The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-08-26

| what ia to follow or result from 1t iB more
uncertain still. Up to the present time the
| Germans have been successful beyond all
expectation. They have shown immense +.
power and great military skill. But the for
tunes of war are uncertain. An accident may
tnrn the scales one way OF the other. Or the
practice OF fighting and roverses Of tho French
may mol only arouse the whole population Of
France to determined and persistent resistance,
bat may develop such military ability, such
gcneralship and resources as that ingenious,
proud and warlike people have not
yet shown in the war. The revolu-
ionary wars of the French at the close
ofthe last century and beginning ofthe present
one, wncn all Europe was combined against
them, showed wonderful vigor and resources.
This war, indeed, has proved that they are the
same brave people, for, Notwithstanding the
successes Of tho Germans they have fought
Ike heroes and have punished their enemy
severely.
Still the prospect is unfavorabe to the
French. The Germans have exhibited q
power and military ability little dreamed of by
the French and hardly anticipated by the rest
of the world. They have, besides, all the
prestige and moral power OF success, while the
French are cut up and agood deal demoralized.
The German armies, of not less than half
million of men, have penetrated like wedge,
the heart OF France, with the apex pointing
to and steadily advancing toward Paris and
fresh forces pressing in and upon the base.
The line OF the Germans is long one, from
the base at the Rhine frontier, and becomes
longer as they get nearer Paris, but it is well
taken care Of and another half million Of
men or more, including the landwehr, if
necessary, can be brought up to maintain that
line and to support and repenish the armies
in advance. The French have no forces to
cut the rear of the advancing German armies.
They are kept fully employed in endeavoring
to resist the masses Of their enemy, which
move steadily, like an avalanche, toward
MacMahon was to stop this progress, and
their forces have fought well and bravely for
that purpose, particularly those Of Bazaine
around Metz. It is doubtful if they can do
more than check the onward march for
few days. The progress of the
German columns seems irresistible. Nor can |
any other French army be got together to
operate upon the German line. Bazaine and
MacMahon might be largely reinforced from
Paris--that is, if the communications Of the
former be not already entirely cut of-but it
is not probable that the Germans can be
f,,ru aJ J,,o IL oh IF Do Nof1 b,,f
the most decisive victory over the main body
Of the German army could prevent that army
reaching the French capital
Looking, then, with the light before us at all
the circumstances and contingencies the stu
alton, we suppose that the German forces, to
the number Of three or four hundred thousand
splendid fighting men or more, will reach the
Notifications of Paris. 1t is possible battles
may be fought before thai. MacMahon may
have massed a large army and may stand in the
way somewhere on the line approaching Paris
but, as was said, the probability is that the
armies will force their way through and leave
no really dangerous enemy behind. 1t is posi- |
BILE, however, that MacMahon, who, it is
reported, has left Chalons, instead of march
ing toward Paris to defend that city or
to fight the Crown Prince Of Prussia
in his march, has gone in the other
direction to join Bazaine, with a view
to force the Germans to great
battle at Metz or in the neighborhood. 1t is
there the French may intend to defend Paris
and such movement might compel the Crown
Prince of Prussia to fall back to support Prince
Frederick Charles and General Steinmetz
against the combined forces of MacMahon and
Bazaine. Still, from present appearances the
Germans are pushing on steadily to Paris, and
according to the latest news were only sixty
five miles from that city.
Concluding, therefore, that the Germans
will reach the Notifications of Paris they may
have to contend with o large French army
under the walls Can they defeat such an
army9 or, defeating it, can they take the city
OF course there is always uncertainty in bat
tie, but looking at the success of the Germans
thus far, and at oil the circumstances Of the
case, it is probable they will be able to defeat
any army brought against them and to besege
Paris. The vast levies OF men that France
can undoubtedly make could do little with
such powerful and perfectly organized army
as that of the Germans. But can it take PARISH
No doubt the city is strongly fortified and has
large army of defenders at the Notifications;
yet we can hardly suppose the besiegers would
not find within circuit Of thirty or forty
miles some spot where they could force an
entrance, or that their shell and shot would
not make havoc within the city. Should they
reach the walls it will only be o question of