Middletown transcript., 1870-08-20
THE WAR NEWS.

The dispatches from the scat of war
are contradictory. A despatch from the
Emperor Napoleon announces that the
French troops, in crossing to the west side
of the Moselle, were suddenly and unex-
pectedly attacked by the Prussians, but
that after a conflict of four hours the lat
ter were repulsed. A similar despatch
has also been received in Paris from the
Sous Project of the town of Toul.
On the other hand, the King of Prussia
reports that combat had taken place in
which two army corpse of the Prussians
were engaged, and that they were victori-
Gus.
The Emperor, accompanied by the
Prince Imperial, has gone to Verdun.
Before leaving Metz he issued procla-
nation, stating that he was going to meet
the enemy, and exhorting the garrison of
Metz never to allow the Prussians to take
possession of that bulwark of France. The
city of Nancy has been abandoned be-
cause it was indcfens.ble. A strange
story comes from Paris, to the effect that
thirty thousand troops of McMahon's Corps
who were cut off from the French army,
and believed to have fallen into the hands
of the Prussians, have reached Strasbourg
in safety. Strasbourg has not been bonn
barded, and the reported investment is
said to be nothing more than menace.
The Prussians have blown up two bridges
in the vicinity.
A cable dispatch. dated London, Aug.
16, says that the London Telegraph con-
tuins the following account of the fighting
near Metz during Sunday last:
1.-Two great battles were fought on Sun
day, one at Pange, eight miles cast of
Metz, and the other at Longueville. The
first encounter occurred before tho French
had drawn off their forces to cross the Mo-
selle by the bridges connecting with the
works at Metz.
The Prussians assailed the French
rear guard furiously, and attacking them
by flank and rear, pushed the French to
the very verge of the works of the fortress.
The French succeeded in cffecting lodge
ment behind the entrance of Metz. Here
the French made determined stand and
resisted the Prussian assault A second
contest ensued, which resulted in a rcpulse
of the Prussians in almost a hand to hand
encounter, upon the walls of the outer
line Of works. The Prussians, although
stubbornly contesting their ground, were
beaten off by the hostile masses, supported
by their Notifications"
Dispatches received in London, Aug.
Is, state that the Prince Imperial had ar
rived at the Tuilleries.
German troops continue to pour across
the frontier One hundred thousand of
the landwehr are said to have crossed over
and dispatches mention that the second
line of the German army is moving up to
support the advance.
The district of country given up to op-
erations in France is already exhausted
and its population almost famished. The
peasants are bitterly hostile to the inva-
ders, and very cruel to their wounded 1t
is reported that twenty peasants have been
shot for numbering the wounded, and the
dispatches give some revolving details Of
alleged atrocities of this character.
A skirmish took place also on Sunday
afternoon, at Toul, which is on the lef
bank of the Moselle, twelve miles West OIL
Nancy, and on the railroad from Paris tt
Strasbourg. The town has 900. inhabi
tants and an arsenal of Importance. Tht
Prussians, numbering about 1000 dc
manded surrender, but were fired upor
and retired with but trihing loss.
1t is now understood that the Prussian
do not really intend to lay siege to Stras
bourg, and it is stated in dispatches from
the Vosges towns that the fears of th
people have magni6ed the Prussian mum
bers around the invested CITY, 1t is prob
/ able that only small force of observation
} is before it. On the other hand, it i
said that 30, 900 French troops, cut Of
! from McMahon's last Sunday week, hav
: reached Strasbourg in safety The from
tier towns, Bitche and Phalsbourg, ar
2 said to be still holding out and unoccupi
: ed by the Prussians.
$ All of Napoleon's camp furniture ha
4 been sent back to Paris from Metz.
There is some talk of intervention b
i, the powers in behalf of peace, now tha
n several battles have been fought, but th
o rumors are ridiculed. The Paris news
n papers repudiate any peace movements
and scout such an idea until the Prus
d SLAMS are out of France.
N N In Paris the people are recovering frol
n the panic of the first reverses. The En-
press Eugene is described as being sadl
i changed and worn by heavy cares, res
e less days and sleepless nights. The Oh
leans Princes remain in England, the
r offers of service being as yet unaccepte
o by Napoleon.
1t would seem that the Garibaldians
e Italy, are causing Victor Emmanuel s
y much watchfulncss that he dare not gi,
aid to Napoleon. 1t is alleged that tt
y King has written the Emperor that
ever he left Italy it is doubtful if he coul
!. get back. The reyerses of the French,
l. is stated, are giving good deal of pea'
ure to many of the clerical inhabitants
/ Rome.
r LATER-Both the French and Prussia
armies at the latest adyiccs seemed to