New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-07-28
THE FRENCH POSITION AND PLANS.

IMMENSE WARLIKE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. HUN
DRIED THOUSAND MEN on THE FRONTIER
EVERYTHING READY FOR AN ADVANCE
SPLENDID DISCIPLINE OF THE ARMY-TIIEIR
CHANCES OF SUCCESS.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEl
LONDON Wednesday, July q, 1870
THE TRIBUNE special correspondent at Metz, on
Sunday night, sent the following very important let
ter containing the first clear statement of the French
position and plans:
Ilcft Hagenau on the 23d, taking the train by the
line which leads past Btche and Sarreguemlnes 10
Metz Along this line warlke preparations OF
every kind were to be seen. l passed field
batteries parked complete at the different
shuntine places until l got tired of look
ing them Although the French carry their infan-
try and artillery good deal over the railways, they
seem inclined TO allow the cavalry to march along
the roads We saw more tlan a single party OF
horsemen and i'm enc case whole regiment walk
ing along the highway, which, just before we arrived
at the Vosges ran parallel with the rails. The Tegi-
ment in question seemed i'll the highest spirits, as
they waved their hands and spurred their somewhat
iaJed seeds into rot in answer to the salutatiOns
which reached them from the foot soldiers In our
train About o'clock we reached the Nosges. lhls
range of hills which takes rise near Beltort, runs
nearly parallel with the Rhine until 1t slopes
down 10 the lowlands about COblentz and
Magence where the Strasbourg, Bitche, and
Metz lines pierce the range As military
obstacle the Vosgcs have always been considered the
second line of defense possessed by France on the
east Still the thnness of the range the breadth OF
which near Bitche is under 20 miles, and the large
number Of valleys which cross it III a traverse drec-
ton. prevent it from forming very considerable
military obstacle There is society called the
Francs-Tirailleurs of the VOsges" which on small
scale bears some resemblance to our volunteers AS
self-orgauized force it seems contrary 10 the mill
tary genius of France. They have always been con
sidered in an amusing light by the french Journals
which are however now beginning to express their
astonishment at finding that the bands OF the FosRes
seriously demanding permission TO elect agenera
and TO cooperate with the regular forces
After winding for some time through defle, and
before we had altogether descended the western
slopes Of the Vosges, we arrived at Bltche sinan
fortified place with strong citadel, the strength OF
which seemed to lie in the high and scarped sides Oh
the hill upon which it was perched From Bltche
TO Sarrcgucmnes we passed camp after camp.
True many Of these were small, but everything
connected with them Enthusiastically revealed that
these the outlying parts OF the huge FORCE
From Bitche to Saueguonlnes Is about twenty
miles and throughout this distance, and for about
'N'NJ -
all, the line constantly approaches within few
miles Of the frontier
Between Btche and Sarreguemnes their numbers
evidently inspired the French with confidence; but
beyond the latter post il was clear that the llne
which, as it leads from Metz to Bitche, Is just now
Of extraordinary Importance, was carefully picketed
VI course only saw portion of the precautions
taken, but could observe that at important points
such as where roads crossed the line, there
were camps Of cavalry and artillery combined, evi-
IDENTITY placed to support the videttes and pickets
which are watching the frontier aud to save the line
hom being interrupted. When we got about thirty
miles west and little south Of Sarreguemines, the
aspect Of Affairs became tanner, and we did not see
camp otieneG than one IN ten miles, and only passed
at the stations occasional trains laden with military
material and personnel; but the line from stras-
Lours to some distance beyond Sareguemines has
left stamped upon my brain impressions not likely
ever 10 be eiaced by stronger of the kind.
fear cannV reduce these impressions TO writing
but some faint idea may be conveyed by imagining
crspmed railway lne IA which all the trains were