The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-08-24
France.
DESP ALTERNATIVE

DESPERATE ALTERNATIVE.
LONDON, Aug. 23,-[Special to N. Y. Herald
Nothing official has been received since yes
terday from either army. Private advices this
morning assert that the Chalous army has
taken the direction of Thionvle in desperate
effort to effect junction with Marshal Ba-
zaine, escaping the Crown Prince and passing
the main German army north of verdun.-
McMahoD was driven to choice of two evils,
either to leave the road to Paris open to the
Crown Prince or by holding it sacrifice Ba-
zaines army.
FACTS AND RUMoRs.
PARIS Aug. 23.-The journals to-day say
despatch has been received from Bazaiue, in
which the Marshal declares his intention of re-
naming near Metz. Without giving fuller ex-
PLANTATION the despatch admits that Bazaine's
communications were at one time endangered,
but asserts that they now secure. All is
quiet at Rheims.
A. G. Gill, American Consul, has assumed
prote ction of large numbers of German resi-
dents in the city.
The Committee Of the Corps Lesislatif APP.
pointed yesterday to consider the proposition of
deputy Keartry to form committee of defence
meets to-day to confer with the ministry. A
compromise will probably be effected.
1t is reported that Drest the leader of the
Vllette outbreak, who has been condemned
to death, wishes to make a confession and prom
Uses startling revelations Three more men
implicated in the affair have been .ried and
sentenced to-day by a council of war.
The Gauos asserts that Prussia applied
through Lord Granville for the consent of the
French commanders to allow her wounded to
the number of s. 600 men sent home through
Belgium and Luxembourg, and Marshal Ba-
zane positively refused.
The refusal of this request will necessitate
the transportation the sufferers by tedious and
gradual stages over roads already obstructed
by troops and the paraphernalia of war. The
consequences will prove serious.
The Journal Official explains ut length the
facilities Of the bank of France for the ranu-
ficture of paper currency.
The object of Prince Napoleon visit to Flor
ence waste protest Jag aipst the neutrality Of
Italy.
The extraordinary fo:ces 'calleI out by the
Swiss government are returning to their homes,
the regular army being considered sufficient to
protect the neutrality of the country.
DEGREES have been officially promulgated &C.
clarug the departments of Mevre and Cher in
state of seige.
The Constitutional, on scmi-official authori-
ty, contradi'ts in most positive terms the re-
port ia the London Times that the Empress
Eu genie had sued for mediation from Queen
Victoria.
All the journals here Indignantly deny the
trlth of a repor: printed in the London Time
that the nit leuse are loaded with explosive
bullets.
HEAVY RAIN.
Advices from the vicinity of the hostile
armies state that heavy rain fell all last night
which must have he effect of seriously imped-
ing all military movements to day.
LEAKY VESSELS.
The correspondent of LIE Temps says there is
no hope for triumphant issue to the war I'M
| less the Emperor and Prince Imperial cease
their interference and return to Paris. The
Prince chatters about military movements t.
everybody ard let's out important secrets.
DEPRESSION AT HEADQUARTERS.
LONDON, Aug. 23-9 p. M.-The general
headquarters of the French army Sunday
night were few miles west of Rheims. Ed
mond Texier writes thence to the Steele thai
the deepest depression PREVAILS and the EN-
peror receives nobody.
Prussia.
THE GROWN PRINCE CHANGES HIS POSITION -
| THREATENED ATTACK BY BAZAINE.
LONDON, Aug. % 1t is reported that the
Grown Prince of Prussia has withdrawn from
his advance on Paris aud gone 10 the support
| If fIo Drns 4 IL. I, ,oci
ton of the latter being threatened with for
midable attack from Bazaine, who is said t.
have been reinforced by Mcmahon.
TIE details of the battle of the 18Th at GRAY
ellotte are still wanting even at Berlin.
THE MILITARY SITUATION
The German dispatches to-day are meagrt
but from them we gather that the military sit
uation is as follows: The 18th Prussian corp
is now between Metz and Thionvile, and serve
to keep up communications between Prime
Frederick Charles and Steinmetz. The for
ress of Metz is enclosed on all sides. Commut
ications between Chalous and Paris are cut of
The headquarters of the Crown Prince are
Bar lie Due. Mcmahon and Falley ale sti
retreating to cover Paris.
THE DEMANDS OF PRUSSIA.
Thu following statement from semi officlf
|. sources foreshadows the demands likely to
made by Prussia in case of a successful tel
mination of the war; The time arrives whe
Germany must be freed from French interior
ence and menace. and have a long period {
unbroken peace. A mere change of dynast
in France would not be sufficient to insur
this, for the next sovereign would seek as 500
!, as possible TO recover the lost prestige of Franc
and the burtheDs Of an armed pesce would b
i perpetuated. Suppose France should issu
7 from this struggle with her strength unimpai
g ed aud with the strongholds whence she mel
aces the valley OF the Rhine and the Palatinat
intact the war from which the incapacity