New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-08-17
THE GENERALSHIP OF TINE VAR

THE GENERALSHIP OF THE VAR.
Ii is only two weeks since the war opened
in earnest, and in that brief time the superior
generalship of the Prussians has been shown
as clearly as their superior numbers. Both
indeed, are now so evident that we see no
ground whatever upon which the most ardent
supporter of Napoleon can still hope for final
victory. The French had made every prepa-
ration in advance, and as soon as they had
declared war they threw themselves upon the
frontier with all the rapidity of which they
were capable, avOwing their purpose to move
Immediately upon Berlin. They had much
shorter line of march than the Germans; their
organization was supposed to be marvelously
complete; yet the Prussans were on the border
before them, and the road to Berlin was
blocked almost in q single night. 1t was so
obviously the true policy of the French to as
sumo the offensive that even in the face of
these preparations nobody seemed to doubt
that the initiative would be with Napoleon,
and the only question was whether Germany
would meet the attack on the Lauter and the
Saar, or fall back and receive it on the Rhine
1t was only by the grossest mismanagement
that the Crown Prince was permitted TO seize
the advantage of the first move and throw all
the distress of the war upon French territory.
This was the first fault of the campaign. Sup
posing the Prussans meant to assume the
offensive, the point towards which their chief
efforts would naturally be directed was the
plain of Alsace on the French right. Never
theless, the French allowed themselves to be
surprised at this critical point, allowed division
l. al. and
then, drawing reenfOrcements from their center
in the hope Of recovering the lost ground, al
lowed two corps to be crushed, cut off from
the main body, and driven away to the
South This was the second fault. The result
was what anybody might have foreseen. The
whole line was rolled up and pushed out of
position, and the North Eastern frontier was
thrown open to the invader.
The Emperor next formed his line between
Metz and Nancy, at right angles to his former
position, and awaited a fresh attack. But all
this while his right wing under MacMahon was
still cut off, and the Prussians boldly marched
into the gap between the French right and CEN
ter, not only completing the separation between
MacNlahOn and Bazaine, but threatening the
communications of both of them with Paris.
Here Napoleon committed his third fault, and
the indignation of the French became so viO-
lent that the command was taken away from
the Emperor and given to Bazaine. There
was no choice now but to abandon the line of
the MOselle, and the next fault was that in
stead of retreating as soon as it became evil
dent the position was to be turned, the French
waited until their enemy had actually seized
the crossings of the river and penetrated miles
into their rear Then Of course they had to
execute a flank march in the face
of a victorious enemy, and the re-
suit was what anybody might have fore
told; the Prussians fell upon them with ter
rible fury when they were half across the
river, and a two days battle ensued whose re-
suits are not yet fully known. 1t appears,
however, from French reports that the Prus-
slams are still pressing vigorously toward
Paris, and there is reason to believe that
portion of Bazaine's army, cut Oft from the
retreat has been driven TO take refuge behind
the ramparts of Metz. Count PalikaO announced
yesterday in the Corps Legisatif that he had
news of the retirement of the PrusslanS to-
ward COmmercy after several attempts ito
disturb the retreat of the French army"
Ii will not escape notice That re-
tirement in the direction of COmmercy is
retirement in the direction of Paris, and that
for the first time since the campaign opened
there is an official admission that the French
are retreatlDg.
As if this catalogue of blunders was not long
enough, the Emperor takes pains to inform us
that at the crossing of the MOselle he was
again surprised that the enemy had got around
in the rear OF Metz without his knowledge !;
that the scouts and Reconnaissance failed to
discover any danger, and that the battle was
forced upon him without a moments warning
This melancholy confession of incapacity
in the very rudiments of generalship
makes us pause to inquire who really
commands the discounted host which
is now falling back to the Notifications OF the
capital. The Minister of War took pains to
announce yesterday in a most significant man
ner that Marshal Bazaine was the actual and
only commander of the French army; but If
marshal of France is capable of making blum
ders like these. we see no hope for the French
cause. The Corps Legislatif may as well send
away the Emperor at once and make peace on
the best terms they can.