The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-30

LAST NIGHTS DISPATCHES.

RESUME OF FRENCH AND PRUSsIAN OPERATIONS
SINCE THE BATTLE OF sAARBRUCK-THE AD-
VANCE ON PARIs-THE GREAT BATTLE OF
SUNDAY
LONDON, Aug. 30.
The following is resume of the progress of
the German armies since the commencement
of the invasion of France:
After the check by the French vanguard
near Saarbruck, August 8, followed by the
route of Mcmahon, the French main body re-
tired on the line of the Moselle. The fort
resses of Thionville and Metz, defences of the
first order and well supplied, and intrenched
camps which were constructed gave great
strength to their new position. direct
attack would have been difficult; therefore the
German armies passed to the south of Metz
toward the Moselle to cross it above the city
and discover the enemy's movements.
Such great masses of troops, covering
wide region, required special precaution. The
first army was to flank the enemy's line of
march, and was directed to take a new po-
sition near the river Med. In the meantime,
the first and second armies approached each
other, division passing over the Moselle.
The same division, on the 9th, took part in
the fight, in which the French were repulsed
and pursued until they reached the protection
of the guns of Metz. This combat resulted
greatly to the advantage of the Prussians, as
tage was easily followed up.
Two roads connect Metz with Verdun and
Verdun with Paris. The second army, re-
framing from the passage of the Moselc, and
p.ris thus threatened, the French were obliged
to withdraw from the right bank of the Mo-
selle before Metz, not being strong enough to
stop the Prussian movements. The advance
of the first army, observing the movement of
the French, attacked, August "a, the French
4l~nx = fhn hndu xUh oh
was compelled to send back several divisions
to support the rear.
The Prussian 1st and 9TH corps went on the
south side to compel the French to face about.
They succeeded, after bloody but victorious
conflict. The Prussian 5th division attacked
General Frossard, and by degrees the entire
French force became engaged, and of the
Prussian forces, other divisions of the Sd
corps, 10th corps, regiment of the 9th corps
and brigade Of the 9th participated. Prince
Frederick Charles had taken command. The
movement was successful, and the southerly
road to Paris was intercepted. The Prus-
slams fought heroically; and their losses were
large, but those of the enemy, especially OF
the Imperial Guard, were immense.
French official reports estimate the Prussan
force engaged at double what it was. The
only way for the Emperor to escape fatal iso-
latiOn from Paris and his supplies lay On the
northern line. The Prussian army in the
south, finding no enemy before it, fell back
combining with the other army. A joint
attack on the French was then planned. The
French ceasing to retreat by the northerly
line, took position on the heights before Metz
The second army moved to the right, fixing it;
centre and left at Verneville and Armanvilliers
while its right rested in contact with the frs
army. Absolute readiness for simultaneous
move along the entire line was requisite, a;
the French position was a strong one.
At the start the 9th corps encountered the
advanced detachments, who opened with ar
tillery from the Verneville side. The frs
army, therefore, was ordered to engage th'
enemy in front, and at one O'Clock opened 1
well sustained and effective cannonade, whicl
lasted until broad daylight. The French re
Piled with yigor. ABBOTT 2.30 infantry en-
gagged the enemy, who just then strongly re
inforced his line, reaching from st. Marie Aui
Chenes to La Crusse.
His position, naturally of great strength
had been so fortified by earthwor orks and ditche
that it seemed almost impregnable. Their
wasa brief delay before the assault, in orde