New-York tribune., 1870-10-15


Numerous desertiOns from Metz indicate not
less unerringly than the frequent sorties the
condition of the garrison. Metz, which was
the chief depot of the French army, and as
such early filed with large stores of food,
has now been cut off from supplies for two
months. The garrison is large-the latest es-
innate gives it in round numbers at 100000
men. There is in addition, large population,
which must be subsisted from the army COM
missariat; and these mouths are not less vOra-
ciOus because they are useless. Ba2aine's every
sOrtie has siCnally failed, and his troops mad
dened by defeat, possibly desperate from hun
ger, are said to mutiny and refuse to engage
in the unequal conflicts with the quarter of
million who watch them. Not only our special
dispatches of this morning but letters from the
besiegers of older date published elsewhere
indicate that the issue of the siege is neither
uncertain nor far removed.
How is it with Paris? In view of the con-
fiicting news which we publish this morning,
this is most important question. Our special
dispatches from the interiOrOf the city represent
that supplies there are rapidly running short;
that there is not more than months supply
of meat in the city, and that this when eX-
posed for sale under military direction has to
he guarded from the pOpulace If Metz, newly
and fully supplied with provisions, is reduced
in two months to a condition of starvation,
how long can Paris, with half million sol
diers and a million and half of useless
mouths to be fed hold out against the famine
that it is said is already threatenedl Clearly
if Trochu is not more successful than Bazane
in his sorties, the fall of Paris is as certain
and as speedy as that of Metz
But it is now declared that TrOchu has been
successful in his latest efforts. If the reports
from Tours prove to be true, the siege of Paris
is virtually raised. 1t comes in both official
and unofficial form, but evidently the sources
of information are the same; and the state
ments need direct confirmation and are some
| what indistinct Summed up they announce
| that on the 18th inst, at the time the Prussians
had detached from their investing army to
attack Orleans, the army at Paris under Trochu
assumed the offensive, and by a series of efforts
drove the enemy from the positions which
they had seized and fortified. On the west the
positions near Fort Mont Valerien and at ST.
Cloud have been carried and the Prussians
driven back upon St. Cloud. South of Paris
the nights of Sceaux have been retaken while
on the east and north the Saxon Crown
Prince has been forced back at all points
| for several miles. "The Prussian circle around
Paris" says the report, is expanding daily,
" instead of contracting" If this is true it is
also rapidly weakening, and the danger to its
communications greatly increases. The official
report of NJ. Gambetta gives the most favora-
BILE view of the new situation, which, if at all
correctly represented, is certainly a grave one
for the Germans. The continued activity of the
French, if successful, would force the Ger
mans to concentrate, and thus the siege of
the city would be raised.
German reports of later date than NJ.
Gambetta's proclamation do not allude to the
engagements mentioned by him, but announce
that on the 18th sOrCie was made by ten bat
talions, but repulsed without difficulty and
with little loss. In view of these conflicting
statements further and more definite infOrma-
ton will be required before any calculation is
made as to the possible effect of the reported
successes ON the campaign.