The New York herald., 1870-08-03
FRANCE.


From the Fieid-Ths Sent Of wnr--yhs Gath
srisG Hosts-The Pause Before tho Bat
tie.
MErz, France, July Il, 1870.
Many Americans who have travelled In Europe
I'LL be familiar with that portion OF France which
forms It's northeast shoulder and touches the borders
OF Luxembourg, Prussia, Baden, Switzerland, &C.,
and will recollect Its ordinary sedate and peaceful
character. At the present moment a great
change has come over this quiet territory
for It u here that the French army Is
rapidly concentrating, and some OF the stern reali
Ties OF war, II not its most deplorabe aspects are
already before the eyes OF the astouished people.
FOR q week past troops have arrived AT Nancy, Metz
aud Strasburg by the thousand almost hourly, and
there has been continual inpour,ng OF artillery,
ammunition and baggage wagons. Every available
building has been tax en- by the authorities for the
accommodation OF men and horses, The surrounding
c0untry has been ransacked Tor fodder and provi,
lions. ana all the well known accompani ments
os military occupation are beginning ~ make
themselves as familiar 10 the residents
as were few weeks ago the faces
Of promising tourists. In few weeks-possiby In
a few days more-the scene VIII be unpleasanry
var1eo py tha arrival from the front Of ambulances
crowded with wounded men. manned dlshgared
and managed for the glory or France ana the Napo-
leon dynasty.
Having4stlrted from Paris on u RECOMMENDING ex-
pedton the probable theatre Of war before the
great rush OF troops was fairly under way expeir-
enced no difficulty la reaching tnis point, which
felt confident would form the prncipul base
or operations OF the French army. Even a
week ago, however, the roads from every direction
were crowded with eager patriots, many OF them
mere youths, and with less Wiling or less enthusiasts
rF-z y-n,,.---- Nd themselves suddenly
compelled to report themselves IL the ead9 60
OF the reserves at Chalons-sur- -Marne. Al the pre-
sent time passenger traffic has almost ceased on the
direct Ines and the roads leading from Stras-
burg and. extending along the base OF operations
nave been taken wholly for military purposes It's,
therefore, no longer easy to about on the army
lno and the strict orders, already be-
ginning TO be enforced against the presence OF
newspaper correspondents, renders II almost danger
TO attempt TO do so Yesterday, indeed
sttache o. a London paper. who made an attempt to
squeeze Information as to the contemplated move
ments Of the French army out or JovIal soldier.
averse to n social glass, found himself suddenly
tho inmate OF the guard house, and only
released IN the morning with a significant eau
ton that he had better, in future, be less eager
in the pursuit OF knowledge. There Is a comcal
side 60 the anair, as there generally Is to any
thing with which Frenchmen are concerned.
The correspondents, il appears. has shown, for the
two or three days he has been here, oyerzeaious
estimate OF the vast Importance OF his position. He
had approached several officers with questions Ell
tirety improper to be asked of military man, and,
when politely repuised had hinted Al tie grave dis
pleasure OF the important journal with which he Is
associated and mad been heard to threaten the
launchiDg of the thunders Of the London Times
against che whole French army unless its cor
respondents were supplied with full and reliable
Information. The story having got abroad among
the French, solder who Is most !nyeterate prac-
tical Joker took occasion, while withIu hearing Of
the Times 'speciari 10 rattle on a long string Of
stories relating to the great strategic movements
contemplated by General Lcb0ui and hinted myste.
uously of intended visits 10 Berlin and OF breakfasts
10 be eaten with Bismarck within couple Of weeks.
This was Of sufficient TO set the faithful and
dliigeEt special fire, and watching his opportu-
nifty, he drew the communicative soldier away
and led him to neighboring cafe. Here, enlist
Ing tho aid OF two English travellers. both
ofncers exoificers or the Brush army he pied
The french Zero win wine, anu tnen art''illy iea
MIN To talE of the French generals plans, by put
ting leading questions TO him after tle fashion ot
nalfncdged lawyers. Now. the soldier, besides
being good Joker happened 70 be a good driDker,
and hell the vine IN the Metz cafe would scarcely
have affected HIS brain. de therefore feigned
to WORK to inform the correspondent, In
q voice haI confidential and hsif mandlin.
Of = wen concerted plsn to make
fenL on one part OF the enemy's Ines
70 Dash into the heart OF Prussia Dy an unexpected
route. to JOIN the troops Of Austria and Italy who
were both In the plot, and To CAPTURE Berlin while
she Prussan troops were all on the marcn for the
Rhine aud the Baltic coast Our literary friend
captured on fthe spot took out his notebook and
eagerly jotted down this grand scheme for the sub
iugatiOn OF Prussia, no dOubt with The design of
sending il forward to-day ut any hazard or expense,
TO the leading journal OF England. But alas!
for the Frenchnans practical JOKE. some pattiQic
mon who happened 10 be In the cafe, observed
the close questioning o! the apparently intoxicated
guard by suspicious looking Individual, and the
Seoeaked resorts TO the notebook. and when the
military Frenchman staggered OIL they followed ms
uuesttOners observed where tncy went ana gave w
formation against them as Prussian spies. yhe
whole three were arrested-tnat ~ the TWO Eocilsn
ofYioers ana the correspondent-the hoax was ex-
planned ana the readers OF the London Times were
deprived OF the satisfaction OF reading direct from
Metz, fulI true and particular account oil the con
templated advance OF the French forces TO BeriIh.
1t Is very little use to predict what VIII De tne nc
tual movements OF the French army, wlep SO mucn
secrecy is observed and when lew days wiz SCI
the question at rest. AZ present all mat u
known Is that within two or three Gays the pions
have been far altered as 10 make Metz. Nancy
and Thlonvi1e the great concentrating points, IN
stsad OF StrasbWg, - before indicated Enn