Litchfield enquirer., 1870-08-11
e R EAT B ATTLE!!
TOTAL DEFEAT OF THE FRENCH.
Th@sP1'u@sianS Marching
 on Paris.

4uo DuSp0uSo Ou bu0 hulH0 HAS D6eQ 8t last terminated by tremendous and suc- cessful onslaught of the Prussians on the French position. The French army held position forming right angle, the cor ner of which is almost identical with the northeastern corner of France itself, the whole extent occupied being not less, we should judge, than one hundred miles. There were two Prussian attacks, one up on the angle, which was occupied by Mar shal McMahon. In several engagements from Thursday to Saturday, McMahon was completely defeated by the Grown Prince and was driven off in an easterly direction towards Nancy. In the meantime the French centre under General Frossard had undergone terrible defeat from the at- tack of the Prussians under Steinmetz, being forced back in the direction of Metz. The consequences of this double defeat are evident from glance at the map. The Prussian advance under Steinmetz cuts off communication with McMahon and the centre, apparently giving the Prussians an opportunity to turn the right of the French position at Metz, before communications can be restored. The French official re- ports, indeed, claim that McMahon's com- munications with the centre have been re- stored, but Prussian reports are inconsis- tent with this claim. However that may be, the result of the first great conflict has been to force back the French right about one third of the distance from the Rhine frontier to Paris. Napoleon himself confess es defeat, and the imminence of the danger to the capital is also frankly admitted by the Empress Regent, and the Ministry, in approximation declaring Paris in state of siege. No estimate of the losses is as yet given except that the Grown Prince claims the capture of 4O00 prisoners, 30 guns and 6 mitrailleuses The Emperor is reported ill at Chalons. Gen. Leboeuf is superseded and Gen. Bazaine takes the chief command. Whether the French make stand at Metz is evidently depend ant on the ability of McMahon to restore connections before the Prussians reach that place. It is rumored that another hattie has taken place but there is nothing certain. sse5 stf4
 Critical as is the position of the Empe- i'm the field, it is none the less so at his capital Paris is convulsed by the terrible news from the army the Corps LegislatJf has been convened i; the defence of the city is entrusted to the National Guard and a levy en msasse is talked of The levy en nsasse may drive the Prussians across the frontiers. and the National Guard will take care of Paris, but will they not overthrow the dynasty that has plungedthe country into an unnecessa- " war, r,and has been defeated in that war? A significant announcement is that of the Radical deputies of the Corps Legislatv, demanding the arming of all the citizens of Paris, and the organization of Com mittee of Defense.
 The result of this great first battle of the war has been a surprise to the friends as well as to the enemies of Prussia. After foar years of preparation, Napoleon chose his own time and place of attack, and yet his first campaign opens with g tremendous defeat, an invasion of France, andan advance op Paris which there is no evidence that he can stop, short of the defences of that city. So may it always be with the tyrant who causes the death of thou. sands for his own personal or family ag- gFandizement -.#