New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-08-01
OPERATIONS ON THE PRUssIAN FRONT.

OPERATIONS ON HE GhUSSlAN ft\ONI'
pRussIAN ExPEDITI ON INTO FRENCH TERRITORY
MINERS AND woRKMEN TAUGHT TO RIDE
ON HORSEBACK-THE NEEDLE-GUN PRE-
FFRRED TO TUE CHAssEPoT-FIRsT CoNsID-
ERABLE SKIRMlSH.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuNEl
LONDON, July 81, 1870
The special correspondent of THE TRIBUNE at
Sasrhruck writes Wednesday. July "a, that
THE French and Prussnas within sight of
each other. Passing Kreutznach he found the
English residents fed from fear of the French,
the representatives of the British Government re-
fusing to give them protection. The French at
iForbach were 1900 strong. The Prussian force
.t Saarbruck is not stated, but there was no
probability there of severe fighting immmediatly.
The French are not ready.
Actual hostilities began July 81. Kraus, fusi-
eer. shot the first Frenchman. There has been con-
tnual skirmishing since Saturday. The Prussian
patrol went some distance beyond the border find
ing no enemy; but on the same day some French
cavalry were repused, losing officer and thirteen
men.
The Prussian forces are partly armed with a new
and lighter gun, having shorter barrel using a
smaller bullet, but with the needle arrange
iment The Bavarians tried the chassepot two years
@ago, but preferred the needle gun. During the re-
cent skirmishes the Prussans were able to fire
iuucker than the French The cavalry is splendidly
mounted
/ The same correspondent writes on the 18th that
the destruction of the railway at Bitche was eX-
ltremely important The line runs from Forbach and
lSaareguemines to Haguenau, and thence to Stras-
lbourg The order to destroy it given on the
Fsth so as to prevent the sudden concentration of
1.-THE French from the south. Accordingly,
small number Of picked men of the 10th
EUhlans started under the command of Lieut..
Van Voigh for Zweibrucken, the nearest
German town TO the French viaduct. AT Zeibruck-
4 er and engineer with miners and workmen awaited
1 the cavalry. On Tuesday they sent off the SOth
ICayalry; the men with the miners and carts carry
ling the necessary materials. But on this night and
also on the following one, the French outposts were
too active for them and they had to retire unsuc-
eessful
! Now follows the characteristic part of the ex-
petition. They made up their minds that the heavy
materials which incumbered them must be reduced
TO the smallest possible compass, and that every
man who took part in the expedition must be
mounted. The next two days were therefore given
ND TO riding lessons. After two days instruction
the miners and workmen were able to keep them
selves ON their horses, and on Saturday night the
whole body crossed the French frontier. The
mounted miners and workmen were charged to
pusb on with all haste TO the viaduct, while the
I1lans engaged the French outposts who were this
time surprised.
They accomplished their task with perfect intelh-
eence and success. The country around was reused
from sleep by an explosion which sent the great VIA
duct into tie air. The miners rushed out again
upon the railway from the spot whittier they had re-
treated after lighting the end of the train, and sue
ceeded in tearing and blowing up some length OF
line on both sides of the viaduct' Then they
mounted their horses again and got back safe into
Bayarian territory.
The heaviest skrmish that has taken place in this
district is reported on the morning Of the 2oth'
party of French infantry had crossed into Prusslan
territory about half way between Saarbruck and
saarlouis Forty men of the garrison Of the latter
place belonging TO the infantry of so, went out 10
meet them and were coming up with them
between the villages of Ludweiller and GelSer-
lantern about six miles west of Saarbruck' when
ssquadron of French cavalry suddenly appeared.
The Prussans fired away as fast as they could at
the cavalry with their neede-guns, and disposed OF
them before the infantry could come up Then an
infantry fight followed, which ended in the French
throwing OF their kits" and running away leaving
one officer aud eight men dead on the field Ihree
Prussians were severely wounded
According to report no less than three French CON-
panies Of infantry were engaged.
Prussan and Bavarian troops are SAID 10 DC
mastering in great strength in every town Ill tnis
district. Neuenkirchen il spoken Of as headqlar-
ters II il supposed that if the French army does
! not enter Germany within three or four days war
| will be carried into France. Neuenkrchen Is adj
mirably situated for the concentration of forces
from every point of Germany. The country about
here would be very rough for fighting but II armies
could push forward little way over the noh'iei
they would be protected the right by the fortress
Of Saarlouis and Oh the left by the Vosges
cavalry regiment is expected here SaarbrncK
tomorrow There has been good deal OF hrlng 10
| day between the Prussian and French Outposts one
Of our PrnssanD men had his horse shot under hin'
/ and adventurous civilians have consequently been
impressed by the good shooting of the chassepot az
| l,&0 or 800 yards.
MOVEMENT OF THE GARDE MOBILE.
ruEY SING DOWN WITH oLLIvIER"-THE VOL