New-York tribune., 1870-08-10
Tile 1RMTES BEFORE METZ.

The details of the movements of the Prus-
slams since their victories of Saturday and
Sunday last are only imperfectly indicated by
dispatches from French sources and these are
very meager and obscure. While it is certain
that the right wing of the Prussian army,
under Prince Frederick Charles, after driving
FrOssard's corps from st. Avoid to Metz, fol-
lowed close upon him and descended from the
Vosges Mountains into the Valley of the Mo-
selle, it is not so clear that the left wing, under
Prince Frederick William, has joined him.
Gen. MacMahon, it seems, retreated in
south-westerly direction after his defeat at
Hagucnau, and assumed defensive position
between the fortresses of Pfalsburg and Stras-
buOrg. Gen. Failly, abandoning Bitche, appears
TO have rctreated in the same direction, and
now forms the connecting link between the
right wing and center of the French at Nancy.
Prince Frederick William may possibly have
pursued these forces and be now in front OF
them; but the probabilities are that he
did not. If we accept literally the
dispatch from the French headquarters Which
announces that the Prussians are concentrating
in front of Metz, we must conclude that the
victors of Ilaguenau, instead of pursuing Nc
MahOn and Failly, moved westward to join
the right wing in the descent upon Metz.
Such movement would not only result in
concentrating tho whole Prussan army
in front of the left wing of the French, but
would isolate and cut off the corps OF
MacMahOn and Failly. 1t would be a very
bold undertaking, exposing, as it would, the
Prussian communications with Haguenau and
Baden. But previous information has estab-
lished that the line of supplies on which the
Prussians chiefly depend is by way of Treves
and Cobentz The movement indicated would,
therefore, be simply change of base OF the
Prussians to a shorter line amply protected.
If the French dispatch be literally true, the
whole PrusSian army is across the Nosges
Mountains into the Valley of the Mosele, ana
confronting the corps of Bazane, Ladmlrault,
Dourbakay, which have not yet been engaged,
and Frossard's, which is greatly reduced In
eflectives; while Mcmahon and Failly are for all
practical purposes, cut off in the mountains. The
French have a corps under Canrobert at
Nancy which may be available in lAttle at
Metz, but unless the Prussans hesitate to give
battle longer than has heretofore been their
custom. the arrival of MacNahon and Failly in
time to aid in the defense of Metz appears
impossible, for the same dispatch of yesterday
morning which mentions the concentration OF
the Prussians locates these corps in the noun
tains, nearly two days march distant from
Metz.
The French forces at Metz are estimated at
10000. The available troops of Canrobert at
Nancy do not number more than $4,000. The
most that could be brought into battle at Metz
by the French would seem from their own
statement to be not more than 100000, includ-
ing Ladmirault's corps at ThiOnville. Against
this force the Prussans oppose equal If not
superior numbers. The battle which must ap-
parently ensue during to-day or tomorrow at
furthest will probably prove the decisive
one of the campaign. If the French left is
broken, az its right and center were at Hague
nau, the route to Paris will be open to the
Pmssians.