Daily Kennebec journal., 1870-08-06
A Schooner Captured by a French Man
of War.

Official dispatches respecting the battle at
Weissenburg state that the victory was de-
cisive one for the Prussians. The French
forces under the command of Gen. Douay
were driven from the heights after a stubborn
resistance. Gen. Douay was killed. After
his death the French troops became demoral
lied and fled before the Prussians, who cap
tured five hundred and fifty prisoners and one
piece of artillery.
The official Prussian Bulletin says-'The
struggle between the Prussian and French
armies to-day was a sanguinary and hard
fought battle The conflict was waged upon
either side with unparalleled obstinacy, but the
French army was finally obliged to yield, and
dispersed, leaving their camp behind. The
Prussian army is now operating in the Valley
of Moselle, with headquarters at Treves, 81
miles southwest of Coblentz, and is in men,
| acing attitude towards Thonville, the head
quarters of the French army. A general
Prussan advance across the frontier has COM
menced."
The Prussian victory at Weissenburg to-
day is confirmed The nuuber of killed and
wounded has not yet been ascertained.
PARIS, Aug. 5.
l2:l5A. Mt is reported, but not Off
cially, that the French have taken Saarbruck
after great battle.
There is much excitement and details are
anxiously awaited.
The French Gen. Burgine made recon-
noissance on the Sd inst, between Saar-
bruck and Soarlouis to observe the move
ments of the Prussians. They were not
found in any force in that neighborhood.
LONDON Aug. 5.
&c Dr.v TO-
| turing Weissenburg and Gershill, was brill
liant, but bloody.
The French were repulsed and dispersed,
leaving behind them Gen. Douay, who was
killed, and five hundred prisoners.
The London Times says that the plan of
the Prussian commander-in-c chief, General
Moltkc, has been recently changed from a
defensive to an offensive one, and an advance
into France is threatened.
The fight at Saarbrucken on Saturday last
ed six hours, and on both sides 6O01Hen were
placed hOrs du combat.
Judging from French accounts the mitrail-
leurs have already decided the war.
The story which recently originated in
France about a naval engagement of Cuxha
ven, in which Prussian war vessel was sunk,
is false. There has been no collision at sea
between France and Prussia.
Thus far the French say that the Prussian
needle gun recoils so badly that marksmen
are soon compelled to fire from the shoulder.
The French say that the Prussian cavalry
carry the old horse pistols, while the French
have carbines of long range, and admitting of
aim.
The 5th corps of the Prussians are mainly
| composed of Poles.
1t is said that cavalry skirmish occurred
Yesterday near Lonterburg, in which 25
French defeated $50 Prussians.
A correspondent endowed by the Times as
trustw orthy and neutral, gives the following
interesting details of the battle of Saarbruck-
en-:
The French made some prisoners but cap
tured no cannon. They lost 40 killed and
60 wounded. The French force in the battle
is estimated at 10000 men, and the Prus-
| slams at only 5000. The artillery won the
fight. There was little infantry and no
cavalry engaged. 1t was the 59th Prussian
regiment, and no. the 50th as before re-
ported, which was engaged in this battle
Three companies of the 4th regiment held
their ground against the French until the
| latter's force fully developed its strength.
The small force of Prussians then retired.
An English fleet. including seyera! iron
| clads has sailed for Gibralter.
| A despatch from Antwerp represents that
the fatal effect of the war on commerce is
severely felt there. Money is extremely
scarce and business is at a stand still.
| 1t is understood that England has deter
mined to make the invasion of Belgium a
casus belli. The King of Belgium will sum-
mon the powers who have guaranteed her
neutrality to her assistance as soon as her
territory is invaded, and England will re-
spond.
The strenuous efforts made by the Court OF
Rome to bring the influence of the Empress
Eugene to bear effectively against the with
drawal of French troops have failed, and to-
day the last detachment leaves Civita Neachi
The negotiations at Florence for the pres
ervation of the neutrality of the pontifcia
territory have proved successful.
1t is reported that England will send tive
frigates to the Tiber to protect the Pope.
Advices from Rome state that the Jeusite
are endeavoring to induce the Pope to remove
to Malta.
A collision between the German and French
A.. IS stan