The New York herald., 1870-08-29


O'Clock this morning.
Defence at sanrbrucyS.- Onlc,ai STATE eaient-.
Prussia MOI Eaiiy Preparcsl--Adv vantage of
Erance--iew it was sLOzt--Pcrseverance and
cooi EIoc'-'A "lInndiuI OF s,c,licrs''-Tiiu-
sion OF the Enemy~-iIrnye Conduct OF n Conn
n'anGcr--''DIorious Eattie and lcetrcat."
BgRLN. August H. 1870.
The oifcial SG0's1nzetger contains brief
description OF the events at Saarbruck previous TO
and on the % inst prefacing it by some very sensi.
bic remarks In order 10 show the Importance OF
secresy OF military movements 10 may not be un,n-
tereSing TO obtain the key the sraiagtm of GEN
eral Moltxe, which is given by the oliclal organ
as follows:--
MoIrKE's STRATEGY.
The paper says
in all the different newspapers we'll
In the public mind there has been much
excitement in regard to the little news obtained
from the seat OF War, and that litto which TO
gard TO the especial lacts. The leaders OF the army
are fully aware OF the duty which they TO pub
hcity, but there are movements when, however
much they wish satisfy the DuDlIc mind tiis can
not be done without great injury to their cause.
THIS was just the case with Saarbruck, ana hap
pened at n moment when the body Oi our army first
set foot on French territory The fryolity with which
the French government entered into bloody war
on gr0undless cause Is unparalleled in the memory
OF man ana mocks ali description The military lead
ers OF Prussia were fully prepared for these events
its military regulations. The whole of the kept-up
army was sent Ia great haste by the government 10
the boundaries
A body OF above loO0 900 men threatened the left
borders or the Rhine, while tie German battaii0ns
throughout the whole Kingdom were sti III garr-
son. BY these means the French had gained a de.
cided advantage over u.s. rs by the different branch
railways access easy to the different provinces
and afforded Them the means Of raising new troops
in peace. Prussia, on the contrary, not
wen situated. II " true ~ could have
raised troops and sent on to the borders
but these troops when raised in such m0mientary
haste could not be sufficiently well organized TO
work through the changes OF great and important
war, and therefore they preferred taxing different
style oil action. Tor they feared what was speedily
obtained would afterwards be bitterly revenged. n
Iney therefore left the garrlsons. weakly sup.
ported by few troops 10 protect tue western boun-
dairy OF Germany; and they knew, but too truly. that
IT the enemy possessed but small amount OF
energy they would speedily possess themselves OF a
part or German territory and live at German COST
Notwithstanding tins foresight It was thought best
10 leave these troops stationary until the whole
army was organized. The wisdom Of these mea-
sureS has borne its fruit.
Tne hurnedly organized French army found on
the boundary troops awaiting them although these
were only the weakly provided garrisons belonging
there. This led them astray, and they possessed
not tact enough to provide themselves at the Ger
man cost. More than that, we owe to the perfect
organization OF our army that immediately after
It's equipment was completed and orders gwen TO
march LO the seat war the French army made no
attempt to resist au attack Oh the boundary which
they possessed, but retreated, leaving the field
most extraordinary proceeding on the part Of the
French when we regard the simple fact tiat upon
the approach OF the PrussianS TO the Saar the French
beat retreat. leaving them masters Of most I'M.
Az IL we'll known the day on which the command
WAS given To raise the troops the French army was
then in action and directing ts SaarbrucK.
In THIS town lay only one battalion oil the FOrtieth
regiment ana only three squadrons OF lancers. Had
these troops been withdrawn. then the whole Ger.
man boundary on the left side OF the Rhine lay open
TO the hands OF the enemy. One well aware OF
the great danger To which this small division was
exposed but it served as means OF restraint upon
equipment OF our army. The defence OF Saarbruck
tivity and extraordinary perseverance, and help was
forwarded from the DeighbOring garrisons. After a
declaration OF war 1t has never been known in the
annals OF history that handfnl OF men remained
oDmoested Tor whole fortnight In I0nt Of the ene.
my's army.
even more extended and important. The French
papers reported it as consisting OF 200 600 men. Be-
tween the different armies skirmshes took place
daily, and these were represented IN the French bul-
ntinS 8s glorious and victorious battles The Prus-
stan army was not then in state To contradict these
disquetiDg and frivolous reports. II the truth must
be told, then. all France would know that only one
battalion and three squadrons Of hosemen were op-
posed to them. The destruction OF our little detaci.
mentS was inevitable when once this fact was made
clear ~ them.
From the above facts one can see how necessary II
was 10 keep the pubic mind IN "A state Of SUSPENSE
aud, as safety guard. unsatisfactory reports were
allowed to go current instead OF beatiiying the
small body Of men who lay 30 near TO death and de-
struction. Then eventually the report came that
two French army corps stood opposed to our small
division. Then command was given 10 retreat, but
their COMMANDER, Lieutenant Colonel Won Pestel i'm
mediatey teegraphcd back, begging the honor TO re-
tam their present position, adding '"The French
seem TO fear u.s." Our army having fully completed
all its arrangements the request was willingly
granted, aud two battalions forwarded to sup
port the others in Saarbruck, while troops were
placed at two miles distance To cover a retreat.
THIS led To the first glorious battle OF Saarbruck.
The sklrrnisJes which had taken place between
them disturbed the French for the Prussian troops
not only sought them on their own ground but ais
turbed most important line OF railway. Inc
arrival or the Emperor and Prince Imperial did not
change matters. On the contrary, II gave cause to
theatrical performance which set the whole mili.
tary world outside In laughter
The difficult position which first lay before us
has now vanished; therefore have we no ceuse 10
suppress truth which is IN itself glory When O
greater extent of Information has Deen received