The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-18
3 ECOND EDITION
Another Great Battle !
MARS-LA-T TOUR!
Metz Completely Invested !
England Offers Mediation
Prussia Declines It.
The Retreat on Verdun.
The Defense OF Paris.
England Offers Mediation
Prussia Declines It.
The Retreat on Verdun.
The Defense OF Paris.

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"PoNT-A -MoUssoN, Aug II - Evening -
General Alvensleben advanced yesterday with
the Sd Corps towards the east side of Metz,
on the line of the enemy's retreat towards
Verdun. He encountered severe fighting
with the divisions of Generals De Caen, Lad
mirault, Frossard, Canrobert, and the Impe-
rial Guard.
General Alvensleben was sustained sue
cessively by the 10th Army Corps and by
detachment of the Sth and 9TH, commanded
by Prince Frederick Charles. The enemy
was driven in upon Metz, in spite of his
great superiority of forces, after a severe
combat of twelve hours. The losses on both
sides were very heavy The Prussian Gene
rails Doering and Widel were killed, and
Generals Rausch and Gruscher wounded.
King William to-day saluted the troops on
the field of battle, which is gloriously main
tanned"
A French Account.
LONDON, Aug. ia telegram from Briey,
q town fourteen miles northwest of Metz, has
the following: obstinate struggle oc-
Cured near Mars-la-Tour, between Metz and
Verdun, yesterday. 1t is supposed the en-
gagement was general. Large numbers of
wounded of both armies are arriving at Briey.
Travellers report that a vast body of Prus-
slams have been thrown back upon the Moselle
by the Imperial Guard. The Prussian artil-
lery was entrenched between Briey and Saint
JEAN"
The Retreat on Verdun.
LONDON, Aug. 1S.-Telegrams from Paris
this morning give the following resume of
events since Sunday last-On that day the
French army engaged the Prussians before
Metz. The latter suffered heavy losses, and
the French retired on Verdun.
The Emperor's Movements.
On Monday. the Emperor was at Grave
lotte with sixty thousand men. Subse-
guently occurred the engagement at Tongue
vile, the French constantly, fighting and re-
treating, contesting every step, On Tuesday
the Emperor passed through verdun and
feacned fCnelms, Wnere ne now Is.
An Armistice Refused.
The Paris PreSse says the report that the
Prussians had demanded an armistice, in
order to bury their dead, is fully confirmed,
and praises Marshal Bazaine for not accord
ing it. The peasants must bury the dead,
and the army continue its work of annihilat-
ing the enemy
The French Forces
are increasing constantly, and the Prussians
decreasing. The hour of the complete vic
tory of France is near.
The Defense of Paris.
There is great activity on the Notifications
of Paris, and thousands of men are at work
putting the defenses in better condition.
The Prussinn Successes Confrmed-The Main
French Army ReIreatinR.
LONDON, Aug. 17.-Despatches received to-
day at the Prussian Embassy in London con-
firm the Prussian successes on Sunday, already
reported, but do not throw much light on the
subsequent events. No kilograms received in
London up to midnight "wednesday explain
clearly the movements of the last three days.
The French accounts are extremely vague but
indicate that divided counsels and
changing plans have constantly embar-
Tassed and endangered the French retreat
Adespatch from Chalons already telegraphed you
proved that troops were pushed forward from
Chalons towards Metz down to Saturday night
when the trains were stopped and fired on at
Pont-a-Mousson. On Sunday the Prussans
found the French still in great force under the
wall of Metz. Since Sunday no considerable
battle is known to have been fought anywhere;
but the French reports of checks to the Prus-
SLAMS west of the Moselle, whether true or
false, coincide with Bazaine's retrograde
movement. In the absence of Prussian
kilograms there is nothing to show what forces,
either Prussian or French, remain near Metz;
but there can be little doubt that Bazaine, after
hesitating till ii was almost too late, has with
drawn the main body of the French army west
ward, and that the Prussian forces have ha-
raised his retreat by unremitting attacks on his
fianks and rear In such circumstances no
general or decisive engagement should be
fought, unless the Prussians had moved rapidly
enough to cut off the French retreat. They
seem TO have crossed the Moselle both above
and below Metz, large forces remaining at the
same time before Metz, and there is no known
basis for Palikao's statement in the Corps Lsgis-
latif that the Prussian attempt to cut off Bazane
had failed, for there Is no evidence that II has
been made in such force as to compel Bazaine
10 choose between abandoning the direct line
10 Chalons and hghting battle. The