The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-08-25
Isnecial 10 the Trihnne.l

day, says that the ChalonS 8 camp ID 80
completely deserted that not strag-
gler is to be seen. We found them
again on the road to Rheims, Whlcn
is crowded with troops. As We ap-
preached the city, we saw the French
army encamped parallel to the ROAD
from st. Merhoult, and separated
from it by the Nair Veste. They are
camped on the right bank OF the
Veste, looking down the stream.
II will not pretend to say what this
| movement meant, but it looks as IT q
part, at least, of Bazaine's forces had
escaped from Metz, and are expected
to join the Chalons army at or near
Rheims. There is a rumor that Ba-
zaine is passing through Grand Pre-
| and Vouziers. What makes it look
probable is the strong force Of light
cavalry here-tWo brigades of chas-
seurs and huzzars They are proba-
bly, the adVSnce guards.
''Since / began this letter news was
received at the Prefecture that Ba-
zaine, with part of his army. is fast
retreating By Vouziers, very hard
| Obliged to abandon his retreat on
1 C40AnS bAC AQ04 ~ MA4OA W95 wa
pletely In the possession OF the Prus
SLAMS, and that is why all the prison
ers and munitions were sent back
| from Verdun to Rheims.
IF any force has succeeded in
reaching Vouziers. or is on the road
thither, it must have escaped from
Metz on the northwest, or is, perhaps
that column which we believed had
| got past Gravellotte before the Prus-
slams seized that road on the 18th,
but no word has come direct
from BaZaine for two days,
and my belief is that he is cut
off. At any rate his nearest line
of retreat was closed, and if he had
been driven off into Ardennes, there
| there is no telling when the expected
| junction of his forces can be accom-
| plished, and if they join who is to
command, for neither will serve IN
| der the other.
"Discontent is spreading fast among
the troops and officers, who are dis
couraged by the failure of Bazaine
thus far to unite with MeMahon. His
| letter, although written two days ago,
and arriving at this post, supplies
later news of tho position of the
| French forces than has been allowed
to come by telegraph, etc. 1t lends
/ an air of probability to the extraor-
dinary story that Bazaine had made
his escape, with a part of his forces,
| from Metz, cutting through the ex-
| tended lines of Prussians, story
which has as yet no word OF contr-
| nation from the Prussian side.
1.-Two French kilograms, both dated
Yesterday morning and evening, and
received In London simultaneously
this morning, place Mcmahon first at
Chalons and then at Rheims. The
latter is true, as the above letter
shows.
Il have the highest authority foE
contradicting the statement of the
French that the Prussians had sought
permission from the French to trans
port their wounded through Luxem-
bourg. The Freuch insist on this i'm
piled admission of defeat. What
happened was this:
The Prussian Government applied
to know whether they would consider
| the transportation of wounded men
/ through Luxembourg a violation OF
its neutrality The English Govern
ment asked the French authorities
whether they objected. The French
replied: Yes; because it opens
Prussian railways to the unrestricted
transmission of troops and supplies.
Prussia replied: 'ThTee-hfths of the
wounded we want to send are French,
IF you object we must attend to our
own first, nor are military trains capa-
BILE of being employed for wounded.
Gladstone favors the Prussian view
bat Hammond. Under Secretary Of
Foreign Office, opposes it Ga techni-
cal grounds, and if the French insist
on their view. nothing will be done
and the French wounded will have
their own Government to thank fol
needlessly prolonging their suferings
THE report that there was a meet
ing of foreign Ambassadors In Pari:
to consider the possible terms oi
peace, is wholly discredited.
The Prussians would consider a
meeting held in the enemy's capita
a gross discourtesy. Such an initia
tive would be regarded as serious, il
taken into London or st. Petersburg
but in Paris, almost a violation OF
; neutrality, and Prussia would neither
believe the statement, nor listen for I
moment to any such proposal SC
original.
Our special correspondent sends
from Hamburg an account of the frs
naval engagement of the war:
ION the morning Of the 18th. tht
German dispatch boat Grille started
out of the Bay of Rugen to reconnoi
ter the position and strength of th'
! French ships of war, whose arrival il
the neighborhood had bean reported
though nobody had yet seen them
After proceeding out to sea unit
within sight of the Danish Island o
Moon, the Grille at length discovered
the tall masts of the squadron, con
sistiDg of seven ironclad frigates ant
a couple of smaller vessels, ant
approached boldly until within
three thousand PAGES. The FrencI
, then opened fire, aud directed severa
} broadsides at the little craft, at tn
l same time giving chase, aud ever
! now and then lying to to fire a fey
} shots at her. The Prussians receive,
: from her two rifed twelve -pounders
in answer to the guns of the Who'll
fleet. She lured them to follow he
as far as past the house at Wilton
{ where the three gunboats, Dracht
Blitz and Salamander were lying
which, on hearing the report of can
: nonading at sea. Immediately got u
steam and weighed anchor to stan
, By their consort.
/ The Commodore Of the little squad
q ron, Capt. Count Won Walderse, mad
signals to the commander of each gun
s boat to attack the enemy at their ow
: discretion, which caused loud cheer
and they all steamed out ready for aC
q ton with asuperior force of the enem,
After a running fight of three hour
the gunboats finding their guns harm
i less against the plated sides of th
a ironclads. returned to the nrnkactio