The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-09-03
War Notes.

The news received in the early part of Fri
day is more favorable to the French, though
not of a character to be implicitly relied upon
Brussels despatch, dated on Thursday at
midnight, gives a rumor that Mcmahon utter
ly routed the Prussians, capturing 80 guns and
many prisoners. It was said that Bazaine sud
duenly attacked the Prussians in their rear,
north of Montmedy, routing them, and driving
them upon the German frontier. Though the
report was not official, the writer believed
great disaster had happene to the Prussians.
A London despatch dated at the same hour,
gives a report that Thursdays battle was a de-
cided victory for Mcmahon. A Brussels des-
patch of Friday morning, gives report from
the vicinity of Carignan, that the Ere nch were
driven back to Sedan on Wednesday, but on
Thursday morning they took the initiative,
pushing forward steadily, forcing back the
Prussians, and winning the ground approach
ing Carignan. The battle field is near Douzy.
A despatch received from Berlin gives an
official report from King William, dated at
Sedan, 3 o'clock on the afternoon of Thursday,
stating that victorious engagements had been
in progress since A. NJ, and that the French
had been driven back almost into town. The
4th, 9Th, 18th and IL corps, and the Bavariars,
were engaged and army OF the Crown Prince of
Prussia. This despatch may refer to the events
of Wednesday. or it mag describe different
battle from that of which we get report
through Belgium. Carignan, near the place
where the Brussels despatch reports battle
on Friday, is sixteen or eighteen miles from
Sedan,and it is not improbable that Mcmahon,
leaving a strong force to defend that place. has
moved on to join Bazaine. Dispatches from
Paris affirm this They say that On Tuesday
the French fell back, and the Prussans were
drawn into position into an angle formed by
the ramparts of Sedan and the heights on the
left bank of the Meuse, where they were severe
ly punished. that on the next day Mcmahon
crossed the Mouse at Mouzon; that the heavy
fighting up to that time had been with various
results, and great losses on both sides.
Paris was also in receipt of dispatches
through Belgium to the effect that McMahon
and Bazaine were approaching each other east
of Carignan, but had no official reports of
Thursdays battles.
Another version of King Williams despatch
is that fighting began near Sedan. Thursday,at
half past eight, and that the 4th, 9th, 7th and
Bavarian corps were engaged. The 18th corps
was recently attached to the army of General
Stenmetz.
A despatch from Paris says that after hear
ing favorable news from McMahoD the order
for the removal of the French Ministry to Tours
was countermanded.
A despatch from Bouillon, in Belgium. ten
miles from Sedan, dated Thursday, (no hour
g;ven) says a terrible battle was raging, with
result not then known. Both parties seemed
to hold the positions they had taken. An
other despatch from Bouillon positively asserts
that Bazaine was driving the Germans towards
Sedan.
London despatch says the French claim to
have gained great victory, Thursday, after
ten hours terrible fighting. Another account
says the Prussians were victorious.
A Brussels despatch,o of Friday, denies the re-
port of a French victory yesterday, and says
fugitive French soldiers are crossing the line,
where they are dsarmed and sent into the in
terror for safe keeping.
A telegram from Bouillon, Thursday, says
that the Prussians advanced and occupied the
chapel at Givonnes. The villages of Baseilles,
Bolan, Remily, Weller and Soinay were burnt
by the fearful fire of the artillery. The slaught
er was frightful. The river Mense was filed
with corpses of the slain.