Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1870-08-25
THE WAR IN EUROPE.

solHc iHdtclitN.
THE WAR IN EUROPE.
The first great battle of the
Franco -Prussian war resulted in a
complete defeat of the French at all
points. The official and reliable
advices give loss of thirty cannon,
four thousand prisoners, two stand
ards and six of their famous ma
chine guns, the mitrailleuse. The
prime movement, seems to have been
that of the Crown Prince against
Weissenburg, which place he cap
tured. Just at this time Marshal
Mcmahon was recOnnOitering neal
the Rhine, with the idea of advan-
cling his entire line.
This sudden, flank movement OF
the Crown Prince startled him, and
rendered his position perilous. He
at once threw his whole force against
the enemy in order to retake Weis-
senburg, but the Prince had already
brought all his forces forward, and
hurled him back, completely defeat
ing him, as acknowledged by Ma
poleon himself. Nothing was left
McMahon but to retreat toward
Paris.
simultaneously with this battle
there seems to have been severe
fighting all along the line Of the two
armies. The Prussians retOok Saar
brock, and drove the French toward
Metz. Since then they have been
marching, counter marching, and
still remain around and about Metz
Several very heavy baths have beer
fought and great ,losses have beer
sustained on both sides. But ac
counts are so conflicting that it is
almost impossible to get a true ides
of the situation. Both the French
and the Prussians claim some of the
battles. But the general opinion is
that the Prussians have the best Ot
it. On the 14th the Emperor lef'
Metz, and traversed all the villages
where battles have been fought since
the battle around Metz began.
On the 18th as he was passing
near the battle ground of Gravellotte
he very narrowly escaped being cap
tured by the Prussians, as he alsC
did in one or two other instances
The London news makes the state
ment that a great battle was Tough
on the 18th, and that the whole lin,
of the German army was defeated
Its correspondent says that al
though this news was received a
Luxembourg, yet it lacks confirma
ton. On the Sunday previous, two
battles were fought, each army
claiming the victory. 1t is possible
that Prussia may yet receive blows
that will he a full offset to tho tri
umphs of the hour. No man car
tell how the tide of battle may turn
The desperation of the French army
may wipe out disgrace that il
worse than death to them.
But if the Prussian advance
should hold their ground, then the
moral sentiment of the world vii
demand that King William be con
tent with his own security, the re
covery of a few provinces added il
other times, to the territory O
France, and the glory of brilliant
campaign.
We would like to see little o
the 'destiny" taken out of Napoleon
and his throne leveled down to the
plane of other thrones in Europe
but we do not wish to see a people
ruined or Paris deluged with blood
We do not wish to see all the pros
perity and order which have beer
created by the despot, tumble into
ruin, because we prefer a differen,
style of government.
The world wants Napoleon tc
know that he is only ONE of the
Princes of the earth. 1t has no faith
however in French Republic. The
French people are not prepared
to govern themselves, they need
some strong arm to lean upon.
We hope that, (if not before, al
the conclusion of the great battle
which is imminent, the Powers viii
step in. and interfere for the restor
alton Of peace.