The Portland daily press., 1870-08-22
FROM TB g SEAT OF WAR.
A DECISIVE PRUssIAN VICTORY.

A DECISIVE PRUSSlAN VICTORY.
The news from Europe on Saturday was of
the mos. important and interesting character.
On Thursday general battle was fought be-
tween Gravelette and Rezonville, few miles
to the west of Merz, the result of which was
telegraphed to the Queen by King William on
Thursday night as follows:
rhe French army was attacked to-day west
of Metz Its position was very strong. My
command, after combat of nine hours dura-
ton, totally routed the French forces, inter-
cepted their communication with Paris and
threw them back upon Metz.
An additional dispatch from the King says
a large number of French prisoners and can
non were captured and 10000 were killed and
wounded on both sides. The King himself
was in command of the Prussians. This battle
has entirely cut off the retreat of Bazaine and
renders his position perious.
There are several rumors concerning Napo-
leon, none of which are confirmed. One is
that he is seriously i'll; another that he died
suddenly of apoplexy; and another that he
contemplates abdication. Certain it is, from
the tone OF the news from France, that the
popular feeling is very bitter against him. His
power is completely broken, and the Empire is
at an end. A Paris correspondent writes as
| follows:
That silence has settled on the name of Ma
| poleon Third is more astounding than even the
| Prussian victories. He is dead civilly and i'm
| perially. Where will he drag his despised,
| worn-out carcase? For a fortnight his name
has been upproDounced in the Chambers, and
he is much disregarded as the Pope.
Trochu is regarded in Paris as Dictator and
is spoken of in the cafes as Consul of the Re-
public The people of Paris are terribly excit-
ed over the news received from the army NJ
olivier is said to have fled from Paris.
The N. Y. Tribune says Metz is IN no cond-
tion to stand seige; that its Notifications are
complete and well armed for defence, there is
little doubt; but, unfortunately for the French,
it is poorly provisioned. If the city is invested
and cut off from supplies, its reduction be-
comes simple matter of time, and doubtless
very brief time. The imperiections of the
French commissiariat will end in the loss of
this important stronghold. IT Bazaine can
thrust off his enemy and escape TO Verdun he
can control with comparatively small force
he gateway to the forest; but 10 escape this
vigilant and overwhelming force seems, from
the events of the first half of the week, almost
an impossibllty, and even if he did, it might
be to fiud on issuing from the pass on the wes-
tern side of the forest the army of the Crown
Prince confronting him.
The bombardment of the city of Strasbourg
from point near Kiel, began on Friday MORN
ing and continued till noon, when it was sus-
pended for two hours. The return fire of the
garrison was almost harmless.
Friday evenings dispatches to the New York
Courier des Etdts Unis are remarkably iubi-
ant in tone. They say ''the news brought by
officers from the amy are confirmations of our
success and have reassured the most tmid"
After recounting in detail the preparations for
The defence of Paris, the dispatches say:
II the enemy comes he will meet warm re.
ception before he gets to Paris. Between the
Gntol n1dfr 5e1ny the walls q the
trenched camp, is already occupied by one d.
vision OF the regular army. The appearance of
Paris at this time might well remind one, saw.
ing the barrcades, of the day aft.r the insur-
recton Of June, '48. The National Guard and
the troops gu. route for the front encamped
in the Streets in places and in the public gar
dens. The aides de camp and bearers of dis
patches pass in all directions. The people OF
Paris group at their favOiits points, the inter-
ior aud exterior bouleyards, and discuss the
news with animation.
In another place it says:
Marshal Bazaine continues his retreat sue
cessfully, inf1lctiug upon the enemy enormous
losses am told that since Sunday there have
been more than 10000 killed and wounded on
both SIDES The news concerning the mOve-
meuts and position of Marshal Mcmahon and
the troops of the former army OF the Rhine are
not permitted TO be made public.
From the great mass of news received we Sc.
lect the following miscellaneous paragraphs:
There is great joy at Hamburg, Berlin and
Frankfort over The recent PrusSian victories
in which illuminatous and professions are the
features OF the OCCASIONS. AT Frankfort the
American Consul was enthusiastically cheered
1t is stated that there are now more than 400.
900 Germans between the Rhine aud Paris.
Count Won BeraldinPton, Chamberlain OF
the King OF Wurtem5urg, well known as a
bitter enemy Of the Prussan policy, has ar
rived in London on MISSION, the object of
which is not revealed. He mas been constant
y with the Austrian Minister, and both have
had interviews with Lord Granville
An official despatch from Carlsruhe on Fri
day says the Baden division has occupied the
French town of SchuNzkeim, one mile north
of Strasbourg and Konigsbofen, on the west.
and Ruprechtsen, on the east. One division
continues to harass theretreating French"
The French War Ofite forbids the publica-
cation of any war dispatches unless signed by
Marshal Bazaine. This prohibition extends to
the Emperor's despatchs.
Prince Albert OF Prussia, nephew of the
I.i"s, and commander ola brigade of Brand
denburger cavalry, was Killed at the head of
his regiment on Tuesday; the regiment itself
second Branden5urg, being literally DESTROYED.
1t is estimated that the Prussians have lost
IN all ways, since they entered France, vety
nearly 100000 men.
Fart OF the Prussian army hive re-entered
Nancy and named mayor for the city. Prus-
sian invasion OF Luxembourg is considered i'm.
minent from orders lately given for the subsis-
tance of their troops
1t is asserted that Denmark has abandoned
all intention of acting with France. Sweden
urges this course.
In Sweden great crops are expected. The
King is anxious to get into the war, as be is
very military, but the sense of the country and
the fear of Russia withhold him.
A Pasis sisdAs.>~4-.s---s--suxo Cu6 troops that |
were sent forward since last Wednesday, COM
blned with the French forces under Marshal |
bazalne and McMahon, will reach more near
~ 1our than three hundred thousand
Cdrf$ruhe 10th. The lombard ment of Stras-
poui ~. u1s oeen commenced from the Prussan
S SatleI'es posted upon the right, the Prefect of
fornnn aasoouis % ana the commandant of the French
iofces W no are garrlsonng the citv bavinp no |
FUSED to listen to summons TO surrendr
Heavy seige cannon have beer intrencbaa =.
me Dridge at the head of Kiel and at o,har
points upon the river bank opposite S,ras.
bourg. Yesterday mornng the batteries onon-
@ ed IRE upon Strasbourg with effectiyepess
Inc garrison OF Strasbourg are slowly replvino
and are evidently reservlng their fire from tba,
citadel and batteries upon the wafer front.
Switzerland advces represent that the Gov
ernment is organizing her forces for fear thai
Prussia may attack her if overrunnng France.
She has now in the field between 40 600 and
500 900 men; some 10, 900 are stationed in and
around Basle, at which point the French and
German frontiers meet her own, and nearly an
equal number are bivouacked along the valley
of the Rhine toward Schafhausen, or located
10 towns close at hand.
The sun says an interesting fact about all
hese battles is that none of them have been
ought at greater distance from Metz than
Twelve or fourteen miles. All this proves that
nazalne has not been able to continue his
march toward Chalons, but has been compell-
ID to remain in the neighborhood of Metz
lighting every day.