The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-09-07
THE BATTLE BEFORE METZ.
Omclal German Reports Of tho Engagement of

OHcial German Reports Of tho Engagement of
August la.
BY mail we have received two ofcial German re-
ports of the first engagement near Metz, that of
Sunday, Aug. a. The first, dated Herny, Aug Is,
IL as folows:-
This morning his Majesty the King, accompanied
by Baron MClke and the other generals of the royal
headquarters, also by Count Bismarck and Count
KutuSof, the military member OF the Russian EN-
bassy at Berlin, inspected the locality OF yesterdays
1ght. 1t IL situated between the eastern ramparts
oi Metz and the villages Ara, Laguenexy, Borny,
head quarters OF the 7Jl Corps d'Armee were, the
King, with his suite, mounted and proceeded at
morning of the 14th the French army was stationed
cast OF Metz, occupying three different camps, and
It is probable that General Bazaine intended to all
back on Chalons, and that it was only owing to
,Sndry dthcGilies w,h which ne mad to contend
In the afternoon General Steinmetz ordered
the 7lh Corps d'armee (Westphaians, General Won
ZastIow) TO proceed to the attack As on previous
occasions We round the French behind earthwOrSs
ard III rifle pits, which, while protecting them from
our fire exposed our troops to the full effect OF their
deadly AIM
on this occasion. as on some other preceding Ones
1t was observed that the French when crOuching IN
after the other had to take the pits and intrench
ments near AIRS, laguenexy, Griquy. Borny, Colom-
bey, and some other hamlets, which, surrounded
with hedges, present considerable difficulties for
attack. The fight was long, vehement, and very
saDguinary. As the French stood on the defensive,
and only popped up out OF their shelter to fire. their
dead have nearly all been shot in the head. In one
Sl,d
shooters. Our losses, too are considerable, as we
did not break of the engagement till late in the
into the very gacs OF the fortress When the enemy
began to yield, immense confusion set in in his
raIks. After short time he had entirely disap-
peared, most Of the slightly wounded managing TO
effect their escape With the rest.
AS we have made prisoners Of nearly all regiments
OF three principal corps united under General Ba-
zaine respectively Commanded by Gems De CaeH,
Frossard, and Ladmirault), 1t seems that we had
6pht. Mailing the French to the sOOt at Metz.
VIII be the more prolific In results, as the Crown
Prince has already occupied Lunepille and pene-
uated even 10 Pont a Mousson.
In the meantime, we are constructing railway
from Rsmilly, south OF Metz, TO a certain point
Ioltheast of the fortress, which will enable us TO
utilize the Saarbruck- Metz Nancy line, though
Metz remained in the hands OF the enemy. Though
temporary construction, and built IN the light style
OF the American prairie railways it Is grand en-
terprise, and occupies thousands OF labOrers. Our
difficulties in the task are the greater, the nhab
itants OF the neighborhood have been mostly
drafted into Metz to work on the new f0fihcatiOns.
The second report dated Ponta-Mousson, August
ID, reads as follows:-
The royal headquarters having been removed to-
day from Henry 10 Pont-a-Mousson, are now sta
toned in the midst OF the three operating armies, OF
which The one under General SteinmetZ Is before
Metz the other, under Prince Frederick Charles,
has got lar beyond Pont-a MoussOn, and the third,
under the Crown Prince, has reached Nancy. The
basis OF future operations now Is the Moselle be-
tween Nancy and Metz. There is little doubt that
the engagement near PaDge, on the I4th, will be
attended with the most important consequences.
Marshal Bszaine, being obliged to fight by our
troops coming up with him, probably kept quiet on
the 14th, because he had determined to Gel abrate
che 18th, the NapOleOn's day, by battle. He ac-
tOrdiDgk, in the night from the 18th to the 4th,
drew his troops together into one continuous line,
and, 1t seems, awaited the arrival OF the Imperial
Guaro, under General Bourbaki, on the 18th IL lw-
ever, left him no time for the execution of his
plans but ourselves proceeded To the attack In the
afternoon OF the l4th
We found ourselves In front OF the four corps Lad
mrault Faily, De Caen and Fossard the latter OF
which, 1t true could no longer be called a corps,
having been almost crushed at Saar6ruck Ol the
three corps darn ee forming the First Army under
General SteiD (Westphalians, hhinelander5, and
East Prussans) the Seventh or WestphalIan corps
opened the hight The engagement at hTst was little
more than a sklrmlsh, but by the new French prac
tice OF nghtng from riie pits became very bloody,
portions OF the First EAST Prussian) corps
darmee became involved, when the French
were driven from pit to pit, from intrenchment 70
iptIeDchment, ana at length were compelled 70 seek
shelter on the glacis OF the OutwOIks OF Metz AS
advanced upon them they left their ditches soon
pre- pared little further hack. This aud the telling
enect OF the ChassepOt, when managed with more
deliberate aim, IL usually Is by the French from
under cover, retarded our progress. Still, we
steadily gained ground, we .ached the glacis by the
time darkness set in. 1t was owing To this very
gradual advance OF opr men that the French had
| time allowed them to retreat
The fact OF their retreat s sufficiently proved 10y
their not reappear1ng on the 10th. In all prOba-
blty they have joined the Guards under BOurbaki,
| and are at present drawing off on the high road
from Metz To Chaons IL is just possible they Will
| have 10 encounter our second army, which has
turned to ThiancOurt from POnt-a- Nous on, aud s
likely 70 stop them long before they come IN sight Of
Chalons,