Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-08-26

IGoyernment applied to know whether they
would consider the transportation Of
wounded men through Luxembourga viola
ton of its neutrality. The English Gov
ernment asked the French authorities
whether they objected. The French repli-
/ ed, 'sYes, because it opens the Prussians'
railways to unrestricted trans oortation OF
|. troops and supplies" Prussia rejoins:
ssThrse-Afths Of the wounded We want to
send are French. If you object we must
attend to our own first, nor are military
trains capable of being employed for the
wounded Gladstone favors the Prussian
view but Hammond, Under Secretary of the
Foreign Office, opposes it on technical
grounds, and, if the French insist on their
view, nothing viii be done, andthe French
wounded will have their own government
TO thank for needlessly prolonging their
sufferings
The Peace Rumors Denied.
The reported meeting of foreign ambassa-
dors in Paris to consider possible terms Of
peace is wholly discredited. The Prussians
would consider such meeting held in the
enemys capital gross discoartesy. Such
an initiative would be regarded as serious
If taken in London or st. Petersburg, but
in Paris almost as a violation of neutrality,
and Prussians Leither believe the state
ment nor would listen for a moment to
such proposal SO originating. o 'sai sh
b ma The EreEeh DefensesoiIGe5xs
PARIS, Aug. 24.-The Patrie says that
should the Prussians defeat the great army
now confronting them near Chalons, they
will have TO vanquish another before reach
ing Paris. Besides, they viii find Paris
itself amply prepared to resist any attack.
It is noticeable that people here are grow
ing more and more confident as they learn
how great the measures Of defense are
throughout the country. The false dis
patches published in the London Times
creates intense indignation here among all
classes. One great effect of these dis
patches is to increase the determination Of
the French troops to fight.
The First Naval engagement
LONDON, Aug. 25.--A special correspond
ent sends from Hamburg an account of the
first naval engagement Of the war. On the
morning of the 18th the German dispatch
boat Grille started out of the Bay of Rugsn
to reconnoiter the position and strength of
the French ships-of- war, whose arrival in
the vicinity had been reported, though no.
body had yet seen them. After proceeding
out to sea until within sight of the Danish
island of Moon, the Grille at length discoV-
cred the tall masts of the squadron, con-
sisting of seven iron-olsd frigstes, couple
of smaller vessels, and approached boldly
until within 5000 PAGES. The French then
opened fire and directed several broadsides
at the little craft, at the same time giving
lurn 10 tn
Ere few shots at her pursuors from her
guns of the whole feet she lured them to
follow her as far as the post-house at Wit
hom, where the three gunboats Drache,
BGtz and Salamander were lying, which,
on hearing the report of cannonading at
sea, Immediately weighed anchor to stand
by their consort.
The Commodore of the little squadron,
Capt Count Won Walderse, made signals to
the commander Of each gunboat to attack
the enemy at their own discretion, which
produced loud cheers, and they all steamed
out, ready for action with superior force
of the enemy. After running eight of
three hours, the gunboats, finding their
guns harmless against the plated sides of
the ironclads, returned to the protection
of their shore batteries. r - -ie t-|
1t is thought the. French pointed their
guns in good direction. They either
fred too high or too low, but it was diff
fcult in the fresh breeze to take steady aim
at the little gunboats lying low in the water,
and painted gray, so to be almost invisible.
Several shots from the gunboats hit their
mark, and a shell from the Salamander was
seen to explode on the deck of one of the
ships and must have done some damage to
the men at the guns. The German fotilla
suffered no losses whatever, though it
might have been very different had any of
the heavy % centimetre shells, fred from
the French ships, taken effect and exploded
on the decks of the gunboats.
The latter having filed up their stock of
ammunition and coal at Stralsund, returned
to their stations in the outer harbor, where
they are on outpost duty. r4
A PrussIan Defeat Yesterday Be
tween ChaIons and verdun.
PANS, Aug. 25, Evening.-The Figaro of
this afternoon contains the following: A
person who arrived from the vicinity of
Epernay this evening states that he was in
formed that the Prussians were defeated to-
day between Verdun and Chalons.
NEW York, Aug 25-A special to the
Evening Telegram from London to-day,
says there is q great deal of excitement
this afternoon over a rumor In the Stock
Exchange to the effect that the Prussian
army under the Crown Prince was defeated
by the French army under McMahon. The
rumored repulse of the Prussians, although
occasioning the widest excitement, can be
traced to no reliable source.
Arabs and Poles In Ihe French
Service.
A special to the Telegram from Paris to-
day says the report of an attempt TO sssas-
sinate Mcmahon is repeated this morning,
but without particulars.
Reinforcements for the army continue to
90 forward A number of Arab chiefs
have gone to the 'front.' A corps of Poles
is organizing for service in the French
army.
Burning of the Camp at ChaIons.
It has been positively ascsrtained that
the camp at Chalons was burned by order
of the Commander-in-chief
The wounded and the Empress.
Preparations continue for the reception
of the wounded. Four large ambulances
are kept ready in the Tuilleries Garden
The Empress yesterday personally visited
the hospitals, inspecting the arrangements.
A number of Americans are among the
subscribers to the new French loan.
Bread 75c a Loaf. @
The price of food in the rear of the
Prussian army has advanced exorbitsntly.
Bread on the Rhine is rs cents per loaf.
The Bombardment of StrasbOurg.
Further bombardment Of Strasbourg has
taken place, but without result. The Gay
cites Theatre here admits soldiers Free
Forty-fve thousand Prussian wounded
have been sent to Germany.
The neutrality of Belgium has been vio-
lated by the Prussians.
The Prussians in no Hurry-Metz,
not Paris, the Next Point of At
tack. .- ..--
LONDON, Aug t25-In the absence of
official news from the armies, it is believed
the Prussians will not hurry an attack upon
Paris, but will turn their attention to the
reduction of Metz, and destroy Bazaines
army. leaving the Crown Prince to cut the
French communications with Paris, watch
Mcmahon and check any forward move
ment on his part to relieve Metz. 1t is
further believed the Prussians are strong
enough to disregard McMshon's reinforce
ments, composed as they are of raw
troops
A Comparison of Resources.
Pans. Aug 25-The Journal Oficiel