The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-24

gradually driven back until they lost their hold
upon the two roads 20 Verdun and were safe
from further assault under the guns OF Metz.
Such, at least is the Prussian side of the
story, and there would seem to be but little
doubt that the relative positions OF the two
armies at the close of the struggle were such as
TO render all communications with Paris by way
of Verdun impossible. This much the Prussans
claimed, with apparent justice, and in being
able 70 do so they witnessed the partial accom-
plishment of the task they set shout on the
morning of the l4th-the prevention of a with
drawal of Bazaine's army from Metz by way of
the most direct route towards Pare, which lay
through Mars-la-Tour and Yerdun.
The Present situation.
But the first dispatches from King Williams
headquarters claimed that the communications
of Bazaine had been entirely severed and his
army hemmed in around Metz. The 12th Prus-
sian Corps was said to hold the railroad from
Metz TO Thionville, rendering the hostile Gordon
drawn around the French army complete. This
ie apparently confirmed by the brilliant and
graphic description of the battle by the New
York Tribuae'S correspondent, published in full
on another page to-day, who states that late
in the day the army of General Won Steinmetz
swept down from the northeast, effected a juno
ton with the forces of Prince Frederick Charles
effectually flanked the French and completed
the investment of Metz on the northwest In
still further confirmation is the acknowledgment
by the French authorities that for two whole
days there was no communication between
Paris and Bazaine's army, which tends to show
that for time at least, the investment of Metz
was complete on all sides, and the French
forces entirely isolated.
On Monday morning we had a report from
Prussian sources that at daybreak on Sunday,
the 2lst, Bazaine made a determined effort to
break through the Prussian lines, but was driven
back after desperate fight of three hours. Of
this alleged encounter no further tidings have
been received, from either French or Prussiau
sources, and the whole report has been gene
rally discredited. But, with his army com
pletcly surrounded, 1t was necessary that Ba-
zaine should do something, starvation and capi-
tulaton being his only alternative. 1t was use
less to attempt escape by way of Pont-a-Mous-
son and Toul, the railroad in that direction
being in the undisputed possession OF the Prus-
slams. The route directly west by way OF Ver-
dun was equally impracticable for five days he
had struggled hard to maintain his hold upon it,
In this dilemma, the route by way OF Thion-
Vile and Montmedy offered the only possible
chance of escape. And now arises the
vital question as to how his communica-
tions with Paris were reopened, as they have
apparently been. Yesterday. we had two dis
tinct reports, one that he had received supplies
by way of Mezieres and Montmedy another to
the effect that he had made good his escape,
with the bulk of his army, as far as Montmedy,
which is 25 miles due north of Verdun and 45
miles northwest of Metz, and was contemplating
junction with MacMahon's army at the head
of the valley of the Marne Immediately on top
of this came the announcement that he was stiIl
in the neighborhoodo of Metz, and that MacMahon
had succeeded in joining him with a large force,
by way of the route which, it was first stated,
Bazaine had taken on his retreat. Coupled
with this last report is the further announce
ment, but as yet confirmed by no official reports,
that the Crown Prince had abandoned his march
towards the capital, and, marching in a north
east direction, united his army with that COM
manded by Prince Frederick Charles and Won
Steinmetz, to the west of Metz. Thus the matter
stands, and it is useless to indulge in further
speculations until the mystery is partially cleared
up by later and fuller advices.
/ Since writing the above despatch has been
received stating that, according to the very
latest news from Paris, Metz is completely iso-
lated But it does not tell us whether Bazaine
is at Metz or at Montmedy!
J