The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1870-09-17
II PACIFIC
Commercial A0bmtiser.
SATURDAY Y, SEPTEMBER II.
Progress of the War.

of the War.
From the mass Of kilograms received from the
seat of war, amounting to no less than forty odd
columns Of mail type of the California papers
by this mail-it is almost impossible to. OBJ
tain a correct idea of the position of the French
and German armies, or of the various battles
fought, or losses sustained. The reports are so
very conflicting, and so frequently denied, as to
be almost unreliable. We have endeavored to
wade through tie whole, with the view of pre-
s~enting a fair ard, if possible clear, view of the
position of affairs at the latest date, August %.
Our previous dates by the steamer were to
Aug. llth, when, it will be remembered, the
Prussians were nlassing their forces around Metz,
and there was every probability of n great battle.
1t seems that the French had in that city about
lGO, 900 troops under Marshal Bazaine, when the
Prussians arrived. As the fortress around the
city will only hold about 1000, it became neces-
sary to move a portion of their large army, to
prevent its being beseiged in the city, and caus-
ing famine. Consequently, on Sunday morning,
August l4th, Bazaine's army began to march
out on the road to Paris via Chalons. Here the
telegraph says:
On Sunday, 1ith, inst, Marshal Bazaine established a tenn
Porary line Of defence on the right bank Of the MoseIle between
FauIemOnt and Estangs along the NoseHe. After Metz was
fully garrisoned and prOvisiOned, the Marshal retired TO the left
Charles. who with 10000 men assailed Bazaine's rear COM
manded by Decaen and LAdmirauIt, 10 break the French line,
this hut detained its retreat for some hours, and the Prussians
were at length repused with enormous loss. A part Of the
RUSSIAN army came within range Of the guns Of Fort st.
downmercilessy by the French artillery. After this battle the
order TO bury the dead and succor the wounded. The request
was granted by the French Commander, as the decomposition
untenabIe. ~
on Monday, 18th, Bazaine passed the Mosene with his army
undisturbed.
Next day tuesday Prince Frederick Charles, having also
right at GravelOue and Thiouviile at the same time that the
first Prussian army under Steinmetz advanced obrquely from
the northeast TO the southwest toward the French centre and
le; at Thiancourt. A severe battle ensued here. The Prussians
TO drive them back on the third Prussian army under the
Prince Royal, which was advancing from Barbecue. The
French peasants alone bafied this plan, which, If successful,
would have left France without other defenders than are now
in ChalOns.
The fighting, which commenced on Sunday, was
continued through the week to the Goth, and bat
ties were fought at Pont Mousson, twelve miles
south of Metz at Thiancourt, twenty miles to
the southwest at Mars-le-Tour, ten miles west
at Fianville, fifteen miles west at Gouraincourt,
twenty miles northwest and at nameless places
closer to Metz. As well as we can make out the
motive of these repeated battles, they were fought
by the Germans to prevent the retreat Of Bazaine
to Chalons, and by the French in an effort to
effect such retreat. Both parties, as is usual in
indecisIve engagements, claim the victory on each
occasion and the French dispatches, if they may
be taken as true, dispose of a very large part of
the Prs sian army as hors de combat. On the
other hand, the Prussian dispatches claim that
the French were beaten and checked everywhere
with heavy loss. So far We must accord the VIC
tory to the Germans, since they have prevented
the intended movement of Bazaine, and still keep
bIo orrn- oIcno 90 Io- 81 ...AI.z :. r. 4.
lance of the defenscs of Metz. The situation in
dicates Tin spite of dispatches alleged to come
from Marshal Bazaine) that the Prussians have
cut all the railway and telegraph lines leading
from Metz to Paris, and so actually prevent the
communication of news from the French army.
The French losses in the battle on Sunday,
August IA, are estimated by a correspondent of
the New York Tribune at 1O, 200 killed and
wounded, and 1000 prisoners. The German
losses he puts at 1000.
On Thursday, August Is, a still greater battle
was fought, about fifteen miles due west of Metz,
which resulted in the Prussians driving Bazaine's
army back within the fortified lines of that place
where they remained till Saturday morning,
August 20, when they made another attempt to
cut their way through to Verdun. This also was
a failure, and now the prospect is that Bazaine
will have to capitulate or starve. On Saturday
the Crown Prince was at Vitry, twenty-five miles
south of Chalons, and the French Garde Mobile,
collected to make a stand against the Prussiansa at
the latter place, were being withdrawn to Paris.
There is hardly room for a doubt that Bazainc's
was effectually crippled and shut up in the circle
of the Metz Notifications on the 18th and Goth.
After the sharp engagement at Verdun on the
Doth, there appear to have been no battles fought
for a week, both armies being occupied in re-or-
ganizing their forces, which were evidently
badly damaged during the week. The Paris papers
state that battles were fought on the Odd and
9th, but we do not find a confirmation of the
report. There may have been small engagements
on those days. The battles on the 18th and 18th
are represented as having been very destructive on
both sides. On the latter day the Germans lost
40 900. The French loss is not stated.
On Sunday, August %, fighting again COM
menced, according to the telegraph
LIVERPOOL, Aug 2o-ICable special to the u nl-AnLox.
Aug. %, via Brussels-1he Pnissians are making a flank
movement on Mcmahon, the same as they did on Bazaine.
This is the situation Of both armies. Mcmahon, asI told you,
already occupies a line from RetheI to stenay, leaning on Me-
zieres, Sedan and Monlmedy, with the Belgian boundary be-
hind The Pussians who were marching on Paris deployed
TrOyes march in the direction Of Romilly those around Cha
Ions IN n OF culppeS. and those which were between Stenay
and Varennes in the direction Of RetheI by Grand-Pre and
Vouziers, while a strong force is at Dun, observing the left of
Mcmahon at Stenay. Meanwhile, strong Prussian columns are
advancing from Lunevile and JoinYiIe TO 81. Dizier, where the
headquarters of the King were reported to be yesterday. The
manifest intention of the Prussians is to destroy McMahon, as
thy destroyed Bazaine, and then turn their attention to Paris.
A great battle will be fought before many days between
Rethel and MOntmedy.
Do not believe in a despatch from Reihel, this morning, stat
ing that Mcmahon and Bazaine are in communication.
The following appears to be the very latest
from the field of battle
LONDON, Aug. 29-It is reported that Mcmahon was de-
feated in a great battle with the Crown Prince, which began on
the evening Of Sunday. The latest dispatches represent that
the contest Is not yet decided and fighting is now going on be-
tween ChaTievile and Ardenne.
All the railroads and telegraphs from the seat
of war to Paris having been destroyed or held by
the Prussians, the most reliable reports come by
way Of Belgium and London. These indicate
thar the battle with Mcmahon, which was being