New-York tribune., 1870-08-04

FERIOR.
- [PRoM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
Mprz, .ruiY 21.-I was just sitting down TO
write vou an accouutQf my yyist 70 TIE Fort 81 Quenun
now constructing on one ct the hills whcrr s.,-ys
town OF Metz when learnt that the correspondents 60
The London Times and two Engish ohcers had Just oen
arrested They were at a oaT, having made q soldier
drunk and were trying to pump" him. The only re-
suit Of their efforts to obtain information was that they
were promptly arrested and hurried 10 the frontier
hope to have an interview Of Marshal Bazaine
ing the Third Corps dArm6e here shortly, and to give
you yet further details TO the Of meas
ure toward two English officers. Journalists We all
know, are fair game, and your Paris correspondent will
ere this have told OF the than Draconan law
the press during the with Prussia, passed by NJ
0lvier's liberal government
Now to give you account Of my visit TO Fort ST.
Quentin, when, far from being arrested (although
accompanied by English officer, and make
secret OF the fac treated with the greatest posi-
bic poteness had been struck BY the numerous and
important works being constructed all sides OF Nets
my rstiarriva and determined TO visit them and In
spect them narrowly II by possible means could OBJ
tain entrance At the hotel In Metz they assured
at that IL quite impossible for any CIVILIAN TO
the forts they would OF be delighted
to supply with carriage to go with and we should
enjoy ne yiew but the forts pas possible. "Why,
1 them myself" said mine host. But We
thought it possible there probably good
many other things landlord had seen,
of started. We passed one OF the three
camps now formed round Metz way directly
had cleared innumerable multitude of gates. glacs,
portculises, and drawbrdges counted four OF these
LATTER and my friend, the English officer above-men-
toned, says missed one, and that there five In ALL
Soon after we had quittedi the town and passed the
camp of BanSt Martin got the vineyards the
vines running right down to the edge of the road m many
without ditch TO fotect the grapes from the
gapns of Metz. After about half an hours drive ear
rage was brought 10 standstl by long train Of az
tillery wagons, whose drivers had stopped To
breathe their horses in front OF u.s. and our her
began to show signs of fear He wanted TO stop saying
he could not get past the wagons, but just he
speaking they started of, and he consented to 20 on
again. About quarter Of mile further on he came o
another stop, and this time he refused
to be comforted, expressing lively fears Of
the sentinel in sight at the fort about quarter OF
mile higher up, making of his Chassepot II We went
yard further There nothing for t but to get out
and walk trudged up the steep and dusty road to
the entrance Of the fort The sentinel received us very
politely and showed signs Of making any hostile use
of his musket He told us We must come with him to
the guard room, and speak to the sergeant" The ser
geant referred to the captain commanding, and we
wait for that parsonage IN his bureau I'm
OF the casemates Getting tired of waiting asked leave
to 10 out and seek the captain and met him riding
back from sister fort hard by. When he heard what
we wanted, he demurred little at first but,
after having examined passports, and
satisfied himself that they regie,
he not only decided to let visit the
fort but told Of the heutenants duty
accompany and do the honors. We accordingly
shown by most intelligent
young officer, who not only answered all questions
but spontaneously volunteered Information which he
thought might interest The font, he told u.s. would
be defensble in "a hours the cannon 90 in number
even then being got into position and the bitches,
yards deep and many wde werefnished for purpose
OF defense, too the easements and bombprooi
barracks. Fort st. Quentin perhaps ought to
Forts St. Quentin for there stand the summit
OF high hill which overlook for miles the broad valley
OF the Meuse in which Metz stands. Their guns would
play with tremendous effect any enemy advancing up
the valley TO attack the town at It's feet and beaten
demoralized army might find ample shelter ia the
valley which we had just crossed, guarded side
by the gums OF the town, and the other by the fort
we're in Our friend, the lieutenant, complained terribly
of the difficulty OF getting ms 10 work on the fort
They all thinking and talking OF nothing but fight
ing royez aud every and then put down their
pckaxes and shoves 10 listen 10 comrade who has come
up from Metz with absurd story OF great battle
having begun. However, shall be of TO the frontier
in eight days" he added asked him IL he had seen
guns mounted on the MOncrie system but he had never
even heard OF it, Nor lid he know what Spencer or
Henry repeater The tnSiL digUiHe, or PrussiaD
needle-gun, was all he seemed to care about.
How long did he think the would lasti about
two months, not longer The Prussans, even II vic
torious cannot keep their armies in the field for more
than three months at time, for by their system they
take all men, OF all ranks and occupations alike, TO hght
they exhaust themselves terribly in very short time,
all commerce and business being at complete standst
while the war lasts" This of course is an enemys
opinion, but that of an intelligent one He told us now
two Prussans had been taken in the forts ON the oppo
.t.kr -
gineers was recognized by Prussian workngman
employed on the earthworks. This man told his com.
rades that there was Capt - walking on the bas
ton; the guard turned out, and the captain was
arrested; 10000 francs were found on him, and he
at owned who he was. He is now meditating on
the errors his ways in the military prison in Metz ea
del Major Andre hung for less Tor the Prussian
was in plain clothes and owned that he seeking In
formation as to the forca atoms should not omit
10 mention that the of these fortcatons hav
ing been commenced some months ago Is clear proof
proof we're needed of how the French had long ago de
terned 10 prepared for offensive war on the FIRST
opportunity the forts not merely destined
to defend Metz The town is magn hcently fortified as
s No. they intended to protect vast encampmeni
the present moment or To give shelter and breath
in 2 time to a beaten army.
As we returned TO Metz we passed battery OF the
much talked OF mraeuses coming IN from the station
They had eacha tarIauln them but it plain TO
any one who had seen mitrailleuse what they
were. Beside the taken 10 prevent anyone froin
coming them sufficient to show that they were
not common FOUNDER iedpieees. II is hardly neces
sary TO tell your readers that the tremendous secret
about-these weapons is secret at ALL there being
drawings OF the French weapons In every arsenal I'D
Europe. Itis beside well known that the French so'
ernment has adopted very inferior model TO
by the Belgian, Prussian and British 1o'ornn'eh's
The Prussians, too, have model Of their own ""i'"
~
mona I'm declari, that mitraleuses will only be able to
I've used I'm peculiar places and circumstances-in the
breach of a fort in narrow defle, or In sreethghns.
:, dorh,Ie for this latter purpose that the French