The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-08-18
THE SITUATION.


Positions Of the Belligerents.
To understand clearly the present position Of the
French and German armies 1t Ii necessary to sum.
marze the events which have taken place since the
battle OF Woerth. Inaccuracies may be found the
summary, but they III any NUT be attributed solely
to the teegraphic dispatches which have been sent
across the cable, and on which we are compelled to
depend until the mails bring intelligent and intel
ligibe reports.
After the battle OF Woerth the column Of Germans
commanded by the Crown Prince OF Prussia al.
vanced on the strategic line Of the French passing
through Savern, Sarrbourg and Lunevlle to Nancy.
In marching they moved around the fortress Of
Phalsbourg, doubtless detachlng force to watch
the garrison at that place. The French meanwhile
had fallen back rapidly before them not being In
condition to check their advance. 1t is altogether
probable that in the retreat from W0erth MacMahon's
forces became divided, one column falling back to
Strasbourg ana the other to Saverne. This would
account for the inability OF the French to delay the
advance OF the Crown Prince; but even as It is
we are surprised that, with the railroad at his
command, Napoleon did not throw troops rapidly
into the V0sges mountains and place in the power
oil MacMahon to make q stand at Phalsbourg,
where brilliant defence could have been made,
the position being one that commanded the deflles
Of the mountains. If we understand the dispatches
correctly the major portion Of the Imperial Guards
was then at Nancy, and the transportation Of this
corps to Phalsbourg was comparatively easy mat
ter. What difficulties interposed to prevent such
reinforcements we are ignorant OF. They probably
were insurmountable. Certainly, though, hold
ing the Crown Prince in check at Phalsbourg would
not have endangered MacMahon's army from q
direct movement on Nancy by the Prussian centre
commanded by Prince Frederick Charles as even
II cut of from Metz (as 1t has since BEEN, It
had clear and unobstructed line OF retreat
upon Epinal, whore 1t could have changed front
by the flank and marched along the left bank Of the
Moseie to Toul. or course, In expressing these
opinions, we must remind the reader that they are
based wholly and solely upon the cable dispatches
the tenor Of which implies that the French generals
Numbered in not vigorously opposing the flank ad-
vance Of the Crown Prince.
Almost simultaneous with the battle OF woerth the
left wing OF the Prussians, forming part of the
force commanded by General Steinmetz, massed on
its left and struck the French at Saarbruck forcing
them back upon Metz. This movement covered the
centre column, under Prince Frederic Charles,
from Gank attack, and It pushed
forward, between Bltche and Sarreguemlnes,
to Cnareau Salins, its right resting upon
the left OF General Steinmetz's column. There 1t
paused and awaited the arrival Of the Crown Prince
within supporting distance. All this while the
French were concentrating at Metz, with what OBJ.
ject seems difficult now to determine; unless as is
probably the case, they were too weak In numbers
to assume the offensive and rout the combined ar
mics Of Prince Frederic Charles and General Stein
metz before the arrival Of the Crown Prince at
Nancy.
Here the French generals were clearly out
mannuvred at FIRST Until the Germans under the
crown Prince, reached Luneville they were u ercly
following Of the strategic lines OF the French,
and not executing anything more than the ordl.
nary strategic movement which, good or bad,
must necessarily direct armies. Grand tactics, and
not strategy was employed. After reaching Lunevie
movements began combining strategy and tactics.
The Grown Prince now began grand flank move
ment similar to that OF Napoleon upon Gera in 1905.
which resulted in the utter destruction OF the
Prussian army ~ Jena. He detached 0 tolerably
strong force OF his command to advance
and occupy Nancy and to take possession
OF the village OF Frouard, at the junction
OF the Metz Railroad with the Paris and Strasbourg
Railroad. Covered by this manGuvre the main
body left Luneville, advanced westward, crossing
the Moselle river between Charmes and Harone,
probably and describing semlciice. struck the