The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-09-03

The War I'm Europe.

1
the Goth both armies seem to have been Occu
pied in disposing of their killed and wound
ed. On the Goth the Prussian army were still
encamped around Metz: Steinmetz, with 49,
600 men, on the right or north of Metz; Prince
Frederick Charles in the centre, on the south
west of Metz, with 100000 men; and the
Crown Prince, Frederick William, on the e1-
IRENE LETT, extending to Pont "a Mousson, with
10000 men. The French, under Bazaine,
reported at 100000 men, were encamped on
the plain between Metz and the hill on which
fort Quentin stands, under the protection Of
| the guns of both. Bazaine was evidently still
penned up in Metz, cut off from his commu,
nicatiOns with McNlahon and Paris.
The movements of Mcmahon, of which We
have known but little since his terrible defeat
at Worth and Froschweiler, may be thus
epitomised: Having retreated with the frag-
ments of his corps upon Savern and Nancy,
his troops were transported to Chalons. Here
he remained some two weeks recruiting, until
an effective force of 100000 men were placed
under his command With this force he
started about the 18th northward via Rheims,
(Which he reached on the 24th,) Rethel and
Bezieres, (26th,) intending by that round
about route to reach Thionville and1relieve
Bazaine at Metz.
The Prusslans, posted around Metz, were
fully appraised of his movements, and about the
Odd Prince Frederick Charles. with his splen-
did army of 100000 men, was sent to watch
Mcmahon, impede his progress and offer him
battle. At the same time the Crown Prince
resumed his march on Paris by way of Teul,
Barbecue and Chalons, Steinmetz, with heavy
reintorcements, remaining to take care of Ba.
zaine. On the Goth the Crown Prince was re-.
ported as rapidly advancing by way of the
Marine and the Aube.
To return to Mcmahon. On the 18th his
outposts had reached Montmedy, east of Be
zieres, where they encountered Prussian
force and there was a severe skirmsh. On
the Goth he made his head.q quarters at Sedan
which is close on the Began frontier and in
the eastern skirt of the Ardenne woods.
Hitherto the purpose of Mcmahon is evident
ly to avoid battle, but to reach Thionville and
Metz as rapidly as possible, clearly to relive
3azaine. The Prussians, however. had no
notion of accommodating him. On the 3Oth
they attacked McMahon's army at village
called Beaumont little east of Sedan, and,
proceeds the despatch, defeated it and drove
it back upon the Belgian frontier, the French
camp falling into the hands of the Prussians.
The pursuit of the French troops was con-
tinued for several miles, and was interrupted
by the number of cannon andiprisoners which
were TAKEN
King William telegraph in reference to this
bartle to the Queen as follows:
"VARNIENNEs, Aug. 30th.-AuGUsTA The
Crown Prince has been in action, with the
Fourth, Twelfth, and Seventeenth Corps, and
the Fourteenth Bavarian. Mcmahon was beaten
and driven beyond the Meuse Twelve guns
and some thousands of prisoners and material of
war were captured"
Early nextHmorning, says later despatch,
the battle was renewed, and continued all day.
During the night large number of reinforce
ments came up for the French, but they failed
to turn the scale Of victory. The Prussians also
reinforced largely attacked in overwhelming
numbers. Mcmahon retreated to Sedan with
the remant of his forces. The slaughter was
immense. 1t is impossible to estimate the
losses.
This was not a battle between Prince Fred.
erick Charles alone with his 100000 men, but
with three grand columns of the Prussian
army. The Crown Prince, whom we have
eft above on his march to Paris, appears to
have been diverted from that movement to
DIN in the attack on Mcmahon Marching, on
the 2sth, by way of Commercy, Barbecue, St.
Dizier and vitry; the Fourth Army, under
the Prince Royal of Saxony, keeping north of
Ponta Mousson, moved toward Chalons, at
The same time observing Metz, while Stein.
metz, reinforced, proceeded through Verdun |
% Rheims, his right sweeping the Belgian
frontier in the hope Of meeting Mcmahon.
Thus, the German advance covered the coun-
Try from Belgium along the Meuse to the
Aube, rendering it impossible for Mcmahon
10 reach Metz
MISUNDERSTANDING like an epidemic
If hydrophobia has broken out in st. Louis.
The Republican Of the 25th gives tho details Of
hree deaths from that fearful disease, and SAYS
he cases have been 70 numerous this summer
hat member Of the Board of Health proposed