The Sun. — 1870-08-10 (London, England)

THE FRENCH DISASTERS.  'FROM THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OP THE CENTRAL  PRESS.)  IMPERIAL HEADQUARTERS, SUNDAY.  The most terrible news has arrived here. The French have been beaten near Saarbruck, which place has fallen into thehands'of the Prussians, vOlio have likewise advanced and captured Forbach. An even more crushing disaster is announced from the right. MacMahon fought and lost a hard battle a few miles  to the south of Weissenbourg (Wissemburg the French here call it), and he is now driven to Saverne, on the road to Nancy. Such is the ominous intelligence' that has overwhelmed everyone here with gloom. It is impossible as yet to gain any satisfactory details, and I am compelled to have recourse to the post to send even these few facts, for all telegraphing of Ivar news is rigidly prohibited. It was at first reported that therta was fighting along the whole line yesterday and last night ; but this story of general conflagration resolves itself into two very considerable battles, one on the right, and the other on the left centre.  On the right the fighting commenced on Thursday, when the Crown Prince, with a powerful army, invaded France at Weissenburg. Here he defeated a small force of Frenchmen, under General Abel Douay. This affair was a regular surprise, and was far from creditable to French generalship. General Douay had only a division with him, a force of about 8,000 men, and this little army was by some disgraceful mismanagement  left to fight a vastly superior force without support from any quarter. Some say that the Germans were ten to one ; it is at least' pretty safe to assume that they were three or four to one. MacMahon, to whose corps General Abel Douay is attached, could not have known of this sadden attack, or he would have sent help, if any had been within reach ; but in any case his leaving a single division to be thus overwhelmed was an error of the first magnitude. The fight was exceedingly desperate, It could, however, have but one issue. After giving and receiving very severe losses the French division was broken, scattered, and utterly routed, leaving numerous prisoners in the hands of the enemy and General Douay dead on the field. It is rumoured that this commander committed suicide, unable to bear a defeat which he could not avert. On hearing of this battle MacMahon at once took action. He collected his other divisions, which were all far away from Weissenburg, advanced from Hagenau in a north-easterly direction, and came upon the Crown Prince at Froschwiller, near Reichshoffen. The ground here is very rough, broken into deep gorges by a spur of the Vosges Mountains, and covered with wood. Nearest Weissenburg is the little river Saurbach, which runs through a valley by the village of Woerth, and falls into the Rhine. Further still from Weissenburg, and parallel with the Saurbach, is another river, the Moder. It would appear that the battle has been joined on the hills which separate the two valleys. MacMahon took a strong position, but he seems to have been both out-numbered and outgeneralled. Whsat was the exact manner of this defeat I cannot yet precisely tell. There are numerous accounts floating about here, but the great difficulty is to persuade oneself to giVe credence to them. One story is that MacMahon was successful against the Germans yesterday morning, but was beaten later in the day. This would imply that he had held his ground for some , time, but was finally overpowered. Another account apologises for the defeat by stating that the Marshal had no more than from 20,000 to 25,000 men with him—an explanation to which no credence can be given. MacMahon must have had with him at least his own corps. He was very likely also supported by parts of other divisions, in which case the whole army he opposed to the Crown Prince would amount to 60,000 or 70,000. This is probably the correct estimate. I incline, also, to accept the account of the battle which atateki that MacMahon held his ground for several hours against the attack in front ; but that ultimately a large body of Bavarians fell upon his flank, and decided the fight. It wcisesawemreo sfteainr important engagement. e consequences Tmhuestlboessseesrioenusb, of tehr NMaand yM latonnd iht a .ws ill been cboemnpee light t tmo a tf tael rl t e backpre vtowards three Prussian armies from becoming one. The idea 'of such a battle being waged with only 25,000 men on the side a the Viench is mere trifling. MacMahon was foolish to try the issue with G. 0,000 to 70,0.00,, ~for tim Crown Pririce, hall at least 100,000, and odds of ten to seven are too great when the larger army.has also in its. favour the prestige of 'a previous considerable triumph. The effects of this battle may readily be guessed at by what one sees here in Metz. The people are in a terrible fright, and grave alarm is depicted in the face of every officer. How intense must be the agony of the Emperor the reader may be able to conceive for himself. The Imperial staff is getting ready to start to assist in the concentration of the army. The inhabitants of Metz are hastily forming themselves into volunteer corps. .But the dismal narrative of disaster is not yet complete. A. battle was fought and lost. near Forjuacl4 on Saturday