New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-01-24
MORE DISASTERS FOR THE FRENCH

WOEE DISASIEhS FOH IHE IhENtH
Two other grave disasters hasten the crisis
in France. Gen. TrOchu has been severely re-
pulsed in his last sories and the Army of
the North under Gen. Faidherbe has been dis
persed with the loss of twelve or fifteen thou
sand men.
1t is Gen. Trochu himself who tells the story
of his sortie of the 10th, and he unreServedly
admits his failure. The attempt was made
directly upon Versailles and the strong de-
lenses in front of it, with fully 100000 men
massed on the short line from MontretOut to
La Celle; and the slaughter of the French, we
can well believe, was as terrible as the dis
patches indicate. The Outposts of the Germans
before st. Cloud were taken by surprise, and
the nights carried, but great masses Of German
infantry and artillery rapidly concentrated and
recaptured them. Unable to hold the positions
which he had gained. Gen. Trochu retired during
the night of the 10Th, and finally on the Goth,
after making display of force as if intend
ing to attack, withdrew entirely into the city
and Fort Mont Nalerien. Gen. TrOchu con-
cludes his report with the announcement that
he had asked for an armistice. 1t is to be in
ferred from the German report that this was
for the purpose of burying the dead and not,
as we would fain believe, TO discuss capitula-
ton or peace. This failure. coupled with
the news of Chanzy's defeat, created
CONSERVATION in Paris, and the Com
mittee of Defense in council demanded
of Gen. Trochu renewal of the sor-
ties on which, as.they now clearly perceive,
their sole hope of relief repOses. Gen. Trochu,
who understands better than any of his col
leagues the utter absurdity of all attempts of
which his army is capable, preferred to resign !;
and the impetuOus Committee charged with
the command Triumvirate OF Generals who
had never before handled a division in actual
battle to conduct the siege But then repent
ing of their act, less because of returning faith
in Trochu than fear of the grave responsibility
of changing the whole plan of defense which
they had assumed, they rescinded the order
and restored Trochu to his place. Their action,
however, betrays the lack of confidence they
have in their Roman" and confirms all that
has gone before of discomfort at his "Micaw-
"ber policy" prevalent in the city.
The disaster to Fadherbe is as overwhelm-
ing as that which lately befell Cbanzy. His
army was encountered by the Germans at st.
Quentin on the 10Th, and beaten in a battle
of which we have only the results. The
National Guard, which had been hastily mo-
blized in the emergency, fled in a panic, and
the struggle was at once abandoned by the
rest of the troops. One French division was
cut off, and failed to make good it's retreat
In Cambria nine thousand unwOunded and
demoralzed prisoners were taken, besides two
thousand wounded in the battle. Those who
escaped the casualties of battle and flight re-
treated on Lille, only to add to the cOnsterna-
ton prevailing there Here, doubtless, they
will come to halt, and submit to the invest
ment which the Germans are free TO under
take if they choose.
Bourbaki's flight threatens to be interrupted.
After his failure before Belfort, he began a
rapid retreat down the Saone, pursued by Won
Werder. At the same time Gen. Manteuifel
advanced rapidly from Troyes toward Dion,
with the view of getting upon Bourbakis line
of retreat to Lyons He reached and attacked
Dion on the 22d but was successfully resisted
bv force of Garibaldians. Whether Bour-
baki had meantime passed that city does not
appear; but it is to be inferred. from the Ian
guage in which u Independence Beige expresses
| its fears for his safety, that he was not south
of the point of Manteuflels attack. III Carl
baldis force at Dion was BourDakls rear
guard, his main body is doubtless safe,
and the Germans can only hope to strike