Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1870-08-20

fecJlf west from MctZ TO OhalOnS,
through the small fortified town of Yer.
dan, on the Meuse, but if the French re-
main in Metz this, too, will soon be in
the possession OF the Prussiaus There
seems nothing left for the French but to
abandoned Metz aud give battle to the
Prussians on the open field, or to fall
back in hot haste on Chalons, the line of
the Meuso offering no protection of con-
sequence.
From the army at Metz the news is
conflicting. But all reports agree that
Prussian reconnoitering and foraging
parties overrun the country unchecked,
this showing that the French are COM
PEELED to keep close within their lines.
French accounts, in admitting that these
parties penetrate far into the interior,
and that the main body remains station
airy in front of Metz.
A great battle was expected on Sun
day or Monday between Nancy and
Chalons, it being supposed that the main
body of the French would come out of
Metz TO obstruct the passage of the
victorious Prussians on their way to
Chalons and Paris. Inside the fortifca-
tions the French were said to be in a
demeralized state, the abandonment of
their line of defences filing the soldiers
with rage at the incompetency of their
leaders. AS we write this brief report
comes that battle has been fought at
Metz and that both sides claim the
victory.
The situation of the French is exceed
| ingly grave. The line of the Vosgcr
and from the Vosges passes by way o
, Bitsche and St. Avoid to Thionville
was of great strength, and its loss by
the battles of Saarbruck and Woertl
= changed the French position from the
q aggressive to the defensive. An aban
i donment of the line from Thionvile tc
: Nancy is fraught with still greater peri
to France, az it is the strongest line be
tween Paris and the Prussian frontier
t The works forming the line were of grea
strength, and having lately been enlarg
S ed ard strengthened at great expense
= ChalOns, Mt which the next obstacle o
/ importance will be met with by the
u u Prussians, if they pass the line OF tn
y, Mosellc, is but u fortified camp, ant
o4,, loo, hot tr,,ntiAn tho,, bo
!, line. 1t is evident, from the hasty pre-
e parations for the defence of Paris, that
IS the line of the Moselle onco passed b,
u the Prussians, the French place LITTLE
= reliance on the defences between tha
|. and PARIS.
If The fight of McMahon's army was s,
II hurried that most of his stores, forage
II and provisions have fallen into the hand
n of the pursuers, who have accumulate
is large captures in this way.
g The news from S.rasburg is still un
n certain. The latest and most reliable
;, account, says it was bombarded will
r red hot shot on Friday and Saturday
asked parley, and had forty-eight hour
, in which to decide on surrender.
e Affairs in Paris are comparativel,
1t quiet, at least so far as can be ascertain
o from the dispatches permitted TO be sen
. opt in the face of the proclamation de
- ncuncng militay law on who everdare sa,
d that everything is not lovely. A stron!
Y attempt was made in the Chambers t.
d establish Provisional Government i
L the shape of committee of Detcnc
= with supreme powers, and the decara
~ tion was openly made that it was ques
=, ton between the safety OF the countr
e, and the safety of dynasty, but tn
st Imperial party carried the day and dc
y teated the proposition.
New YORK TRInuNE's SPEcIALs.-LoNDoN
Aug 16,-Our special correspondent write
from Paris, on Monday night, that Sunday
g battle was only the semblance OF success
= mitigation of disas,er. The Germans havin
IL cut of all railroad communication whatev,
1t with Metz, Bazaine commenced to retrei
Is uCTpSS lht moScllc, anu pTpIOScu 'O lOlioW VI
,s ordinary high road toward Vcrgun, whith
the Emperor and Prince Imperial, leavr
Metz To its fate, had preceded him. Whe
half the army only had rot over the river, Il
u Generalssimo upon whose presumed skill Il
y hopes of France are fixed, was surprised, Ju
y, like other French commanders, Reconnoi
m ances had found no inking of a German corr
in the neighborhood, but nevertheless, wht
one-hall the army had got across the river,
=" was attacked by great force. We have u
~ Emperor's word that ailer four hours tlghtil
,i- the enemy WAS repused with great loss. but
#. Is not asserted that half of the army whlt
- wanted 10 get across succeeded in taking Il
river most favorable to the French, il
Obvious that movement thought to be
Vi capital importance must have been 10 co
on siderable extent thwarted and impedcd by
of attack for whi2h IL was not prepared T.
ce Emperor tells the Empress OF great losses
ala the enemy. but says nothing OF his own, whiC
however, amer a lew hours struggle With I
- soldiers OF Weisepbarg, Forback anG FrosC
MS weller are not Likely 10 bave been sma
ay What Is the exact meaning of the repulse,
ng the respective positions OF the two annie