The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-08-19
THE vrcronr AT wor.ru AND wErmrxBrno

THE VIcroRY AT WoERTH AND WEIssEsBERo
The correspondent Of the N. Y. Tribune tele-
graphs from the Prussian headquarters;
Though the engagements at Weissenburg and
Woerth are regaried rs minor combats, yet they
are in reality Of the highest importance. The
earliest official dispatches underestimated the
ma gnituds and rztent Of the victory. Instead
Of ten hundred prisoners having been captured
at Weissenburg the number amounts to nearly
two thousand. Both struggles were stubborn.
The French soldiers stood their ground we'll and
their rifles proved terribly destructive. II was
downright hard fighting which enabled the Ger
mans 10 claim the hours Of the day. A wound
ed French prisoner svowed In my hearing that
his countrymen could not Withstand the weight
Of the Germans attack, the fight being one not
Of bullets only. but Of bayonets also, and was
decided at length by actual strength Of the 10
spective combatants, physically. The aveIage
Of the German soldiers are heavier men then
the ordinary French. Il was supposed that the
introduction Of the new weapons would alter the
mode Of warfare and render the old style Of hand
to hand combat obsolete. This engagement
proved otherwise. Tho Zouaves did what they
could to check the advance Of the German regi.
ments by pouring volleys Of fire from their con-
ce,led position. They had posted themselves
In pits dug for the purpose, and not until the
regiment had suffered from their concealed 6re
did the German solliers know that their prog
ress was to be contested. They saw no sign CT
any troops In their font. Such an ordeal As
this has tested tie stuff Of which there men are
made.
They bore themselves with extraordinary
v,lor-men were struck down by hundreds, yet
they remained and never faltered. The Zousvts
were driven from their places OF concealmeut and
the ground they had occupied was won by their
opponents. ....
The exact deteals are not forthcoming. II Is
impossible 10 learn even approximately how
many fell, but Il Is quite certain that the Ger
man loss has been proportion ally enormous.
During the day and night the wounded have
been arriving here.
This afternoon all the bells In the hospitals
were occupied. These bcpitals will contain
about 1000 men. The Geld hospitals are also
full, and hundiels Of wounded men have been
sent on to Frankfort, where there Is sccommoda-
ton for 5000. Long strings Of stretchers, on
which lay the wounded soldiers and officers are
passing through the streets to-day.
So great Is the slaughter that the arrange
ments proved inefficient. Wounded men laid
for twenty. -four hours on the battle Geld before
discovered. A private dispatch from military
surgeon confirms this dispatch.
Prom woerth, the place where McMshon .
army was thoroughly beaten, he says that while
the victory was complete and the number Of
prisoners taken amount to COCO. the losscs on
both sides were enormous The losses In killed
and wounded and In prisoners can be III afford.
cd by the French. .
To replace those who were killed. wounded or
missing Il hardly possible. The Germans, on
the other hand, oil up oil blanks In the course
Of few hours. They have supcrabundsnce
Of Trained soldiers ready to join their regiments
ut moment . notice. rft M