Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1870-11-17
SUMMARY OF WAR NEWS.

SO"trtN"s ~ "Fs's 'S
Heavy battles were fought on
Wednesday and Thursday last, near
Orleans, in which the Prussians
were driven from that place with a
loss of about two thousand on the
French side, whilst that of the Prus-
slams was much larger. Over thou
sand prisoners we're taken, together
with 4 large amount of ammunition.
The hottest of the fight was at Col
mier on Wednesday. On Friday
General Trochu began preparing Tor
grand sortie, and the French troops
at Lyonswere advancing toward Par
is. On the other hand the main
body of the Prussian forces recently
before Metz, was reported marching
south. If all these forward move
ments continue many days. there
must be a speedy collision and some
desperate fighting, possibly before
the bombardment opens. On the
rusult OF that fighting will doubtless
depend the question of lombard
ment.
Mondays news makes more per-
ceptible the object of the French in
their movement from the Loire
northward. The French army, Or
ganized on the Loire had reached
dimensions much larger than that
under General Won der Tam, which
Lay along its front. But portions of
the armies that had invested Stras-
bourg and Metz were fastening
from the east and northeast to rein
force Won der Tam, and when the
junction was formed there was little
doubt that decisive blow would be
struck at the French army of the
Loire. To prevent this the French
commander decided to attack Won
der Tam before the reinforcements
reached him, to crush him if poss-
ible, or at all events to prevent
junction with the troops of Prince
Ere derrick Charles. The hope was
that these armies, if kept apart,
could be beaten in detail, and the
victorious French army be enabled
to march to Paris and attack the
Prussian investing line in the rear,
whilst Trochu with a formidable
force made a concurrent attack
from the city, with the purpose of
breaking through the Prussian lines
and raising the siege. So far the
scheme seems to be working well.
Won der Tam and his Bavarians
have been pushed back along the
line of the Paris railroad from Or
leans to Toury, distance of twen-
ty miles, or one-third the way to
Paris. One account claims that the
retreating Germans attempted to fall
back in the direction. of Chateau
Neuf and Montargis, with the pur-
pose of meeting the advancing re-
Inducements, but they were turned
back and compelled to take the road
to Paris. This is doubtful, as had
the Germans retreated in the direc-
ton indicated, instead of falling
back along the railroad, the road to
Paris would have been uncovered.
The forces of Prince Frederick
Charles are not expected, by the
French, to arrive until the 18th, and
it is the apparent purpose of the
French to follow up their success by
an attack on Won der Tam at Toury
before that time. A battle at that
point was expected on Sunday, the
French army being about to move
from its position at Chevilly. The
bridges have been broken and roads
obstructed on the route of the Ger
man troops coming from the east.
On the Prussian side there is
reticence as to movements past, or
prospective. The only intimation
of Importance comes from Versailles,
to the effect that Paris will not be
bombarded, as it is known that in
less than month it will have to sur
render through hunger. The ac-
tive movements of the French armies
outside also convey the impression
that if Paris is to be saved from
surrender through famine the relief
must come quickly.
At this critical juncture in French
affairs the attention of Europe is
called to another direction. Russia,
acting, it is believed, in understand
ing with Prussia, has notified the
Powers of its intention to repudiate
the treaties of 1856 and 1866, and
to send ships of war through the
Bosphorus and Dardanelles, an act
in direct contravention of those
treaties. There is much hurrying
of special messengers between the
European capitals consequent on
this announcement, and every ap-
pearance of general disturbance of
the peace of Europe. Turkey an
nounces its readiness to meet the
crisis, its army and navy being in
good condition. r
If all parties ''mean business" the
war news from Europe will soon be
exceedingly interesting.