Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-08-02
SkirmiShing along the Line.
A Prospective War of SiegeS
French BIOckading Hamburg
of the Lord Mayor

4 banquet of the Lord Mayor.
LONDON, July 31.-The Lord Mayor CAV
! a grand banquet to the ministers last night
The guests numbered $50. The usua
loyal toasts were given and drunk will
/ cheers -
\ &. Cardwell, Secretary of War, replied t.
the toast to the army asking that the re
serve force and militia be included in tn,
toast. He referred to improvements made
In modern warfare, and specialized on the
effect 20 .-Fl. sgrrzr sr.--.-..
CIadstOne's speech.
Mr.. Gladstone responded to the toast O.
the Ministers. He alluded to the unusual
circumstances under which they met. AL
luding to the war, he asked, in the name o.
wounded humanity, and grieving civiIiza,
ton. and religion, could anything be more
deplorable.tban the sight of nations Of the
highest civilization, with institutions near
~ perfect, famous in every department Of
history and the admiration of the world.
rushing into conflict and mutual slaughter
Phe issue was difficult to state or appre.
ciate, and no Intelligent mind could sup
press horror at the spectacle. Mr.. G..
then spoke of England position in thevar
as follows: The first idea of England is
neutrality. Her second idea is preparation
for the worst. Her neutrality is not indi-
ference, nor is it selfish isolation. 1t is
dictated by the necessity of mitigating the
evils of war, combining within the smallest
possible circle, and of retaining power to
intervene at the proper moment. Nothing
Will be done to forfeit the friendship of
either party, and nothing will be omitted
to retain their confidence, SO that we NAV
avail ourselves of the first opportunity for
renewing our efforts at mediation in a quar-.
rel the most mornful and miserable ever
witnessed by mankind"
Proposed War Budget.
The excitement over England's position
still continues, and the government policy
is denounced. 1t is thought the govern
mont will introduce supplementary war
budget.
There are rumors of fighting to-day in
the vicinity of Forbach
The French ambassador, on ouittin o
Munich, placed the care of .he French in.
terest in the hands of the British represen.
tatiye.
The Armies i'm Sight.
LONDON, July 31.-A special correspond
ent writes from Saarbrucken on Wednes-
pay, that the French and Prussian forces
are IN sight of each other, and that in
passing through CreU Snich he found the
English residents had fled from the place
from fear of the French.
The cavalry are spleadidly mounted
Destruction of IA Hallway ViaduCI.
The same correspondent writes that the
railway destruction at Bitche was extremely
important. The order to destroy was
given on the 18th TO prevent a sudden con-
centration of the French from the South.
Accordingly small number of picked men
of the Fortieth Uhlans started under the
command of Lieut.. Won Vaigt for Saar-
brucken, the nearest German town to the
French viaduct. At Saarbrucken the engi-
neers with mines and worHmen awaited the
cavalry. On Tuesday they sent out thirty
cavalrymen with mines and carts, carrying
the necessary materials, but on this night,
and also the following one, the French
outposts were too active, and they had to
retire unsuccessful. They made up their
minds the heavy material which encumbers
them must be reduced to the smallest pos
slble compass, and that every man who
took any part in the expedition was
mounted. The next two days were given
up to riding lessons. After two
days instructions, the miners and work
men were able to keep on their horses, and
on Saturday night the whole body crossed
the French frontier. The mounted miners
and workmen were charged to push on
with all possible haste to the ViGduct while
the Uhlans engaged the French odtposts,
who were surprised. They accomplished
their task with perfect intelligence and
success. The country was reused from
sleep by the explosion which sent the great
viaduct into the air. The miners rushed
out again upon the railway from the spot
where they had retreated after lighting the
end of the train and succeeded In tearing
and blowing up some length of the line on
both sides of the viaduct. They then
mounted horses again and returned safely
INTO Bavarian territory.
A Lively Slkirmish.
The heaviest skirmish that has taken
place in this district was reported this
morning A party of French infantry had
crossed into Prussian territory about half
way between this and Saar- Louis. Forty
men of the garrison at Saar-Louis and some
infantry went out to meet them, and were
coming up with them between the villages
of LudweiIler and Geissalanlerm, about six
miles west of this place, when squadron
of French cavalry suddenly appeared. The
Prussians fred away as hard as they could
at the cavalry with needle guns, and dis
posed of them before the infantry could
come up.
Then an infantry fight followed, which
ended in the French throwing off their kits
and running away, leaving one officer and
eight men dead on the field. Three Prus-
slams were severely wounded. According
so report no less than three French compa-
MES of infantry were engaged.
The PrusSian and Bavarian troops are
said to be mastering in great strength in
every town in this district Meuenkirschen
is spoken of as headquarters. 1t is sup.
posed if the French army does not enter
Germany within three or four days war
will be carried on into France. Meuen
kirschen is admirably situated for concen-
trating forces from every part of Germany.
The country about here would be very
rough for fighting, but if the armies could
push forward a little way over the frontier,
they would be protected on the right by
the fortress of SaRr-Louis, and on the left
by the Vosges mountains. A regiment of
cavalry is expected here tomorrow. There
was a good deal of firing to-day between
our outposts and those Of the French One
of our men had his horse shot under him,
and an adventurous civilian has been i'm
pressed with the good shooting of Chasse-
pots at 200 or 800 yards.
Fighting in Baden.
PARIS, July 3l.-Fighting between Prus-
sian and French forces has commenced in
Baden. There are four Prussian corps on
the Rhine. The enemy have massed on
the banks of the river. Families are leav-
ing Baden for Switzerland.
A German banker residing in Paris has
been arrested. Three Prussian spies were
also captured here by the police.
Prince Napoleon will soon leave for the
Baltic.
ChISScpOfS.
In the government arsenals in France
so. 900 Chassepots were turned out each
week during July; and in August $4,000,