The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-08-19


the country people, bat exact requisitous OF
them in proportion to the population. Large
sums of money and enormous quantities Of
bread, tobacco, wine, beef and forage are de-
manded. AT all places where the people re-
sist the Prussians they are very cruel, but
otherwise they are disposed to be orderly, quiet
and kind. Many of the peasants kill their
horses TO prevent the Prussians from taking
them.
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS.
La Patrie gives the following resume of ID
formation received from its private sources
dated Aug. 18th: The army under Marshal
Bazain resting upon one of the strongest places
IN the world occupied position near Metz
which enabled it to check the enemy and gain
precious time. The Prussians decided to turn
Metz, but Bazaine knew their intention and
crossed the Moselle in several places at the
same time. He was not surprised, as has been
said. He knew he must get the enemy and
was prepared by crossing the Moselle, but the
Prussians endeavored to cut the French line
four times. They attacked and were repulsed
with great loss. The army of Bazaine cont in
ued its march and may be considered as GER
tain to make junction with the corps of Nc
Mahon and Trochu. This result the Prussians
have not been able to prevent and it changes
the situation vastly.
Marshal Razaine will then be at the head of
larger forces than those opposed to him, and
when be wishes may assume the offensive.
TRoCHU IN COMMAND AT PARIS
PARIS, Aug. 18,-Evening. Gen. Trochu
has been appointed commander in chief of all
the forces at Paris and has issued a proclama-
tiou counseling order and calmness, not only
in the streets, but spirit of resignation under
the trials consequent upon the situation. He
says that France must have the demeanor of a
great military nation, conducting its own des
TIMES, and the government will gain the conf
dence of the people by showing the greatest
confidence in them. He appeals to all men
and all parties, saying that he belongs himself
to no party save to that of this country and de-
clares that all good citizens must by moral re.
straint keep down those who see in the pnblc
msfortunes only an opportunity to satisfy
their own detestable ends
The Senate was in session today. The
Corps Legislatif has adjourned to await fur
Their news from the scene of hostilities.
The Moniteur de la Flotte publishes list of
eleven German vessels captured since the be-
ginning of the war
The theatres are nearly all closed.
THE TRIBUNE's SPECIAL DISPATCHES.
LONDON, Aug. 1S.-Our special writes from
Chalons, Monday Aug. 18th, This is the EN-
peror's birthday but there was no fete in honor
of the occasion.
An alarm was sounded this evening at 10
o'clock and the artillery was put in motion
aud went forward to Blasure and there found
the railway cut and fell back. No railway COM
munication now exists between Chalons and
either Metz or Verdun. We do not know
where the main French body is, but the Prus-
sian vanguard is nearer Chalons than Bazaine
is, and there is no force capable of resisted an
attack. Thus far nothing but cavalry is heard
of, ana that yesterday was within 20 miles of
Chalons, and were destroying the railways at
will.
Our special writes from headquarters of the
I'd army corps Friday, Aug. 18th, as follows:
Should the French not accept battle at Metz
two corps will be left to man the fortress while
the main body will continue their march for
Paris. The Prussians have at least 100000
men on French soil, and as n.any more in re-
serve on German soil. All the talk of peace
before the occupation of Paris is laughed at.
Oar correspondent at headquarters of the
Crown Prince on Friday, writes as follows:
We are daily advancing from village to village.
Alsatian sympathies are altogether French,
but the inhabitants are treated kindly by the
Germans except where the peasants commit
hostilltes. No compulsory military service
will be enforced on them. Wagons for the
wounded are required and the sale of provis-
ions is compelled. Nothing is exacted except
necessaries and every thing paid for. The
Crown Prince declares that he makes war on
the French government and not the French
people. McMahon's corps is almost destroyed,
no remnant being found as the Crown Prince
pushes steadily forward against the French
right flank.
Tuesdays battle is browning proof of
French fa!sehood and concealment Count Pa
likao declared in the Corps Legislatif that the
Prussians had been forced to abandon their at
tempt to interrupt the French retreat and that
Bazaine was pursuing his road unmoested TO
Verdun and Chalons. While he was speak,
ing the.Prussians were attacking the Ere nch,
and at nightfall one portion at least of Bazaiue's
army had been forced to abandon the road to
Verdun and were again shut up in Metz 1t is
more than ever plain that no considerable palt
Of the French army has ever succeeded in get
ting far on the road from Metz to Verdup The
delay, to whatever cause due, gave the Prus-
slams time to come up, and they were able on
Tuesday to attack with vanguard strong
enough to arrest the French retreat and bring
Jour French corps into action. When Bazaine
found that he could not shake off the Prussian
pursuit he resolved,to crush their single corps
before its supports could arrive. For hours the
3D. Prrssian corps, which was supported only
by the cavalry divisions which had first at
lacked, was compelled to bear the blunt of the
vigorous onslaught from twice or thrice its own
numbers. Towards the close of the day, rein
forced by the 10th, parts of the 9Th and 9th
corps, the Prussians resumed the offensive and
when night fell the French army was again d.
vided, and it is doubted whether either of the
main roads from Metz to Verdun remain open
to Bazane. Three French corps heretofore
unscatbed, besides Frossards and the Imperial
Guard, were brought into action, which. on
the French side, was general engagement;
while ON the Prussan side large part of the
two armies of Stenmetz and Prince Frederick
Charles were not on the field, and apparently
not single battalion of the Crown Prown.
who is believed to be advancing steadily for
Chalons.
THE BATTLE OF TUESDAY-A FRENCH VICTORY
CLAIMED.
LONDON, Aug. 1S.-An official dispatch from
Marshal Bazaine, dated 4 o'clock Wednesday
ys:-"Yesterday, late in the at
ternoon, We gave battle between Doncourt and
bronvIlie. The enemy were driven back and
we bivouacked on the position we had taken.
halted in my movements for several hours in
order to bring up full supply of munitions
We had before US Prince Frederick Charles
and Gen. Steinmetz.''
The following dispatch is not official but is
given to the public by the ministry:
"Verdo1s, Wednesday.-The battle still con-
tinues on the side of Mars la Tour and seems
to be going in our favor. A number of wound
I'd French and Prussian soldiers have been
brought into Bricy. A force of 1850 Prussians
is encamped on the plateau between Bricy
and Saint Lean. They send out courers who
have entered Bricy. Trustworthy parties who
have arrived here from Mars Ia Tour speak of
o heavy engagement there yesterday with
large portion of the Prussian army, which
they say was charged with great vigor by our
cavalry and Garde Imperial aud was thrown