The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-07-25
Prince Leopold's Candidacy.
The Official Announcement.
THE .TRIBUNE'S SPECIAL"


An American Correspondent In the French
I1nes-The Defensive Works at Metz-Pro-
babfe Delay In the French Advance-Den-
@ark TO be Forced Into Hostilties with
Prussia.
The New York Tribune of this morning has
the following special cable telegram
LONDON, July 24-Midnight. special
correspondent of the Tribune on July 81 visited
three camps formed around Metz, and was al
lowed to inspect the forts of st. Quentin. Full
information was furnished by the officer who
took him through the Notifications. The work
upon the forts was to be finished within twenty
four hours. Sixty cannon were brought into
position. bitches, casemates, bomb-proof
barracks, ETC., were in process of construction
on an immense scale.
This is intended not merely to defend Metz,
which was before sufficiently fortified, but to
protect a vast encampment like the one at pre-
sent, or, perh Fps, to give shelter to beaten
army. The fact that these additional works
were commenced months ago is clear indica-
lion that France has been preparing so as to be
ready, upon the first opportunity, for an aggres-
siVe war.
There are two forts Of st. Quentin, command
ing the broad valley of the Meuse and the ap-
proaches to the town, Their guns would play
with tremendous effect upon any enemy ad-
vancing through the valley to attack the town.
In the valley itself there is ample shelter for
whole army, guarded on one side by the guns
Of the town and on the other side by those of
the forts
Officers did not expect to leave for the frontier
in less than eight days. Prussian captain of
engineers had just arrived in the fort, captured
as o spy. Marshal Bazaine and staff are in
Metz, and their horses stand all day saddled be-
fore the hotel, but there is no forward move
bov hoa, nj
ties in bringing supplies forward, not only from
Paris but from all the country about Metz. All
the horses were SEIZED and even meat and vege-
tables are beginning to fail This seems to indi-
cate that French movements may yet be for
some time delayed.
special despatch from Paris says that some
Prussian troops passing through the Black For
est toward Basle had several detachments
stopped by the Swiss, who have a corps of
observation numbering $4,000. AT McMahon's
headquarters in Strasbourg strong French
force is massing to prevent surprise. Through
the defles of Vosges, troops are pouring into
Strasbourg from Besancon. Everything seems
to indicate that the first great blow will be
struck in that vicinity. There is fleet of
French gnnboats at Strasbourg. The great force
is sent thither by railway.
A French frigate has been despatched to the
The French War Office is taking extraordinary
precautions with a view to secrecy. Bureau
chiefs are prohibited intercourse outside their
departments. All instructions proceed direct
from the War Minister, and not through subor-
dinates.
The special correspondent of the London
Daily Ne,os in Paris states on Saturday that
France is resolved to force Denmark into hos
tilities against Prussia notwithstanding the
determination of the Danish Cabinet to remain
neutral; that French squadron will appear
before Copenhagen and occasion movement
that viii overthrow the Ministry and save the
Danes from Prussia in spite of themselves.
Mccullough Torrens will this week ask the
English Government whether the statement i;
true which has been received by telegraph from
America, that Clarendon, replying to commu
nication from Motley, had declined to reopen
the Alabama negotiations, and If this be true
whether the Government will produce the
correspondence. The tone in English min
isterial circles is rather Indifferent to the
protection of Belgian neutrality. English rela
tions with France are less strained than they
were few days ago. Some fears are expressed
that the English Government will be found t
have been too deferental to Napoleon, ant
doubts are expressed whether the whole CORES
pondenee win be published. G. W. s.