Middletown transcript., 1870-10-22
THE WAR NEWS

THE WAR NEWS.
The tide Of war seems to have changed
in France. Even when full allowance is
made for exaggerations of war reports,
still, enough remains in the news, from
the scene Of conflict, to show that the
French are gaining and the Prussians
losing ground. Near Paris, the Pras.
slams have been driven back from their
advanced positions several miles. They
can no longer reach even the forts with
their guns. In the meantime, Bazaine
has escaped from Metz; beaten the be-
sieging force, and is now at Thionville,
organizing an army for offensive operations
in the field. With such body Of men as
Bazaine can gather and discipline, sup
ported by the irregular troops under Carl
baldi, the Prussian line of communication
can be cut, and the whole army around
Paris placed in a very precarious condi-
tion. Under the Republic, the French
people seem to have regained all their
old, heroic and self-sacrifcing spirit
Hcnceforth, the contest will be despe-
rate one on the part of the French. They
are now fighting for freedom, not a dy-
nasty.
On the 18th inst. the people of Paris,
impatient of Prussian delay in attacking
them, marched forth upon the enemy,
driving them back from the positions on
the entire circumference of Paris, which
they have been occupying nee three
weeks. A London dispatch says the ter
rible fire of the Mont Valerian fortifca-
tions swept the country round about. For
a circuit of six kilometres the Prussian
works have been destroyed; all the bat
teries attempted to be constructed by them
having been swept away. Reports from
the Sub-Prefect of Pont l. 'Eveque, to the
18th inst confirm the announced success
of the sorties by Marshal Bazaine. lie
had burned five villages which sheltered
the Prussans; dislodged them from sever
al positions, and cut to pieces four regi-
ments of cavalry. At the same time,
Marshal Canrobert made successful sortie
on the left bank of the Moselle.
Late advices say the German armies in
France, although constantly reinforced,
do not number much more than 500, 900
effective men. This is a small force, con-
sidering the magnitude of the task before
them, which includes--besides the sieges
Of Paris, Metz, Verdun, and Thionville-
extensive operations towards the north
and south of France. The French Army
of the North, now forming at Lisle, has
been placed under the command Of Gen.
Bourbaki, who will cooperate with Mar
shal Bazaine. Another battle between
the Army of the Loire and part of the
army of the Crown Prince seems probable
near Fcrte St. Aubin, south of Orleans.
NJ, Gambetta has left Tours for the
French army in the Vosges, which is to
be organized for the purpose of resisting
the German advance contemplated from
Strasbourg, via Belfort and Lyons. A
despatch from Yalenciennes reports the
state of affairs in Paris satisfactory, the
people calm and hopeful, the discipline OF
the troops good, and the fire from the for
ti6cations on the besicgcrs most effective.
The marines distinguished themselves par
tcularly in serving their guns. The Ger
mans have not yet been able to approach
near enough on account of the disastrous
sweeping fire from the forts, to establish
batteries for the shelling of Paris. St.
Cloud, where they made the attempt, is
total ruin, and in Napoleon's favorite pal
ace all the pictures and tapestry have been
destroyed by the fire from Fort Mont Va
lerien. .f.E Tslr., ~ECI5E Il
by the grand sortie of General Trochu
the German lines around Paris have been
broken on the south side, and the French
are said to be marching south towards
Melun. Should this successful moye-
ment be followed up by an advance of the
Army of the Loire from Orleans, perma-
nent communication with Paris on the
south side will be re-established. At the
reconnaissance from Paris towards Bag
neux, resulting in battle near that place
in which the French have been successful,
the fighting was desperate and the Ger
mans sfuered seve ely. s-.
Hamburg and Bremen are threatened
by the French feet, and the excitement in
those cities is intense. The London
bankers decline to negotiate German pa
per. Russia is reported to have rendered
her services for mediation, and Austria
and England sustain her propositions
Rumors of an armistice are current in Lon
don banking circles, and stocks are ad-
vancing.