Middletown transcript., 1870-08-06
THE WAR NEWS.

southeast of Trcvcs, ten miles south of
Saarlouis, and about forty miles east of
Metz. The town takes its name from the
Saar river and " brucken," the German
word for " bridges" 1t is often given in
the singular, Saarbrack, or Saarbridge,
from the stone bridge over the river, con-
Meeting the town with its suburb St. Jo-
hann. 1t has population of between
eight and ten thousand, was founded in
the tenth century, and has passed through
many vicissitudes incident to war. 1t is
distinct from Saarburg, which is thirty
miles northnortheast of Saarbrucken.
Saarlouis is another town of Rhenish Prus-
sia, some ten miles northeast of Saarbruck-
en-. The Prussian line in the Saar Val
ley ran parallel to the French boundary,
and included Saarlouis, Metzig, Saarburg,
and Saarbfucken, and apparently the Prus-
sian objective point was Metz. But in
proportion as the French, who at first con-
tented themselves with massing at their
two great centres, Metz and Strasbourg,
showed disposition to advance, the Prus-
SLAMS manifested symptoms of retiring upon
the great natural boundary of the Rhine,
backed by the fortrcsses of Coblentz, Ma
yence, and Mannheim. According to
correspondence of American newspapers,
the Importance of the capture of Saarbruck-
en- will greatly depend upon the stand
which Prussia proposes to make on this
side of the Rhine. With Metz as base of
operations, the French have now extended
their front to position which commands
the upper extremity of the Valley of the
Saar, and renders the entire command of
cis-Rhenish Prussia dependent upon the
possession of Treves and Saarlouis. The
latter fortress is about seven miles lower
down the valley of the Saar, while Treves
is at distance of forty miles, where that
stream joins the Mosele. If the reduc-
ton OF these strong positions is not to be
attempted, statement which is the more
probable siuce they now contain evidently
nothing beyond strong defensive garrisons,
and the Emperor elects to march straight
upon the Rhine, Cobentz will doubtless
be the seat Of the next important opera
ton. If Saarlouis is singled out for at
tack, we shall have the intelligence before
many hours are over, and the plan of the
campaign will thus in either case be more
clearly understood.
According to the kilograms received,
the Saarbruken affair was apparently not
strongly contested by the Prussians, and
the loss on both sides was slight. After
the engagement Napoleon and the Prince
Imperial, we are told, went back to Metz
to dine. On Wednesday the French re-
mained in full possession. Thus the from,
tier has been crossed, and the first success
of the campaign has been achieved by
French arms on German soil.
The variety of the accounts of the en-
gagements are grimly amusing. Official
reports from Berlin assure us that the at
tack was made upon small detachment
of Prussians by three French diUisions,
and 1t is modestly added that after
sharp action the position was aban-
doned, the Prussians falling back on their
supports. The French journals on the
other hand, magnify the affair in propor-
ton as its Importance is diminished by the
Prussians. The Frence allego that the
Prussans were strongly posted, and that
the heights were carried by few battal-
ions, the capture of the town instantly fol-
lowing. 1t is also claimed that one French
division defeated three Pgussiun divisions.
The distressing feature of the affair was
the burning of half the town by French
The deadly mitrailleuse, new
weapon for wholesale slaughter, was used
for the first time in the engagement, and.
it is said, with demoralizing effect. A
dispatch from the Emperor Napoleon to
Eugenie is also given, furnishing an ac-
count of the young Princes " baptism of
fire." and his !" coolness " under the oper-
alton.
Prussia has summoned levy en- masse
for coast defense. Negotiations are pend
ing to keep the ports of Hamburg and
Bremen open during the war, and the
United States as we'll as Grreat Britain is
said to be an active promoter of the OBJ
lect. All the correspondents, it is said,
have been finally expelled from both lines,
which they richly deserve in view of the
contradictory dispatches they send from
day to day.
England's alleged irresolute policy and
imperfect neutrality continue to excite
partisan criticism at home and popular de-
in Germany.
The Prussians are preparing an i'm
mense entrenched camp between Mayence
and Frankfort. 1t is asserted that the
Prussian army is to carry the war into
France, assuming the offensive, instead of
the defensive, as at present. A London
rumor credits Napoleon with having de-
layed the campaign to prosecute efforts
for peace, renewal of which was finally
refused by Bismarck.
A later Prussian account of the fight at
Saarbrucken puts down their loss at two
oflcers and seventy mine men, The French
loss appeared to be more serious.
1t is rumored that the grand forward
movement is fixed for Saturday next. A
Prussian force has advanced across the
frontier, driving the French posts before
them and destroying miles of the railroad
between Luxemburg and Strasburg. The
an IL. Izr1