The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-08-24
fFron III. N. Y.sWeyid;,1sth.l -
NEWS PROM TnR aBkAT o., WAR.


fFroA the N. Y.wasidHls.h.l -.
NEWS PROM TRR akAT Oh WAR.
Positson ershs A,msss-f Probable tato5e,
!, 8 ,@ nsSats. fM S.
Although The teieg does; not give
us many or reliable details it. is quite
clear that . general attack has been
made on the defensive line Of the
French along tho MosellS, with the
fortress of Metz as point Of support in
'the North, and Tout and Nancy as
points Of support 10 the South. ,.>.
A great battle is reported to have
been fought near Metz. The 6ghting is
said to have been terrible in the ex-
'treme. King William himself com.
manded, and the Germans are reported
never to have fought better, and equal
to the best French troops. The resist
ance Of the French seems to have
amounted to an absolute determination
to die rather than to give way, but
nevertheless they were compelled to
retire under the shelter of the fortifioa
tions of Metz, after having left on the
battle, field, 5000 dying and wounded.
The town of Pont.a- Mousson is said to
have been occupied by tho Germans in
spite of the determined resistance of
the French, who had blown up the
bridge across the Mosolle before re-
treating, in order to retard the advance
of their enemies. 1t is even asserted
that German cavalry regiment Of
Prusslan lancers-had arrived before
Commercy, fully 36 OF 40 miles west of
Pont-a- Mousson and the Moselle, aud
in the rear of Toul, McAIahon's head
quarters, also, as far west as the
neighborhood of Verdun.
Thus far we have news ofimportaucc,
if true; for they prove that after all, the
French have decided not to make the
line of the Moselle grand battle field,
but only to use it as means TO retard
the advance of the German armies. The
capture of Marsal, or more correctly
Marccralle, a.small fortress some thirty
miles east of Nancy, by the Bavarians
under the Grown Prince, is of not much
Importance. The place is a. small, anti
quated mountain fastncss, formerly
valuable defence on the road to Nancy,
but modern warfare has turned this
stronghold into no account. 1t is almost
impossible to form correct opinion of
What is going on, but two great facts are
becoming more aud moro self evident,
first, that the success of the German
armies has been continuous, and by far
surprising the expectations not only of
their most sanguiue admirers, but also
their own; and, secondly, that the
French army since their defeat near the
frontier, have, after defending overy
foot of ground, gradually and slowly
fallen back on their historical defensive
battle. fields-on the line Of the Mosollc,
the Meuse aud Chalons.
There is nothing in the French re-
treat to justify the assumption that they
are demoraiized, aud will soon givo up
on the contrary, they havo not only
fought bravely but bitterly, fact W hich
is acknowledged by no one more readily
than their advcrsaries. They have also
shown most admirable esprit lu corps
under their reversos, and have thus far
retreatcd in the best Of order and with-
out panic.
More we know not, and the future
strategic intentions Of France as we'll as
Germany arc matters Of speculation
only.
1t is probable that Napoleon and his
gen ncrals have decided to make Chalons
aud ncighborhood their battlefield for
the delivery of France from the invader;
and why not?
Regarding the possible and probable
movements of the French We have one
short telegram, which, if true, is Of the
highest importance, and worth moro
than all the rest Of tho news regarding
their army movements. 1t says:
Tile man Jot!y ofMc French army Is
concentrated at Etain, about hcclvc miles
cast aorthcst Of Ecn',ta, a,nl niacty-sic
Kilometres franz Chalons.
Now, il this be true, Marshal Bazaine
has decided to take this position near
Metz to secure himself support from that
fortress, and for the purpose Of taking
the advancing Germans in the flank,
movement OH his part which shows
superior and bold generalship, and may
prove successful, particularly if We take
into consideration that he must have
among his army of about 100000 men
at least 100000 men who have not yet
been under fire in the present war, and
who comprise the flower and elite of the
French army. The Germans will not
dare to pass by him on to Chalons,
where General Trochu is intrenchcd
with not less than zoe, 1000 regulars and
gardes mobile, without giving Marshal
Baazainc battle first; and upon this battle
will dcpepd the movements Of both
armies during the next fow weeks
Should the Germans lose, they will hnve
to fall back to the Rhiuo, for Marshal
l}anzainc wilimovc at once on the shortest
route into the Ehino Provinces, v,u
Metz and Ihiohville. Should the
French lose, they will fall back on
Chalons, and tho decisive battle of the
war will be fought there, as already
pointed out repeatedly. Altogether it
is impossible to say who will finally be
The victor. Two great nations, like the
French and Germans, of some forty nils
lions of neonlo ench ond olno.t evoplv