Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1870-08-26
THE LATEST WAR NEWS.

THE LATEST WAR NEWS.
The battle Of Sunday. the l4th. be-
tween the French under Marshal Bazaine
and the Prussian army under Prince
Frederick Charles has been followed by
series Of bloody engagements all of
which seem to have resulted favorably
TO the Prussians. These battles have
all occurred in the neighborhood of the
fortified city Of Metz to'which. the army
Of Bazaine has clung with imprudent
tenacity. thereby enabling the Prussian
forces to interpose between it and Paris.
In order to give the reader an intelli-
gible idea Of these operations we will
state the relative location of the promi-
nent strategic points around which the
armies have moved and of the localities
where they have joined in battle
The cities of Metz and Nancy are both
located on the banks of the MoseIle,
which flows between them in a nearly
due north and south line, and are about
thirty miles distant from each other.
Metz is I7Q miles east of Paris with
which it has indirect connection by rail,
by way Of Mezieres and Reins. Nancy
is about 200 miles from Paris, on the
railroad between that city and Strasburg.
Pont-a-Mousson lies on the Moselle.
midway between Metz and Nancy,
which cities are directly connected by
railroad. Toul is fifteen miles due west
Of Nancy on the railway to Chalons, a
city about equidistant between Nancy
and Paris. West from Toul,-on the
same railroad between Chalons and
Nancy-is Bar-le-Duc. town thirty
FIVE miles east of Chalons, which city is
Io7 miles east of Paris. Twenty miles
west of Barbecue. and fifteen east of
Chalons is Vitry-le-Francois. also on
the railroad between Chalons and Nan
cy.
Clustering around Metz are number
of villages. which the past fortnights
battles have made historic. Verdun is
81 miles west Of Metz. On the direct
road between those places are the vii
lagos of Gravelotte, Rezonville, VionvilIe
and Mars-la-Tour, the first four, the
second six, the third eight and the fourth
twelve miles west of Metz. Northwest
Of Metz twenty miles is Etain and about
SIX miles in the same direction is Briey.
Such are the relative positions of nearly
all the points mentioned in the dispatch
es.
On Sunday morning, the 18th inst, it
was discovered that the Prussians had
penetrated between the right wing of the
French army. under Mcmahon, at Toul.
and the left wing. under Bazaine. at
Metz The Prussians had also seized
the raj lway between Metz and Toul at
Pont-a-Mousson. thus breaking up all
connection between the French right
and left The Prussian advance guard
had also. on the same day. cut the rail
way to Chalons both at Bar-le-Duc and
BIesme thereby effectually preventing re- /
from being forwarded to
McN8ahon.
The Prussian armies under Prince
Frederick Charles and Won Steinmetz
now swung rapidly around on sort
of grand right wheel. coming up in rear
of Bazaine, the Prussian left under the
Crown Princemeanwhile pushing steadily
toward Chalons, whittier the fragments
of McMahon's army were reueating.
Thus the Prussians succeeded in cut
ting the French army in two. driving one
wing of it back in disorderupon Chalons|
and imminently threatening the commu-
nications of the other with Paris.
Bazaine finding himself in great
danger of being intercepted commenced
the evacuation of Metz on Sunday morn
ing, Aug. IA, and continued his move
ment without interruption until o'clk
p. m. and had partially crossed the Mo
selle when the Prussian right wing un-
der Won Steinmetz attacked and, after
four hours fighting, carried the outer
works of Bellecroix on the eastern side
Of the city, A part of Prince Frederick |
Charles army at the same time carried |
the outworks of Borny which command
he railway bridge south of Metz. During
he night the French continued their re-
reat leaving a strong garrison, under
Gen. Changarnier. in possession of the
.ity. On the following day tMonday) /
3azaine's army encountered the Prus-
ian center which had already crossed
he Mose1le between Metz and Nancy
nd was preparing to seize the road to
yerdun over which Bazaine desired to
Tithdraw toward Chalons. The battles
f Tuesday. Wednesday. and Thursday
'ere fought for the possession
f this road, Bazaine all the time strug-
ling to get away from Metz and the
russians steadily crowding him back
pom the walls Of the city. The battle
Tuesday took place in the neighbor-
ood of Gravelotte and Doncours.
nat Of Wednesday at Mars-la-Tour and
lat Of Thursday at Rczonville aud /
The lighting in all these
attles was Of the most desperate chara-
ter. On Wednesday the Prussians OBJ
aimed and held possession of the Yer /
un road, Bazaine falling back upon ,
,ezonville, though part of his army !
GEMS to have escaped toward Etain. At !
'ezonVille Bazaine was attacked on
thursday, Won Steinmetz advancing {
pom his flank and rear by way of Don
ourt and Prince Frederick Charles at
-eking him in front This fight,