from Bordeaux, that he was willing
to make peace if Paris fell, but would continue
the war in the meantime if the Army Of the
Loire held out