Middletown transcript., 1870-07-30
FRANCE AND PRUSSIA.


sance in the direction of st. Avolt and
Metz. After proceeding some distance,
they encountered an outpost of the enemy,
and had brisk skirmish with force of
French chasseurs. The Prussians re-
tired, leaving two men on the field. It is
also reported that the Prussians we're re-
pulsed near Saar-Louis, and q reconnois
sance made on Prussian soil by a small
detachment of French Troops. The head
quarters of the German army are reported
to be at Kreuznach, and the French at
Metz. The armies are thus about 100
miles apart, by direct line, and 116 by
railroad.
A Prussian success is reported near
Gerseville, the French losing ten killed
and wounded. A body of Prussian troops
also seized French Custom house near
Schrecklingen. 1t is confidently stated
that the Prussians are Strengthening Co.
blentz, only with the intention of making
it base of operations, and they intend to
throw force down the line of the Saar,
and carry an offensive war into France.
In order to be ready for movement in
the Schleswig Holstein provinces, if such
should be part of the campaign, large
French fleet has been ordered into the
North sea. To meet this movement Prus-
sia has doubledarmed all her ports, and
put them in a most complete state of de-
Tense. France may cripple the trade of
Germany by means of her superior feet,
but she will not be able to make much
impression upon her sea-coast strongholds
The affair near Railing, on Saturday,
was followed up by another Prussian dash
into the French territory on Sunday
morning. The expedition penetrated the
country several miles, tore up part of a
railway track, and blew up vladuct
The French were found in considerable
force near Gersweiler; skirmishing en-
sued, and the Prussians retired. Read
ers of the military bulletins from Berlin
and Paris will observe that they begin to
bear a striking resemblance to the dis
patches We had during our civil war, and
more recently from Cuba. One side in
variably reports the other as beaten with
heavy loss, while its own loss is trining.
According to the same accounts the enc
my are everlastingly dcscrting. The la
test Metz and Coblentz dispatches resem-
BILE wonderfully our own news from the
front six years ago.
The war operations in other quarters
than on the banks of the Rhine are begin
ming to assume Importance. The French
fleet was to set sail from Cherbourg on
Tuesday morning for the Baltic. Admi-
raj Bouet Willaumez is in command, and
has hoisted his flag on the iron-clad Sur
veillante, thirty-six guns. 5000 marines
accompany the expedition. The Mediter-
ranean fleet at Toulon sailed on Monday
for Cherbourg. 1t is now believed that
the Count of Palikao will command the
army of the Baltic. From the Prussian
side the only important movement indica-
ted is the falling back of the army from
its advanced position to the Rhine.
Napoleon was to have left for the front
on Tuesday night, and several divisions
of the French army are already on the
move. Warm work may now be expect
ed. The Imperial Guard is at Nancy
Two more engagements with the Prus-
slams are reported from Strasbourg, in
both of which the French claim to have
been successful. The news by the way of
Berlin Is very meagre, as the Prussian
government is exercising strict survel-
lance over the wires. 1t is said that
Frankfort-on-the- Main has been designat-
ed as the headquarters of the German ar
my. The naval news is important The
French feet for the Baltic sailed on Mon
day. Nine French frigatcs under full
steam passed Dover in the afternoon, head
ing eastward. A great crowd of specta-
tors assembled on the bluffs to witness the
exciting scene. Several French cruisers
arc reported off Wicks, Scotland French
gunboats to operate on the Rhine and the
rivers in Prussia are being transported
from Marseilles in sections overland.
The excitement in England over the
discovery of the proposed secret treaty be-
tween France and Prussia in 1866 has
not abated All the London journals
have leaders on the subject, and the bur-
den of their song is, " France must apol-
gize for this offensive treaty or fight"
Still, when it comes to the latter alterna-
tive, England will probably think twice
before going to war for matter of the
past. In the House of Lords Earl Gran
vile related the particulars of an interview
with the French Ambassador, in which
the latter charged the origin of the treaty
upon Bismarck. Mr.. Gladstone told the
House of Commons that the British Min
lister at Berlin had telegraphed that the
original propositions embodied in the trea-
ty by Napoleon were in the hand writing
of his minister, M. Benedetti Apropos
of the feeling in England, Baron Gerolt,
the Prussian Minister at Washington has
received the following despatch from his
government: " Public opinion in Eng
land is favorable to North Germany, but
the government is not favorable. She acts
with the neutrality law against North
Germany as she did against America with
the Alabama"
According to the late accounts the
French army has moved from its base at
Metz. The transfer of troops from the
right of the French position appears to
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