New-York tribune., 1870-10-17

FALSE REPORTS OF FRENCH VICTORIES.
The stories of the wonderful successes of
the French at Paris, Orleans, and Metz, though
announced officially, appear in the light of
later information to be largely, if not wholly.
fictitious. On October 49, the date of the re-
ported operations which it was said by NJ.
Gambetta had resulted in driving the Ger
mans from their advanced positions before
Paris, there was no fighting at all; and dur
ing the whole of the past week there were
only two unimportant skirmishes. The posi-
tions carried by the Germans in the battle of
| September 10, in which, it will be
! remembered the French General DucrOt
was defeated at Chatillon, are still
| held by them, and in such strength that they
are likely to remain in German possession un-
| til vacated for stronger ones nearer the Capt.
! tai itself The withdrawal of the forces opera
ting against Orleans does not seem to have
seriously embarrassed the main army before
Paris. Instead of being weakened, it appears
that the Germans at Paris are being rapidly
reinforced to the number of 100000 men, fresh
from successful siege operations in the eastern
departments of France. During the present
week all of these forces will be in front of
instead of being forced from their positions
and weakened in numbers, the Germans around
Paris are stronger than ever, and almost ready
to make the attack in force.
In the mean time dissensiOns exist in the
city, and on the 9th inst. serious disturbances
resulted from them. The particulars which
are given are brief, and by no means clear
and satisfactory; but they indicate that the
new Government is much distrusted on
account of the postponement of the elections.
How far this feeling has extended we have
no means of knowing, nor can we judge how
seriously the discipline of the army has been
affected by the disturbances. AT any rate, this
distrust is dangerous enemy to Paris, and
may yet hasten its capitulatioD.
The stories current yesterday Of the escape
of Bazaine from Metz and the surrender of
the Prussians operating against Orleans are
too absurd to require serious contradiction
The news of the Metz affair is furnished from
Tours, which is 400 miles away through the
enemy's lines, while Luxembourg and Brus-
sells, points in neutral territory but a score or
two of miles away from the scene of the re-
ported French triumph, mention nothing about
it. The Orleans story was contradicted in the
same dispatches which announced it. The
operations of the French there as elsewhere
ended in defeat not yet reversed. AT Scissors,
too, they have met with disaster, and after
brief siege of four days the city has fallen
into the hands of the Germans.
The fact is that the French Provisional Ad-
mnistIation has not yet learned the folly of
to carry on a government by decep-
tiOn. The new Ministers are unwisely attempt
ing to rouse the French people to enthusiastic
and concerted action by announcing battles
never fought and victories never gained 1t is
desperate resort, and one which has never
yet succeeded. Sooner or later the fraud is
detected, and in this age the revelation gene
rally follows promptly. And then retribution
comes not less quickly.