The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-08-06
FOREIGN NEWS.
The War I'm Europe.


opposing armies. Tue French line extends from
Sierck, a village on the northwestern boundary
Of France, along the valley of the Moselle
through Thionvllle, Metz, and Sarrebourg 70
Strasbourg Oh the Rhine. The Prussian forces
appear TO be only few miles distant following
the line Of the Sarre from Treves, through Mer-
zig, Saar-Louis, Sarrbrucken to Carlsruhe, and
from thence to the Black Forest in Baden.
Thus far there has been no tieneIal engagement,
| though some pretty serious fighting. despatch
! from Berlin say. that on Saturday morning the
French attacked Sarrbrucken in largely superio.
force, but We're vigorously rerulsed Sarrbrucker
is on the boundary line OF Rhenish Prussia,
and the action that place indicates At least the
determination of the Prussian forces TO permi.
no invasion of their territory at any point.
| On Tuesday the French renewed their attack
| on Sarrbrucken this time succeeding in taking it.
| The fight began at / o'clock. The French pass
| ed the frontier in force The prussisns were
| driven from their strong position By the sharp
artillery fire of the French The latter remained
| masters of the position, which they VOL with.
out serious loss. The emperor and prince
! witnessed the conflict and returned 10 Metz u
dinner
Another account says
| The French troops passed the frontier 9, l.,
! o'clock. They instantly encountered the Pryss.
| ans strongly posted on the heights commanding
Saarbrusk, which were carried by y few bsttsi.
| ions The capture OF the town instantly follow.
ed, the artillery compelling the Pruesans e
evacuate in great haste. Gen. Frosard with one
| 4 l.fa Of ba
The buildings in Saarbruck caught FIRE from the
| French artillery and half the town destroy.
ed. The Tntrailleurs were used for the frs.
| time, and are reported TO have worked wonders
| The Ftgaro claims that the victory q. Sasr-
bruck was one OF great Importance. The empe.
| ror wished 70 gain possession OF Sasrbruck
because il commands the valley Of the Ssar and
| the Railway 10 Treyes. The latter cannot now
be OF any service to the enemy
| The French seem to be immensely ela.ed at
their victory in this first engagement. with the
enemy. The city OF Metz WAS illuminated il
its honor.
The Prussians seem TO regard the affair as un-
important a Berlin despatch says OF IL
| Yesterday small detachment stationed q.
Saarbruck was attacked by three French div,s-
ions. After sharp action the position wac
abandoned, the Prussians falling back on their
supports. Loss trtng. The prisoners repor.
the arrival Of the French emperor ON the bank
| of Saar at II in the morning.
telegram rr0m Amsterdam confirms the re-
port OF the French exploit q. Sasrbruck bu: CALI
1t q coup do utGtre' TO act on Paris, and not q
military success. The Prussians regarded Ssar-
bruck as position without military value, and
Entrusted II - two companies
On "Wednesday there was some more fighting.
iYn. At L.
Prussians advanced between Weiseenbury and
Lauteroourg, 10 miles into French territory,
driving the advanced posts of The enemy, and
destroying miles Of railroad between Lsuter.
beurg and Strasbourg, along which i, is supposed
McMahon was preparing ~ advance. The French
loss is heavy, including many prisoners.
later despatch says:
The Prussians victory ~ Welssenburg was de-
cisive. The troops engaged were the regiment.
OF the Fifth and Eleventh Prussiau army corn.
and OF the Second army corps Bavaria, and were
led by the crown prince il person. The French
force consisted OF Douay'- division OF McNahou's
corps. Weissenburg and Gechall, in the .ea- OF
that town, were carried by storm at the point OF
the oayonet, after an obstinate resistance The
genera! who commanded the French in the ab.
sence OF Douay killed with two officers OF
wounded prisoner including many Turoos, fell
into the hands of the Pru--iau, On the German
side, ten. hlrchbach was wounded. The Greu.
adler guards and the 10th regiment suffered
severely.
The hadcptHte"c, BegG expresses a very conf.
dent opinion that general engagement. canlo.
possibly be delayed beyond Saturday or Sunday
OF the present week
The Emperor assumed command of the army
on the 3Oth. issuing stirring proclamation Z,
his soldiers on the occasion. The prince impe.
rial accompanies him to the front
1t is conceded that an alliance between Franc.
Austria and Italy has been effected. The roens.
cling attitude Of England toward France. ser.
hlbted by the English press, and the pressure
in the parliament for an increased armament.
seeming to suggest more than possibility OF
Englands corporation with Prussia in which
case the security OF Austria might be endanger.
ed, is said to have fastened the alliance.
England.
The be!lgerant tone of the English press has
sottened materially since the date of The treaty
alleged to have been proposed by France to
Prussia has been made known Count Bernstein.
Prussian ambassador at London, makes public
statement in the Times, July Goth, to the effect
that France, in 1866, offered to lend Prussia 300.
GOO men 20 use against Austria, il Prussia would
surrender to France the territory between the
Rhine and the Moselle. The rejection of this
proposition by Prussia awoke the empcror's avn.