The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-08-16
THE POSITION OF THE TWO
ARMIES.
A Clear Explanation Of the Military
Situation In France.
Frun The CInNn0qN GaG1lte Of y1Itsrday.

| GWuLlJt uISuIlIfJ ACLuVlDcLGosI5I Lut
Prussian army, no longer in three greal
divisions, but presenting one vast solid
front, marches on It's foe. With It's regi
ments recognized, its ranks closed up, its
wounded sent to the rear, recruited and
strengthened after tho great battle al
Worth und Saarbruck, the invading hosts
have resumed the advance momentarily
suspended, and in lines concentrating at a
point near Metz they have pressed forward
10 fight battle which may be the decisive
battle Of the war. Slowly, on the other
hand, and evidently still unprcpared "a
risk general engagement, the French
army has retroated, giving up Nancy, Civ
ing up Metz, and retiring to tho western
bank Of the Moselle, their southern line Ol
communication with Paris cut, and an &c.
tive and vigilant enemy before them, and
OH at least one side. II the situation Oi
Napoleon after the battles OF the 9th was
critical, it is now desperate and almost
hopeless. "1'
No one can read tho dispatches tins
morning and fail to appreciate the inpOr-
tance Of tho intelligence. The movement
Of tile army Of the Crown Prince, begun
at Weissenburg, has eliminated, ut length
in complete and triumphant success.
Starting on the east side Of tho EOSgcs
mountains, and with the veteran MCSia-
hon at the head Of the First Corps US his
opponent, he has routed him, cut him of
from his communication with tho LEFT and
center Of the French army, and driven him
back, first to Saverne, and pressing him
close to Luneville, Nancy and; FrQuard,
five miles north Of Nancy on the railroad
connecting Nancy and Metz. Nor did
the hot pursuit cease here. Branching of
directly from the Nancy s. Metz Railroad
ut Frouard is the great trunk line running
between Paris and Strasburg, and at this
place, in direction nearly due east.
Twelve miles out on this road Is Toul.
Here atlast account, the force now under
McbIahon was encamped. The railroad be.
tween TuOl and Frouard has been cut, and
at Frouard the advance, at least Of the
army Of the Crown Prince, has fixed its
headquarters, This is not all. With q
part Of the force that marched under his
orders 10 occupy Weissenburg, the Crown
Prince has laid siege 10 Strasburg. It was
definitely stated Saturday that this strong
hold had fallen. Tho announcement Ia
undoubtedly premature, for 1t is not con
frmcd by any news we'publiSh this morn-
ing. But 1t can hardly Withstand Il long
siege, if we may credit the dispatches we
publish concerning the strength Of the
place. And If it could, 1t must be renGm'
bcred It's fate will largely depend on the
result Of the operations on the Moselle.
So much for the left wing OF the Prussiau
army. .m. I'D
The march of the Prussian centre under
Gen. Won 9teinmetz, and OF the right
under that brilliant soldier, Frederick
Charles, has been timed with the advance
of the forces of the Crown Prince. The
centre marched straight forward, ip o
westerly direction along the line Of rail
road connecting Saarbruck with Metz.
HOmburg was first occupied, and in rapid
succession St. Avoid, Courcellcs and Faul'
quemont and Harry At the last place
situated twenty miles east Of Metz, the
head quarters Of Won Steimetz are now
established, while the outposts Of his army
and tho advance force, forty thousand
strong, must be within few miles Of Metz
Some Of them have advanced even 10 the
very gatcs Of the city, driving before them
in terror and wild alarm, the villagers and
peasants Of the beautiful valley. These
have gone crowding into the great fortified
town, until the streets are filled with
them, until military movements have been
seriously interfered with, and until the
Perfect of the town has been forced TO is,
sue orders forbidding any persons to enter
the city who have not forty days proyi'
sions. ,a.u.. ... ,i..
Prince Frederick Charles, commanding
the LEFT wing Of the army, was encamped
at first near Treves, though according TO
some statements it was at Sierck, which Is
situated northeast Of ThionVille, and
about fifteen miles from that place. Of
his march we have no details. We are
only told that his forces have formed q
junction with those OF Won Stcinmotz, and
} that his headquarters are also established
At Harry. As we have had no news, ol
the fall Of Thionville, he must have lett
| that place at the right, marching directly
to the south, meeting hardly an obstacle
and driving in toward Metz the French
troops Of the left wing, that had beor
stretched out in front Of Thionville T..
Clean work these PrusStan soldiers have
made ofitas they advanced. Notan incl
Of territory, with the exception Of Stras.
burg, havo they left in the possession oI
the adversary. They have swept beforC
them, like the chat before the wind, every
French corps, and to-day tho two great
combattants stand face to face once more
but now on French soft. The old Ger.
man provinces OF Alsace and Lorraine
have been reposSessod, important strategi
cal points have been occupied and the
Prussian army, confident, bold, aggtes
sive, oilers battle to him who proclaimed
war, at o place only one hundred and
seventy miles from Paris.
Otthe French army there Is little to say
The story Of McAIaion's retreat We have
already rehearscd. With discounted for
ces OF whose numbers we have no means
! Of judging he stands al Toul, cut OF from
the main body Of the French army by the
force Of the Crown Prince, and without
railroad communication with tho Emper
) or. The center Of tho Fronch army un
der command Of Bazainc, and consisting
Of the Second, Third and Fourth Oorpl
have retired from Metz to the western
bank Of the MoseIIe. The dispatches an
nouncing this change Of base are SO
clear and explicit in tho statement that
one can hardly refuse to belleVc them.
Whether tho French line now extends tC
Thionville, or whether tho. leit wing lhaE
been drawn into the center, "a uncertain
Tho concentration OF the Prussian fore q
would seem to make this step necessary,
Let the reader imagine a quadrant o.
about forty miles in extent, extending
from the east to tho south. Along th'