Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-09-07
WHAT FOLLOWS.


The object Mcmahon had in view in his
movement to the North was, as stated in
our Wednesdays issue, the rescue of Ba-
zaine from the clutches of Steinmctz. He
had proceeded on shis mrrch as far as
NreZy, where he was first overtaken by the
advance of the Crown Prince on Tuesday.
The battle of Beaumont followed, after
which the French were forced across the
NLeuse. The engagement of Wednesday
occurred near Mousson, and left Mcmahon
i'll the narrow belt between the Meuse and
the Belgian frontier The battle of Thurs
day resulted in driving McAIahon into Sc
dan which is on the east side of the Meuse
and near the Belgian frontier. His position
was desperete, and left no avenue for
escape. He could not cross to the west side
of the Meuse in the face of the Prussian
army and he could not cross the Belgian
line without dsarming his troops. His
army it would seem from our dispatches,
was eXasperated at their situation and
losses, and probably forced the capitulation
by which they became prisoners. These,
i'll brief, are the events preceding the sur
render.
What will be the result of this signal tri-
umpi yet remains to be seen. Napoleon
surrendered practically himself 1t is
doubtful whether his wishes influenced
McMahon or Gen. Wimpffen in their ac-
ton. He had certainly no authority to ca
pitulate for any forces save those immedi-
ately under Mcmahon. The Empress is
Regent, but even she is no longer recog-
nized as authority The Committee OF
Defence is really the Government of
France, and upon their decision depends
the cessation or further continuation of the
war What good will it do to sacrifice
thousands more of brave men when nc
good can result? Even if the report of the
defeat of Bazaine is untrue his capture is
now II mere question of time. So it iswitll
Paris, Strasburg and Verdun. France has
now no army left to cope with the hal
million experienced and victorious soldiers
of Germany. True, she has thousands o
able-bodied men, who have not yet been il
service, but what are all her resource:
worth to her in her present helpless con
dition. She has not the time nor the eff
eient military system to organize them
The armies of Germany have overrun he
territory and overwhelmed her forces, anC
arc yet strong and ready for further ag
gressive operations. Under these circum
stances it would be folly to protract a wa
which has already cost fearfully in blooC
and treasure. But if the Committee still
refuse to yield, the work to be finished vii
be more tedious, but no less creditable fo
Germany. Her Engineer Corps is said t.
be one Of the most thorough and able il
the world, and in siege of Paris am
Metz would have fine opportunities for dis
playing their efficiency On the part o
King William the work still TO be done
important and not without its trouble,
What are the terms of capitulation
France has been, through Napoleon, tn
cause of the war, and a fearful respons
bility it imposes upon her VIII Europ
allow Germany to appropriate Alsace an
Lorraine to her territory? They once be
longed to her, and might be desirable nov
On this'point we find the following frol
one Of the leading papers of Prussia:
The Berlin Gazette thinks that Prussia tern
of peace will dissect France on the line of II
Vosges or the Moselle and believes EnglaI
will assent to the operation, and also to II d
nand of 1000 0000 600 francs indemnity for Il
expenses of the war.
Austria was made to pay to Prussia Il
entire expenses of the war of 1865, and
is certain that the same indemnity will
demanded from France. But these a
speculations which few days will solv
for the policy of King William is vigoro
and to the point.