The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-08-12

tIconntry 90 ss to form q lake six mile
in extent.
Ordinarily the garrison of Metz mum
hers shout, 5000 men. Should y.
French army uncover Paris, We SIP
pos that 8 Iforce Of 5000 or 30,Wt
men, without including their dards
Mobile of the city, would be left &c
defend it. And here, az We said above
the troubles of the Russians begin.
Nothing short Of treachery. cowardics
or starvation is likely to reduce Metz.
Twenty thousand men can defend il
against any force that can possibly be
brought against it. Nevertheless if the
Prussians push on to Paris, leaving it
behind, and aredefeated in a general en-
gagement, they could only retreat back
to Germany BY cutting their way
through the garrison which would by
this time have sailed out to oppose
them. 1t is true that they could leave O
corps to watch the city but this would
weaken the main army and expose
this corps of observation to a sudden
and disastrous defeat from the French.
The French Centre
Is at present located at Nancy, where
the bulk OF the Imperial Guard and
the greater part of the Sixth corps is
stationed, the whole commanded by
Marshal Canrobert. We have no idea
what the strength Of this force is, but
it cannot number less than sixty thou
sand men. Standing midway between
Metz and Saverne Canrobert ought to
be in a position to afford aid to either
Mcmahon or Bazaine in two marches.
Nancy is strongly fortified and is capa-
BILE of resisting a severe attack, but it Is
by no means impregnable. The great
advantage it possesses as defensive
position is the large plain which sur
rounds it, An advancing enemy would
have to move across an entirely open
country exposed to raking artillery
fire. Nancy is DO miles from Paris
The French Right,
Or, to he particular, the right centre,
the extreme right being at Belfort, is
at Savernc, to which place Marshal
n :MahOn retired after his defeat near
Woerth on Saturday. Here he has his
own corps, and near by is the corps
under de Failly, the whole numbering
perhaps seventy thousand men.
Saverne is situated on the east slope of
the Vosges and not far from the for
tress of Phalsbourg, which stands on
the rocks and communicative defiles Of
the mountains. Mcmahon is at pres
sent safe from an attack OF the army
commanded by the Crown Prince, and
will probably be allowed to renrgani2e
his force unmolested.
strasbOurg Besiexed.
A dispatch from Carlsruhe announces
that 6O,000 German troops have sur
rounded Strasbourg, and that as the
garrison numbered only 1000 men an
early surrender is expected. This ex-
pectation will not be realized. Stras-
bourg is like Metz, one of the strongest
fortresses in Europe, and is regarded as
absolutely impregnable. The fortiiica-
tons, including the citadel Of five
bastions, extend to the Rhine, and are
Of immense strength. Situated near
the confluence Of the little river III
with the Rhine. the same arrangements
for defense have been made as with the
Seille at Metz. BY means OF large
sluices, the whole country around
Strasbourg can be laid under water, ex-
cept on the side of the Porte des Mines,
and there the glacis is mined. Six
thousand men can hold Strasbourg
against $4,000 men. The inhabitants
OF the city who number $4,000, can
unaided resist any force the Prussians
can besiege them with. Such being
the case we have no idea that Stras-
bourg will surrender, and it is absolute
" necessary to the Prussians before
they attempt an advance to the defiles
OF the Vosges Mountains. In fact,
nothing could be more dangerous than
to leave two such fortresses IS Stras-
bourg and Metz in the rear; while
should the Germans sit down before
them they will enable the French to
organize and drill one million of men in
the interior Of France.
The Prussian Position
1t is impossible to locate with any GER
tainty. General Steinmetz, command
ing the Prussian right, is probably with
the mass of his forces in front Of Metz.
Prince Frederick; Charles. commanding
the centre, was expected TO move into
France between Bitohe and Sarregue-
mines, and is nowprobably advancing to
form junction with Steinmetz. ltwould
he difficult to locate the Crown Prince
OF Prussia. We have no means Of
learning if his forces are the ones be.
sieging Strasbourg; but it is most likely
that he is now in the valley between
the Rhine and the Vosges Mountains