The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-08-15

Oy no meauS liupEeSudolt. 1Hc Sledt du'du-
tage 1t possesses as a defensive position Is the
large plain which surrounds It, AN advancing
enemy would have to move across an entirely
open country exposed to a raking artillery ire
Nancy is 220 miles from Paris.
THE FRENCH RIGHT,
or, to be particular, the right centre, the ex-
treme right being at BelfOrt. Is at SaVerne, to
which place Marshal Mcmahon retired after
flis defeat near Wourth on Saturday. Here ne
has his own corps, and near by is the corps
under de Failly, the whole numbering perhaps
seventy thousand men. Saverne Is situated
from the fortress of PfalsbuTg, which stands
on the rocks and commands the defles of the
mountains. Mcmahon is at present safe from
any attack Of the army commanded by the
Grown Prince, and will probably be allowed to
reorganize his force unmolested.
sTRAsBoURG BEsIEGED.
A dispatch from Carlsruhe announces that
10000 German troops have surrounded Stras-
bourg, and that as the garrison numbered only
1000 men, an early surrender Is expected.
This expectation will lot be realized. Stras-
bourg is, like Metz, one OF the strongest for
tresses In Europe, and is regarded as absolute
ly impregnable. The fortihcations, 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 defence
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 5000,
can unaided resist any force the Prussians can
besiege them with. Such being the case, we
have no idea that Strasbourg will surrender.
on q a
before they attempt an advance to the defles
Of the Yosges Mountains In fact, nothing
could be more dangerous than to leave two
such fortresses as Strasbourg and Metz in tho
rear; while, should the Germans SIT down De-
fore them, they will enable the French TO Or
ganize and drill one million OF men IN the lnte-
rior OF France.
Various War Notes.
From the special cable telesrams to the
Northern papers we CLEAN the following:
At the battle of Froschville corps of volun-
teer surgeons, wearing white badges, as insti-
tuted by the general convention, everywhere
rendered most praiseyorthy services.
The Moniteur says chat person worthy Of
entire confidence, who has arrived from Alsace,
says that the Prussian losses in the recent
fighting is beyond computation.
The Gaulois reports that Menotti Garibaldi
is at Milan. where he is iDcitiDg popular de-
monstrations against France. in order to pre-
vent the French sympathies Of the Italian gov
ernNent from taking practical form.
Al American correspondent, who was pres
ent at the battle Of Wourth. telegraphs the fol-
lowing from Carlsruhe: "The French Official
accounts Of the battle of Wourth are wholly
untrue. Marshal McMahon was completely
routed. The French abandoned everything
and fed, leaving behind them their killed,
wounded and prisoners, numbering 10000, out
oFE 10 ho1
position, but the Prussians fired with terrible
precision; the French very badly. Both sides
fought desperately. Finally the French gave
way in panic"
A physician returned from the front saws that |
even the Prusslans acknowledge the superiori- |
ty OF the French guns. Nearly allthe French |
soldiers are wounded in the legs and feet. while
in the battle of Wourth the loss OF the Prussians
in killed and wounded was immense, owing to |
the longer range Of the chassepots. These
facts make strong impi ession on the soldiers. |
The same gentleman says the French wounded !
we're taken by the Prussians into their ambu- |
laucss and treated with the utmost care and
kindness. The ambulance service of the enc
my is perfectly organized.
The Moniteur gives the following account OF
the death of General DouaE, at the battle OF
"The General was from the be-
ginning in the thickest Of the fight. When he
saw that the day was lost, after he had done
Ill he could to retrieve it, when even not bat
,alion was left him, he called his aids, one by
one, gave them orders and sent them away.
As soon as The last one was gone, the General,
.purring his horse, rode some distance to the
'ront, dismounted, and taking pistol from the
nosller ehot the animal, and then turning
around slowly, he walked toward the enemy.
His soldiers vainly tried to stop him. Amid
The terrible firing he deliberately walked on.
The retreating soldiers, aroused by the specta-
,le, turned again upon the enemy, but fell in
heaps around their general, who still pressed
forward. Another tremendous dischargs from
The enemy, and General Douay, almost alone,
iell dead.h
The presence Of Napoleon Q! the battle OF
Wourth is positively reafirmed.
It is said the Prussians have outnumbered /
The French 10 every engagement. The French
claim that at Weissenburg 5000 men charged
30, 900 Prussians, with 120 guns, for four hours,
losing 1000, while the enemy lost 10, 600; also
10. 600 men against 10000 Germans, yet the
French only yielded when 100000 more Ger
mans were hurled upon them.
The Crown Prince promises to release all
newspaper correspondents taken prisoners on
the field.
The Revue des Deu1 Mondes (Orleanist) has
D skilful article defending the attitude OF
France, and holding up Prussia to the execra-
ton OF mankind.
The London Times says: "The pride Of
Franco is wounded and her prestige dimmed.
Who brought this on her must suffer for it.
Victorious or discrowned is Napoleon's alterna-
tive on the next battlefield"
Prussian accounts say nothing at konlggratz
could parallel the destruction of life at Wourth.
The same account says it is believed that Ma.
poeon was on the field with McMahon.
The war reports are obscure and unsa:lsfac.
tory. Russell writes to the Times that ne ls
wholly ignorant of the details OF the battle OF
Wourth, but was impressed with the benef
that it was decisive and important IN Its re-
cults.
The Duke of Charres has asked permission
to take service in the French army. he claims
the privilege as Frenchman who has learned
something OF the art OF war in America and
Italy.
writes that England has declined to join Aus
tria in the league proposed by Won buest 1or
guaranteeing belligerents agains! loss OF terri.
tory. England's reason for declining ls that
The league could not save the North German
f,onfederacy in case Prussia should be defeated.
a circuIar from the French minister Of the
interior requires the projects OF the various
denartm ents to encourage the formation OF
of the National Guards, volunteers
ond franctireurs to take the field at once.
They will receive arms as soon as possible, but
in the meantime they will assemble at the
chief towns of the departments to organize
and drill. They will be paid one franc per day
from the date OF enlistment.
General Sheridan, OF the American army, mas
left Berlin for the Kings headquarters. Bs-
tora bio daDartpra for the sent OF war, General