The New York herald., 1870-08-30


comparatively meagre since Sunday last
There are, indeed, foods of contradictory
details in reference to the movements of the
various French and German armies, but the
main points are not decisively rendered.
What can be clearly extracted from the whole
collection of data is no more than that Bazaine
is surrounded in Metz, where sickness and
lack of food are sorely pressing the besieged.
Vitry-le-Francois has surrendered to the Ger
mans; but Strasbourg and several other for
the Prussian King and the Rhenish frontier
still hold out, although the former place Is
said to have been terribly battered. The
main line of march of the original German
armies moving on Paris has been changed,
and now trends more to the northward, 80 as
flank MacMahon, whose headquarters are
reported to be at Stenay, on the
Belgian frontier. The Emperor is--with
what truth we know not-declared positively
to be very near his favorite Marshal, and de-
termined to participate with him in the de-
cisive battle hourly expected and on which
the fate of his dynasty depends. Meanwhile,
the dispatches announcing great engagement
and the defeat Of MacMahon, between Verdun
and Stepay, are not confirmed /; but it seems
undoubtedly true that the bulk of the German
forces are pushing steadily for Paris, followed
up by heavy reinforcements from the rear.
Some telegraphc correspondents report a re-
organization of the German hosts into five
armies, of which the last two are just moving
by leisurely marches into Eastern France The
total numbers of the combined array amount to
seven hundred and twenty thousand men.
The movements of MacMahon, Bazaines
outlying detachments who escaped from Metz
in the first retreat and the troops that have
been sent out to Paris to aid them, indicate
either sheer military insanity or cover some
deep-laid plan outside and inside of France with
which neither telegraph nor correspondents
have acquainted the world. We are as
sured by the French Ministry that the
Prussians are to be annihiated, and
that, should they send million of men into
France, not one Of them will ever see Paris but
as prisoner. How this is to be done we are
not told; but we find every official, every
newspaper and every individual in sympathy
with France in this war holding the same mys-
suggests picrate ofpotash; another hints at dark
doings by way of Belgium, and third whispers
that Napoleon is about to proclaim the univer-
sal republic in Europe. Meanwhile, however,
there is strange, and, we think, improbable
story, that Napoleon is soliciting the neutral
Powers to save his dynasty. The new levies
and organized veterans of former categories
are pouring into Paris; the Notifications are
fully mounted with heavy artillery, and the
Bois de Boulogne and other open districts of
field and woodland close to the capital are full
of cattle for the subsistence of that city in case
of real siege. The outspoken resolve of the
people is to defend it as best they may; but
the government seems inclines, for quiet's
sake, to get away to Tours or
to Lyons. So far as the Emperor is con-
cerned, his close proximity to the Belgian
frontier, which may not be unintentional by
any means, will prove very convenient in
case Of defeat in the impending final battle.
To show the amusing absurdity of some tele-
graphic reports received here by sundry
papers, and purporting to be genuine, we may
mention that one of them yesterday gave the
not very novel intelligence that the Germans
are moving on s'Pretzels, and had taken pos
session of 'Snipes"-a circumstance well cal
culated to make other people than Parisians
o>c
letined.
Seriously, the French empire approaches its
supreme moment, and Christendom looks on
with breathless interest. Nothing is palmer
than that the heroism of the people and the
soldiery of France are still worthy of their old
renown, but their leaders, thus far, have
proven incapable. Could the voice of another
Carnot be heard for an hour throughout
France, cheering and organizing, and the
sword of a second Demouriez or of Moreau
be seen flashing through the defles of the
Argonnes, with victory in every stroke, the
case might still be reversed; and even as it is,
while we write these closing lines, in the very
depth and extremity of her gloom we can de-
tect the first simmer of the star that, in a
day, may blaze forth to the deliverance of a
land so often prostrated by her princes and
so often lifted to the pinnacle Of glory by the
sons of her people.
ANOTHER FRIGHTFUL MINING DISASTER is
reported from Girardville, Pa. Six men killed
and one fatally wounded-all leaving large
families. Such Is the brief narrative of an
guish. Three of the poor fellows were broth
ers /; whole circle of stalwart workers for
kindred homes swept away like flies We
lack organization and care everywhere in this
great country of ours. Too much is left to
prejudice, ignorance and chance, and human