The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-08-24
IN PRUSSIA.

IN TNO0StHs
French Conquest at Observation-Disclosures
Boast -Germaa Success at Wissembourg--
Heavy Losses-Strnsboura Threatened-
Prince Frederick Charles 70 BIO Henrd
From-Fcverisi Excitement In Berlin-cos-
nopoIitnn Libsraiity--Zouavesa and Tarcos-
A Novel sight.
BERLIN Angus Q, 1870.
Though 1t Is conceded thai accounts OF skirmishes
and engagements are generally too highly colored
by the victorious party. yet the description in the
French press Of the capture Of Saarbrlcken is a
paragon OF rnodomontade. A glance at a correct
map on a large scale, such as have now before
me, published by the Typographical department IN
several hundred sections, teaches even the un-
initiated that the territory separating the two sister
towns Of ST. John and Saarbrlcken rom the French
boundary line not adapted to deployng forces OF
any amount, and that 1t would have been unwIse to
attempt 10 hold these open places OF about 1000
Inhabitants each exposed as they to the enemys
artillery and arording no strategical advantages
the Germans. Indeed. 1t might have been taken by
the French two weeks ago, as their pickets were
stationed opposite early the 18th ult and the
whole German garrison consisted OF q battalion or
infantry 1900 men) and two squadrons GOO mem OF
Iancers or Ulans.
FIERCE ACTION OF THE PRUssIANs.
began the attack with twenty-three guns on the
heights OF spikeren they kept at bay by three
companies OF the Aforesaid Prussian regiment No.
40, who finally withdrew across the river Saar to
position selected beforehand, aud which was LEFT
uDmOlestcd by the enemy. That the weakness of
their opponents was no secret to them is obvious
from article in the French journal GanOts OF the
Both ult., It's corresponding writing from Forbach:
eve have reasons TO suppose from late observa-
tions that Saarbrucken Is very weakly garrisOned,
and Will be abandoned In case or our ADVANCE
Such had really been the orders OF General Won
Moltke, WHO probably would have also Withdrawn
from the fortress Saar0us, In order to meet the in
vaders between Treves and Mayence. These COM
blnallons, however, may now be considerably
altered owing to the
SUCCESSFUL ACTION AT wISsEMB0uRG.
Tnis was 10y Prussian regiments OF the Fifth and
Eleventh and OF the second Bavarian army cOrps
under command Of the Crown Prince, which has the
enect OF Outianking the enemy, forcing hun not
only TO quit Saarbrucken, but also threatening his
line OF connection with Srasbourg.
When the trst despatch OF tins action reached
here last night at niue O'Clock, spoke Of 5UV prs
oners only while later olfical news gives the num-
Der at 800, and, OF these, eighteen officers. This
contrasts well with the nabltual exaSgeraton of the
French, who, Id like case, would have reported &c
least 5000 prisoners, with view Of reducing their
figures afterwards. The welcome news was read
aloud IN the streets, theatres cOilee houses and
that the closing sentence Of the telegram VIZ.
.'lhe grenadiers Of the KING and the Fnty-eignth
regiment have sustained heavy losses were regu-
larry drowned by deafening cheers.
NO details are known a. yet respecting these lOss-
es but may be presumed nat they have been rather
fearful in proportion 10 the men actually engaged IN
that tight. IL Ii cOnsolatOry to think that battle
ON large scale Will soon take the place Of Skin.
mishes or small engagements, which decide nothing
though they result In vast destruction Of LIE. Tue
making prisoners OF Turk0s or Algerian troops will
divest tue Germans Of that mysterious fear OF an
unknown foe who, as they were told, was far worse
than the red skinned savage OF America, cruel
The piacards Announcing that the prisoners had
arrived NJ Frankfort, where they would be fed aud
then sent by way OF Berlin, 70 some northern fort
ress, were surro1nded by dense crowds Of the popu
lace, discussing beforehand The probable hour Of
their arrival and the chances of having peep at
live Turcos. Throughout toe day the inhabitants Of
THIS city evlnced . state OF
FgvERIsH EXCITEMENT
This was caused Dy variety Of rumors az 10
another bloody engagement OF the central army OF
Prince Frederick Charles OF Prussia though nothou
the position OF his forces 1t was rather the alyee
oil the people, arguing that the laureis won by the
Crown Prince would SUR up his cousin Charles; and
nrin in this belief and the wish being father 10 The
thought, they held out all day, and eagerly
swallowed the Candrds set anoat from hour
To hour by INSCRIPTIONS ways. But with
ali this nuster and impatlence you could ind
linked q certain stOic1sm aud SObriety which are
the prominent features OF inc German character,
to fits OF parOxysm and phrenLy, though OF snort
duration. The prospect OF long and bloody war
enaciy Of Teutons they are willing to fight to the
last and their pluck 10 not lessened by succession
Of dees No" as e SUoa ne
with that of the Pruss.ans in deledce OF Fatnerand
all the national "reminiscences OF the liberty war
are al oused and vengeance on the invader is the
There is less OF tumultuous swagger than the In.
ward oath to conquer or to die; men bid adieu to
their wives, telling them that they VIII not return
unless as vlctors.
heroic deeds which in 1918 and rs led the utter
destruction or the same enemy; they reproduce
the pictures OF misery anu desoaton suffered by
the invasion OF Napoleon l., and predict In
glowing coors the inevitable fate awaiting his
nephew. Some OF the brutaliues COMMITTED by the
French In the prelude at Saarbricken are widely
circulated in order to show the holowness OF their
pretended civillzlng mission. Their firing through
railway train on the German side OF the Saar river
killing some innocent people in vineyards; their
well known rapacily-French journals recommends.
ing TO the troops an ingenious proceeding to dis
cover buried treasure by employing watering pots
and thus discovering where the earth had been re-
Gently disturDed-and lasi though not least, as
Swallowed fOrtn in one OF their army orders the
VIOLATION and rapine which German women must
expect from the savage ZOuaves Turcos-all these
are powerful arguments employed by the press to
stimulate that national hatred which for Sixty years
has slumbered and Is now awakening with undimln.
ished fury.
AS TO the
COSMOPOLITAN LlBERALITY
shown to the few remaining french residents here,
1t seems TO find but o poor echo in Paris,
date announces that all Germans are compelled
report themselves to the Chief OF Police and can.
not remain 10 the city unless they obtain special
permission. Here we have quite number OF French
artisans, such as hatmakers, cooks, hairdressers
dancing masters, teachers &C., who ply their trade
or calling unmolesed; even the fagstar on the build
ing OF tue French legation remains IN its place ts
top crowned by the imperial eagle. The only change
and somewhat ridiculous one, may be observed on
few sgnbOards, '.Fournlsseurs de SO Majestic rEm.
pereur Napoleon ILL.," having removed the French
escutcheon, ana q few naarchands t1tllesrs Styling
themselves in plain German, Schnelderraelster
LOOKING FOR PRISONERS.
l have just learned that the prisoners taken at
Wissemburg will arrive here during this evening,
and be conducted on loot through the streets to the
accompany ana protect this triumphal procession
These involuntary guests viii be sent to the fOrresses
Of Custr1n and Graudenz, where, time ana the
authorities permitting 1t, your correspondent might
~ Of