Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-08-19

With the aid Of our correspondence and from
other sources, 1t is possible now to give some
connected account the maneuvering of the two
armies from Saarbrucken TO Verdun. As origi-
naliy formed, the opposing lines lay as follows:
General LAdmirault. commanding the fourth
corps, held the French left at Taionyille; next
to him came the second corps, under Gene
raj FrossaId, at st. Avoid, for ming, with the
third corps, under Marshal Bazaine at Metz,
the left centre;next the fifth corps, under Gene
raj DE Failly, at Bitsche, forming the right CEN
ter and then the first corps, under Marshal
Mcmahon, ct Haguenau, forming the French
right Back Of the third corps, as the third
der General BOurbaki. opposed to the French
line, the p. asian right, under General Stein
metz, lay from Trier to Saarbrucken; the GEN.
ter, under Prince Frederick Charles, between
Saarbrucken and Dahn; and the left, under
the Crown Prince from a point oppo-
rite Worth to in front Of Weissenburg.
Win this formation the French opened the
campaign by moving upon the left flank of the
frusslans right, General Frssard leading the
assault. Pushing on from st. Avoid, through
Eor6ach. he ass1l I'd AID took Saarbrucken on
the "a instant. With this success for the French
faP'f s pS e as s
by storm upon the 4th. On the 9Th Marshal
MacMahon advanced on Weissenburg to retake
II, and simultanc ous with this movement on tie
French right, the Prussian right under General
Steinmetz, advanced upon Saarbrucken to re-
take that, the right OF either army moving upon
a VICTORIOUS opposing left, and the center OF
both armies lying on their arms. In both en-
counters the French were, from all accounts
heavily outnum bered, worsted, and driven back
General Frossard lost heavily at Saarbrucken,
but drew OF in some tolersble order under
weller, or Worth. Marshal MacMshon
claims to have fought 5000 against lac, COZ,
and though defeated the French appear 70
have crippled the Prussans SO seriously that
no effective immediate pursuit was possible
As result Of these reverses at Saarorucken
Wiessenburg, and Froschweiler, or Worth, the
Ir1r rarh IafV II. -
sanized, the right center and leit were equally
In danger Of being fanked, and a retreat ami
reformation Of the whole center and right OF
the line became necessary. Advancing their
whole army from Saarbruck to SulZ III '. Prus
slams occupied Forbach, st. Avoid, Luzeist tein
and Haguenau, with intermediate villages or ,
In word, took possession of the original French
line, the French falling back until a new line
wss formed from Thionville to Nancy. Then
General LAdmirault waS ordered in from Thion-
vie, ana the line narrowed down to from Metz
TO Nancy. At this time Marshal Bazaine was
made the actual commander-in-chiefo of the
entire French army, and General Trochu ap-
POINTED to the head OF the administrative
department, or to be major general of the army
Pushing on the Prussians brought up their
army 10 confront this new line OF the French
A cloud Of cavalry was at once thrown out, but
before complete reconnaissance could be OBJ
tained the French army again took up the line
OF retreat for the Meuse. This was on the 18TH.
Saturday last, and on ascertaining the move
ment the Prussians at once assaulted in force.
General Steinmefz advanced upon Bazaine' =
rear guard an il was covering the transfer or the
main army over the MOselle, but was repulsed.
The PruSsian centre, crossing AT Gr about Pont-
a-Mous;On, marched to the right obliaue, or
] orthwesiardly, and struck the French left be-
tween Metz and Verdun. the Crown Prince
advancing meanwhile from Nancy. which
be had taken on the retreat Of Mac
Mahon towards Chalon, upon Bar-le-Duc
In the eventof further retreat NJ arshal Bazaine,
who is now unquestionably operating for posi-
tiop, will fall back behind the Meuse, and,
crossing the rivers Aisne and Marne will make
the entrenchment camp at ChalOns his base Of
operations. Here in the great plains of Cham
pagne the battle will be fought out. Ii the Prus-
sians are successful the road will be open TO
Paris, even IL the nation shall be aroused III,
On the other hand, the Prussians should be
teatsn, would be an overwhelming defeat,
and the difficulty Of retreat twould be Immensely
increased by the strong places in their rear held
by the French troops, which would make so
many detached bases OF operation for the pur-
suing army. At present the Germans have no
fOothOld in France, their advaI G.. being, to far
- known, limited TO this one lire. But further
to the south, at Belfort, Mulbsuse, and other
places-there are powerful army corps which
would be brought into action against the Prus-
s;ans.-Ndc York World.