New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-08-30

three days to have them in sight. The French army
round Metz is in good position, and will not prob
ably fall back step II might be expected under
the circumstances Tho troops here not OF course,
numerous enough to dream OF resisting, and therefore
win fall backtep by step This Ia not defensble posi-
ton. as one might suppose 1t Ia simply immense level
plain. and the last place army, numerically weaker
than his enemy. would choose to make stand in The
camp Is not entrenohed, and not the least sign OF en-
trencADg II is shown. There Ia General commanding
here It true but he Is constantly changing and there
regular cOmmandantG Generals, officers as they go
through with their divisions assume command and resign
It according to rank and seniority. went to the Etat
Major this morning to try and the ccmmandant
There was only staff officer. He told me that the
General who commanded at the cavalry camp
was afterward told the General Of Engineers that
in command, and In fact have not yet ascertaned
whom 10 apply TO. What want ia safe conduct In the
Fronch lines and the neghborng country, ana on the
road TO Roins for already II is but half safe In
place overrun by strong young soldiers OF every class
what will be when the alarm is given at sight OF the
Prussian advance guardi saw something this morning
which made mo think. satanic-lOoking and hercuean
Turco was sitting close to while was breakfasting
He was covered with gold chains rings and jewels OF all
sorts and had about him several pormonnaies crammeu
with gold which Of course spending lavishy See
ing me his thoroughly Eastern splendo ana ho
doubt grated lie informed me that all his wealth was
u
canteen and follows the regiment From what ne 'olu
me I'm bis bal French, a mixture OF Arab and every
tongueknowu t appears hat he killed nm Win threo
stabs OF his bayonet, and found 60Of on him. lthou8h
TO myself your tale be true my friend, but thik
Won would easily mistake anybody for Prussan III you
suspected him having 5000 francs 1t was the french
army which was routed and not the Prssians and am
afraid IL was not Prussian cantinier you rifed My
window here looks the main street, the only street.
and hear distinctly all that Is said underneath ana IA
am writing hear group OF men talking in very dis
satisfied way of the law which calls back to
the men who have already paid their debt OF service
THE COMBAT on THE MosELLE.
August $40 a. MI posted my last letter. dated from
here last night, by the first mail this morning have
now further details from the Prussiau advance to Point
aMousson. have Just boon talking to some infantry
officers who went by those trains and who returned this
evening They started from here yesterday; 1t was that
very lot was nearly starting with, when was told
could go only far Chaons town. Well, as 1t Is,
can give you the details OF the thing as well as If had
been there There six seven trains started III
rapid succession the day before yesterday taking in all
1000 men, consisting OF three infantry regiments ana
some artillery near Popta Mousson. They found the
railway cut, and some Prussan artillery began mlng
upon the train which refrigerated far as IL could,
and only two men killed 1t appears panic spread
among tho in the train, who got notion INTO 'her
heads that the train fire. and began jumping OUT
hurt The news (Which you have already received, no
doubt with details, at the time you receive ths OF
battle near Longeve reached mo this morning, ana con-
sideraby changed the situation. 1t will no doubt stop
the Crown Prince in his advance. think shall stay
here tonight for there will surely be some extraordinary
rejoicings. -
August Is, Mknight-To-day was the Emperor's birth
day. but il was kept; however IL was made holiday
like Sunday AS told you in my last we had this morn
ing the telegram announcing the r"pulse OF strong
body of Prussians which attacked the French they
were crossing the Moselle The telegram calls this affair
"combat" and says half the French army was
not engaged, which leads one to suppose
that the other half was; and In that case 1t
was certainly more than q "combat," for there
must have been $1,000 French troops engaged However,
as the Emperor called the affair at Saarbruck battle,
perhaps he calls great battle combat" This morn
ing people seemed little eated by the news, but this
evening is notion that it is not much of victory.
thought the camp would have been illuminated, and
was told that probably would have been had 1t not been
the EmperOrs birthday but he is thoroughly done for
People make bones about saying so now, and that
they will have more Of him. In the street here the
cries mentioned you in former letter go every
evening with reference to the Emperor. Some soldiers
cry out 8" Viye PEmpereur !" and chorus Of voices
by very vulgar and insulting word. The nation
ia up in arms but the Of the Emperor seems to
have no more to do with anything than If he did
not exist. The victory announced this morning has not
queted the fears OF the inhabitants of this village II 1t
had been real and serious victory 1t ought not to do
for should think the Crown Prince would not continue
advance reckessy the northern army had been
seriously checked However the fears Of the inhabitants
not allayed and the people in this town. who have
their children II leagues in that direction send
ing them In all haste and making their plans to dis
appear from here at the first sight Of a Prussan
eclareur in this part of the country AS you have seen,
fho haa To and aHo
this evening mounted trumpeters galopng about
here, sounding the "aerte" for the artillery which
stopped at Ponta- M0usson and all the artillery
here is of. suppose, by this time whereto could
not find out, but 1 shall be able to state to-mor
row morning before posting this. 1 am very
much mistaken II within very few days, without
moving from here am not very OF The princi-
pal scenes Of action foresee so many changes OF for
In this war and such changes of position that I'M
less get with general staff in the field, and
about with it, 1t will be almost impossible to
respond for it fatal to fall into the hands Of tho
Prussians.
Aug. 1910 m-This morning learn that the artIl-
lery and troops which started yesterday evening, at
minutes notice, have again fallen back finding the rail
way cut at Blesme, junction station which you will see
on your map This is also confirmed by some peasants
who were going to Fair In that direction and have been
obliged TO return. The Prussians advance with great
rapidity by the woods, sending cavalry long way in
advance TO cut the railways for Is impossible that
their vanguard should he Blesne The Journal
OGeiel WILL OF course, not give this for few days
yet for have observed that 1t always gives the unavor
able late possible. Nevertheless It is perfectly
true that the railway at Besme Is cut. Last Thursday
wrote you from Chalons that the Prussans sight
Of Nancy, and 1t perfectly true, although the Oel
denied the for four days. when 1t gave the news
itself but then the Prussans must have been twenty
leagues further hear that the line OF yerdun Is
open, and If it is shall go 1t appears the Emperor
aud Imperial Guard there and IL the communications
are open from there homeward it would DO very rood
post Of observation, which at all events might try.