Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-08-14
The Fate of the Historic City Of Slras.
bOurg Decided .--could not Hold out
Against the Prussians, and Csplt-
Hlaied Yesterday.
Alsaos Abandoned---Tb Prussisns In the
EsighbOrhoOd Of Nancy, DestIna-
tion Paris.
The Whereabouts of Mcmahon not Known
A DspiOrahle and Disastrous Record
for France.
The French People Brave, Resolved and
Ready, Waiting for Leader-At Pres
ent their Government is
all at Sea.
UNIFIED STATES.

NEW YORK, August ia special tele-
gram to the EUeRieg Telegram, dated Lon
don, August 18th, says that reports from
Carlsruhe this morning announce the
capitulation of Strasbourg after short
bombardment. Sharp fighting took place
in front Of Metz yesterday.
NEW YORK, August 1.-THE following
dispatch was received last night by the
Courier des EtItS UsiS, of this city. 1t
gives a clear view of the military situa-
ton of France as seen by the people of
Paris at that time. News from the army
is now awaited anxiously:
The decisive moment draws near. The
information obtained by the Wa- Depart
ment shows that Prussia is concentrating
a great army Of invasion. consisting OF
$50, 600 men, between Cologne and Ra-
stadt. 1t is certainly ascertained that
there are no longer more than $50, coo in
Alsace and Lorraine. The leaders of the
French are making preparations to resist
the tide of invaders. More than 100000
men will be brought together between
Nosges and Moselle within two days.
The bulk of the army remains concen-
trated about Metz, where the first detach-
ment of the corps of McMahon and of De
Failley arrived yesterday.
The retreat of these corps was effected
in good order.
The partial abandonment of Alssce by
our troops gives rise to lively anxiety tor
their fate.
war material, food and ammunition, but
the limited numbers of the garrison excite
fears that they cannot hold it long.
One of the first efforts Of the new Min
istry has been to remedy the defects in
the supplies, which occasiOned the de-
moralization of our troops.
Five hundred marine artillerymen ar
rived this morning from CheFbourg. The
situation is serious, though no threaten
ing agitation exists at Marseilles, Toulons
and Lyons.
The same journal publishes a dfs-
patch from London, giving report from
st. Avoid, dated Thursday, that the
French army had been evacuating Metz
for the past tweubv-four hours, with the
intention of falling back upon the princi-
pal line, in order TO be reinforced before
entering a general engagement; but the
abandonment Of Metz would be almost as
great a blow to the Empire as the loss OF
battle, and it is, therefore, not easily
believed.
NEW YORK, August ia special, da-
ted London, 18th, says that the invest
ment of StrasbOurg was not known in
PAris until yesterday (Fridayl.
A Frenehman and officer who left Lon
don a few days ago, full of patriotism
and hope for his country, writes:
"I have Just met some persons from
Nancy, who retreated before the Prus-
SLAMS, who day before yesterday were at
Vega a few miles from Nancy. They
will move thence by Faul, and probably
join the other army at Chalons; perhaps
at Paris.
why the French army remains con-
centrated before Metz nobody under
stands. 1t is believed that the Prussians
are already at Nancy, and it appears that
the empire is rolled up like q scroll. What
HOnssay said this morning is true. For
twenty years nobody IN France has
studied war seriously. Everything has
been done supericially, while the Prus-
slams are first in science, and have now
proved that they are first in war. 1t is
hard for me to confess it, but it is true.
Notwithstanding all these great levies,
the lessons of '93 Will not reappear. The
losses already are incredible. OF regi-
ments Of three thousand men, sometimes
only hundred remain. OF the Turcos
engaged at Weissenberg, only twenty-five
are left"
The special correspondent of the TT-i-
b2GRe writes from Paris on Thursday
evening, the IIth: 1.-THE truth is slowly
leaking out. 1t shows that the position
of the French army is getting worse and
worse. Two days ago dispatch, meant
TO De reaSSurlng, was placaruSu, SJatlng
that Failly had established communica-
tion with Mcmahon. 1t now appears that
these communications were established on
the field of the battle of Woerth. Failly
came up with division of infantry and a
brigade of cavalry, and shared McMa-
hons defeat. An Official dispatch says be
covered the retreat. Mcmahon got into
Saverne Sunday, but had to clear out in
the evening. Saverne is now occupied
by the Prussians. MeMahOn's position is,
in all probability, deplorSble, driven, as
he is, into the barren mountains of the
Vosges, with the wreck of an army, with
out money, arms or provisions. 1t is not
known in Paris where he is at this mo-
ment.
'"The Germans, being in possession OF
Saverne, have cut OFF all communication,
whether by rail or telegram, between
Paris and Strasburg. It is known that a
large Prussian army, which must have
taken Mulhausen, is on the way to rein
force the Crown Prince at Saverne.
I" Marshal Caurobert, who it was sup
posed was protecting Nancy, came TO
Paris yesterday to have consultation
with the Empress, and has now gone
back to his command, wherever that may
be-"