The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-08

noon reported that McMahen had reoccupied
Wessenburg and taken up a strong position on
the Bavarian frontier. Instead of that, how
ever, the Prussian left advanced simultaneously
with the centre, and under the direct command
of the Crown Prince encountered hcMahons
army near the village of Woerth-sur-Sauer, or
Worth as it is called by the Germans. Here
another terrific contest ensued, the French sus-
tanning a severe defeat. The village of Worth
lies at the foot of the Vosges Mountains, on the
side nearest the Rhine, about IL miles south
west of Weissenburg, the same distance
southeast of Bitchie, and about miles
only north OF Hagenau, strongly fortified
town on the railroad 16 miles north of Stras-
burg. Worth is situated about in the centre of
the. triangle formed by Weissenburg Hagenau,
and Bitche, the country surrounding 1t, which
was the scene of the battle, being very hilly.
The French reports locate the battle near
Neiderbronn, an unfortifed market town 26
miles northeast of Strasburg, midway between
Hagenau and Bitche and but few miles to the
west of Worth. La Liberte of yesterday states
that McMahon's headquarters had been at Hage-
nau, and that after the battle he had fallen
back to saverne, about 20 miles northwest of
Strasburg and the same distance Southwestern the
scene of battle. Saverne is on the railroad
this point the evacuation of Hagenau was pro-
badly necessary while Strasburg, as confessed
by La Liberte is exposed to the Prussian attack
An official French bulletin states that McMahon's
retreat covers the road to Nancy, which is on
the railroad to Paris, 80 miles directly south
of Metz, and place OF the utmost Importance
in the present state of affairs.
Although at the time we write no news of the
evacuation of Strasburg has been received
that event would appear to be an inevitable
result of the defeat of McNIahon, as otherwise the
French troops in that locality would remain
cut off from the main body which is being CEN
centrated around Metz. Driven back from the
Rhine, the Lauter, and the Saar Napoleon's
strongest defensive line to keep the Prussians
out of Paris is the railroad running almost due
north through Nancy, Metz, and Thionville
into the neutral territory Of Luxembourg. This
line of defense would be about 10 miles east of
Paris, and is connected with it by numerous
railways which intersect the road running north
and south. Metz is regarded as impregnable,
but the fortifcations of Nancy were destroyed
by Louis XIV, and have not been rebuilt since
that time, the old citadel alone being pre-
served.
The general headquarters of the Prussian
army were yesterday moved forward to
kaiserslautern, town of Rhenish Bavaria, on
the river Lauter, and on the railroad from Saar-
bruck to Mannheim, about 45 miles southwest of
Mayence 4 cable telegram from Berlin, re-
ceived this morning and published elsewhere,
states that the Prussians expect
TO have 100000 men on the scene
of operations before night. To meet and sue
cessfully withstand this enormous host. the
shattered and demoralized resources of Napo-
leon will be taxed to the utmost, and he will
indeed find as he confesses in one of his official
bulletins that to enable him to hold his posi-
ton "Paris and France must consent to great
efforts of patriotism"
The Battle of Hagenau and Its Surroundings.
The New York Times of this morning has the
| following explanation of the battle between the
| Crown Prince and Marshal McMahon-
Early en- Saturday morning the Prussians had
| assembled their forces at Sultz, village on the
great highway of the province five miles south
from Weissenburg. The continued attempts
made on Friday to regain the position
cessful but resulted in the retirement
of Mcmahon 10 the little town of Worth, stu
ated southwest of his point of attack, at a dis
| tance OF about seven miles, and surrounded by
| the heights on the eastern skirt OF the Vosges
| Mountains. When at Sultz the Prussians were
abreast of the French position at Worth, the
two places lying at about four miles distance
from each other, and being connected bya rural
bly, marched, and immediately attacked
on the hamlet OF Froschweiler' ", situ-
ated little to the west of Worth,
born conflict was waged here during the
greater part of the day, the first sign of the
French giving way being heralded by move
ment which brought them at distance of
about two miles from their original position
into the town of Reichshofen, and placed them
on the great provincial highway (chdussee) lead
ing into the fortified position of Hagenau. 1t
was probably at this time that the Prussian re-
serves came up and fastened a retreat, which
over the six miles of road between Reichshofeu
| and Hagenau was probably stubbornly at.
tackled and as stubbornly resisted.
The Fortress of Hageuau.
Hagenau, which is 80 near the scene of the
great conflict between the Crown Prince and
Marshal Mcmahon, is the principal city of the
arondissement of Strasburg, with IL 500 inha
bitahts, and is situated in the middle of the
forest of Nour 1t is a place of garrison of the
fourth class. This town, the name of which has
been spelled Hacheneau, Hagenae, Hagenovia ol
Hagenoa, had its origin in castle belonging
to the kings OF France, and which was built ir
the twelfth century. In 1854 Frederick / had
the town surrounded by fortified walls, and
there defended the crown, the sceptre, and the
sword of Charlemagne. These glorious relics
were secretly purloined by the Bishop of spire
and taken to Castle Triefels. The German EN-
perors had there palace, and often sojourneC
there. 1t was in the castle of Hagenar
that Richard CGur de Lion was kept prisoner
brought much misery on the place, and during
it the inhabitants were reduced from 1900 tC
only $50. The Notifications were razed in 167;
by the order of Louis XIV, built up again
year after, and after that destroyed three times
In 1705 and 1744 the Austrians took the place
but did not hold it long. The Kleber Prone
made, laid out in 1911 in honor of the birth O
the King of Rome, is very handsome and ex
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