The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-18
SAARBRUCK.

After the Fight-Edmond About's Description
Ofthe Battlefield of the First Encounter.
In letter to the Paris Soir, M. About de-
scribes visit to Saarbruck the day after the
battle:-
My carriage is stopped by the sentries-I can
go no further Why If the town is ours? 1t is
not simple sentry who can reply to that ques-
tion. ! see on the left kind of a cabaret, in
which our cannon have made two very visible
breaches, one on the ground floor and the other
in the roof. Near that, little higher up,
are six pieces of twelve, carefully directed,
which are sending platonic salutations to the
city and the railway station. An artillery camp
occupies the position which we yesterday
won from the Prussians How was it they
allowed 1t to be taken? 1t is difficult to under
stand that regular and well-armed troops should
have yielded SO capital position. 1 make
inquiries, and learn that the platform occupied
by our artillerymen is the field of battle of yes
terday and the real frGctus beLi. Our troops
with lively ardor carried the height which over
looks Saarbruck; they drove in the enemy on
the plain and up the woods which rise amphi-
theatrically on the other side of the Saar. The
Emperor and the Prince Imperial arrived
at a fixed point about IL o'clock
to open fire. At half-past one the affair was
over. Our mitraileuses swept away many men,
our Chassepots did their work well, our shells
caused some fires. can see from here several
burnt houses, and large extent of blackened
ground-some acres: We command the town,
therefore 1t Is ours, but we do not occupy 1t yet;
it has not surrendered, and besides, it is pro-
tected by scrubby woods in which the enemy
may have concealed thousands of sharpshooters.
To take saarbruck at the moment would be
easy, but dangerous. Moreover, it is known that
certain houses are occupied by the soldiers or by
volunteers, and 1t is indispensable above all to
clear the woods in front upon the right bank OF
the Saar.
Every instant the report of needle gun tells
us that those woods are Inhabited. Uhlans can be
seen galloping from them, making cloud of
dust; then comes shot from Chassepot and
they prudently retire. The JfusiLLade never
ceases; every minute shots are fred, but L do
not see that anybody is much the worse for
them. As have been fasting since daybreak
take advantage of the appearance of some beer.
| woman from Saarbruck ascends the height
bearing small round cask on her head The
artillerymen and some foot Chasseurs at once
| surround her, and the question is who shall
empty the first glass, or fill the first can. By
dint of money / confscate the barrel. glass
| is sufficient for me, and the remainder belongs
TO our soldiers. The first glass is drunk off by
the seller, she thus proving that we shall not
be poisoned. We drink after her. She
! goes away. We remain In group, listening
TO the Intermittent firing surveying the Uhlans
on the other bank, but a ball, coming very pro-
bably from the town, whistles by our ears, and
them ma fol what scamperl Soldiers and civil
ians, at full speed, retire behind the poplars
! which border the artillery camp. We remain
there for half an hour In safety as far may be,
but II seems impossible to remain In so anxious