New-York tribune., 1870-08-18


news. The brilliant operations by which the
Prussian generals in 1865 drove the Austrian
Marshal Benedek from the Northern frontier
back upon Vienna, have since been the study
and admiration of military students. But they
have been excelled in daring, in rapidity, and
in results by the campaign of the same Prus-
sian officers against the French Marshal
or French Emperor who commands the
French army. Benedek fought one general
battle, and, though defeated, retired in good
order upon Vienna, covering the city and pre-
pared to defend it, But without single gen.
eral engagement, after series of affairs IN
considerable as compared with Sadowa, the
French have been driven from their chosen po-
sition and finally forced in disorderly and what
threatens to become disastrous retreat upon their
capital The ominous silence of Marshal Ba-
zaine continues enforced by his own direc-
tions. We have nothing from him by which
to establish the extent of the disasters he has
encountered but enough is known to warrant
us in saying that since Sunday afternoon the
French army has been in precipitate retreat,
harassed on flank and rear by the Prussian
army
All hope of a concentration of the French
army at Metz appears to have been abandoned
on Sunday morning last, when 1t was DIS
covered that the Prussians had penetrated be-
tween Metz and Toul. where MacMahon was,
and that they commanded the railway at
Pont-a- Mousson. MacAlahon could not then
hope to reach Bazaine; reenforcements could
not come forward from Chalons to Metz;
those which attempted it were turned
back; and it became an impera-
tive necessity that Bazaine should re-
treat toward Chalons, as MacMahon byIanother
route was already doing. The evacuation OF
Metz by the main army under Bazaine was
therefore begun on Sunday morning, August
IA, and continued without interruption until
about o'clock in the afternoon. At that hour
the Prussians arrived before the Notifications
of the town, and suspecting the movement
of their enemy, attackedJ with great energy.
French unofficial reports published In Parls
papers intimate that this attack on Sunday
afternoon was made by Prince Frederick
Charles moving northward from POnt-a-Mous-
son along the west bank of the Moselle, and
that the battle took place west of Metz. Official
Prussian reports indicate that it was an attack
by Gen. Won Steinmetz, who commands what
is now the right wing, upon the rear guard of
|
the eastern part of the city of Metz.
No matter where made, this attack was either
repulsed or was ended by darkness. The
Prussians retired to their bivOuacs for the
night, and the French Marshal appears to
have completed the transfer of his army to
the west bank of the MOselle. A recOnnOis-
sance on Monday morning revealed, as the
Prussian reports say, that "the main body
chad departed" Since that time we
have heard nothing official, and little
that is trustworthy. 1t is clear only that
the French retired slowly upon Verdun, har-
assed at every step. The Prussians, moving
by parallel lines and seeking continually to
interpose a strong column between Bazaine
and MacMahon, (whose line of retreat is a
score of miles further south than that Of Ba-
zaine,) has seized every opportunity to strike
at the retreating columns. The continuous
and repeated engagements of which we have
had intimations for the last two or three days
have doubtless been brief, desperate cOmbats
between the heads of the Prussian columns
and exposed portions of the French. Their
results are not fully known. The French
claim the advantage in one of these combats,
said to have been fought at Gravelotte on
)
ing more than the maintenance OF their
ground. If the statement that Bazaine's army
was at Elain be true, it is clear that one
result of these frequent attacks was to force
the French from the main road to Verdun.
Can the French reach ChalOns, and can they
hope to make a stand there7 These are the
surmises which will naturally suggest them
selves as long as the present silence is main
tanned. The purpose of the Prussians is, of
course, to push Bazaine from his direct line
of retreat, by Verdun and Chalons, to
Paris. To accomplish that is to secure
for themselves the shortest line to Paris,
and to that end every effort of the victOrs will
be directed. The position of the French army
is certainly a precariOus one, and the an
nouncement that the Prussians are between
it and Chaons would create no greater aston
| ishment than the statement, made little more
| than week ago, that the French lines on the
| Saar had been broken and MacMahon de-
feated. If he succeeds in reaching ChalOns
Bazaine's condition will not be greatly i'm
proved MacMahOn may join him there, as
their lines of retreat converge at that point !;
and he will have added to his force two
hundred thousand men. But the men
are not soldiers to stand in an open
field on an unfortifed plain before the
deadly fire of the needle-gun. To his own
broken army Bazaine would thus add de-
moralized mass capable only of eating, and be
forced to continue the retreat from Chalons to
Paris. Either alternative seems terrible one
for the French army.