The New York Herald Newspaper, August 10, 1870, Page 3

_ ‘THE WAR. Prussian Concentration in Force Before Metz . German Advance on Strasbourg by Muthausen, Napoleon and Marshal Bazaine : in Council. Positions and Foree of the French Army. French and Prussian Details of the Situation. PARIS EXCITED AND DEEPLY The Empress Eugenie Contemplate Flight. General Changarnier and the French | Democracy Wheeling Into Line. Italy and Austria May Come to the Bonaparie Rescue. The King of Bavaria as a Battle | Reporter. The River Elbe Closed Against the French Fleet. Parliamentary Wote Against the Cliivier Cabinet. FRANCE. SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE KERALG. Strasbourg Surrounded by a Large Force ef Prussinus—The Surrender of the Place Looked For—Prussinn March for Treves. London, August 9—3 P. M. ‘Telegrams dated at Carlsruhe to-day, and just re- ceived in this city, report that Strasbourg is sur- rounded by an army of 60,000 Prussian troops. The men come mostly from the different States of South Germany ,and in so far are not exactly Prussians, They constitute, however, an important, active ele- ment of the Prussian army. It is thought that Strasbourg must surrender to , the Prussians, There are only 7,000 men imthe gar. ‘yison, Theadvauce of the Prussian right from Srarlouis for Tréves has comthenced. It is supposed that the Prince Frederic Charles is sti!) in commana of the advancing column. OMicia! Despatches from Metz—Position of Napoleon and Marshal Bazaine—Changar- nie 1. aids rg Morz, August 9—Evening. The enemy was in a large measure concentrated in front of Metz this morning. Marshal Bazaine has direction of operations. The corps of General Frossard has retired in good -order on Metz. All has been quiet during the night, The Emperor has just gone to the general head- quarters of Mars’1al Bazaine, General Changarnier has arrived here. He was conducted from tne railway station to the Prefecture -by an honorable citizen of the town. The General ‘Was in civilian’s dress. He was immediately taken ‘mto the presence of the Emperor. Public opinion here receives with favor the advent of General Changarnier. ‘Force of the Three Great Army Corps—The * Nation Still Cl ParieCabinet {in the Field Restored. Paris, August 9—Evening. _ Authentic advices show that Marshal Bazaine, the Commander-in-Chief, has 180,000 men at Metz, Mac- ‘Mahon 50,000 at St. Averne, and Canrobert 50,000 at ‘Nancy. General Trochu has entered upon the duties of “Major General of thearmy. It is not known whether Marshal Lebceuf will have any command. ‘There is an immense uprising of the people of France to repel the Prussian invasion. It is said, oMolally, that 2,000,000 of men are ready to march, and that the reserve corps will number 1,000,000. The people are clamorous for organization and leaders. General Failly 1s in communication with Marsnal ‘MacMahon. ‘The morale of the army is excellent. There has been no fighting since the 7th. In the battle of the Froschweller 140,000 of the enemy at- tacked 33,000 men under MacMahon, ‘The Ministers have addressed the following pro- Clamation to the Parisians:— Our army is concentrated. New effort has im. Darted to it fresh hope and confidence. But agita- tion here will lessen the morai force of the army, and act against it. Paris msing, the French army ‘will be between two fires. We prepare for the de- fence of Paris. The Deputies will co-operate with us. Let all good citizens help to prevent disorder, ‘Those who wish will have arms furnished them and ‘will be sent to the front at once, A despatch from Metz, dated August 8, evening, ‘ays:—'The army is concentrating to march to the ‘Vosges and defend the passages. The night is calm. “There has been no engagement to-day.” _ The Patrte says the government calls upon all for- »Mer oMicers and soldiers having served in the armies (Of France to take grades in regiments of volunteers ‘or of the Garde Mobile, which are to go to the front Immediately, This request has been greeted enthu- Slastically, and numbers are responding to the call. ‘There have been two councils of the Ministry fo-dny, General Changarnier left his residence this morn- ing to &Q to,seek a command at headquarters, Thou- ‘sands of Depple accompanien bum to she xallway, AGITATED, , Said to | 4 | NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST Situation of Metz and Chalons, Covering Paris---Line of the Vosges Mountains- Nancy--=-Position of McMahon at Saverne. a LOXEMBUB — 7 Ss t> TRIER San: ay, 10, 1870.—TRIPLE SHEER IMMEDIATE SCENE OF OPERATIONS IN FRANCE, ‘The Centre at Tae The foregoing map covers the entire ground at present occupied by the contending armies. Taking Paris, which lies in the left hand corner, as the objective point or the Prussians we have the following distances:—Chalons-sur-Marne, ninety miles east of the capital, @ strong position, capable of keeping the enemy in check should he advance beyond Metz. Eighty miles east of Chalons 1s Metz, which place is consequently 170 miles from Paris, or at least eight days of un- obstructed march for the Prussians. Twenty. nine miles south of Metz is Nancy, which city is also 220 miles east by south of Paris. Strasbourg lies near the right hand corner of the map, ninety-two mies from Nancy and 312 miles from the capital. Saverne will be found neargPhals- bourg, at the base of the Vosges mountains, which are given along the side of the map. ‘These are the points of greatest importance as the scene of present and future military operations, General Changarnier, at Metz, after his audience here with the Emperor, appeared much pleased. Two ordnance officers waited on him to his notel. La Liberté says the Emperor is in the neighbor- hood of Metz. The corps of General Frossard has united with that of Bazaine, who now has 150,000 men. @ The five journals thnt- signed the democratic manifesto have been warned that at the first revo- lutlonary movement they will be suppressed. Several _Persons, said to be Prussian sples, were arrested here to-day. The Paris morning papers say nothing is certain concerning the course of Austria. Russia is keep- ing her quiet with promises just now. The Patrte says it was rumored the Bourse would be closed to-day at noon, Nothing of the sort nas taken place, There have been no disturbances. The authorities, having been warned that the International Society of Workingmen intended to make demonstrations, took precautions to prevent, which have been etfec- tual, if any outbreak was really contemplated. The journals announce with warm approvai that Italy is ready to send 100,000 armed men to the assistance of France. French Official Anvouncements—Imperial De- crees and Cabinet News. Panis, August 9, 1870, ‘The Journal Oficiel contains the following no- tices and decrees:— Minister Washburne was received yesterday by the Empress for the purpose of delivering the reply of President Grant to the letters recalling Minister Berthemy. ‘The Departments of Vote d’Or, Sadne et Loire, Ain and Rhéne are declared in a state of siege. ‘The following report was telegraphed from Metz yesterday at fifteen minutes past ten A. M.:— The corps of General Failly, which was not engaged in the recent actions, is the rallying point of the army, It has not been disturbed. Marshal MacMahon has executed the movements prescribed for him. There has been no engagement to-day. The proclamation of the Ministers is received with enthusiasm. ‘The Minister of the Interior has taken measures to have despatches bulletined at the Bourse and Mayoralty houses, A decree relative to the incorporation in the Tanks of the National Home Guard or all citizens between the -ages of thirty and forty years who do not already belong to some of the military organizations, convokes all chiefs of corps and prescribes measures for the immediate completion, of the rearmament of the Guard with guns altered to breach-loaders. ; In sections where,the Nattional Guard nas not heretofore been organized, ahlefs of battalions have already been appointed, and thanks to the efficiency of the measures taken, the organization of the Na- tional Guard will soom extend to every part of France. In the Department of the Seine, where that organization is strongest, it has already given proof of devotion and patriotism which cannot be changed by the circumstances through which we are passing. On the demand of the Minister of War the Prefect of the Seine this morning charged the engineers of the municipal service with the execution of the plans for strengthening the fortifications of Paris, The service will be organized at once, and divided between three chief engineers and eleven assistants, Each chief will be in charge of an arrondissement, ‘The Prefect commits the chief supervision of the en- tire work to Inspector General Alkhand, At two ofclock yesterday the direction of the ser- vice, in the presence of the generals and colonels directors of the fortifications, opened negotiations with the most considerable contractors of Paris, These contractors declared they would make no _condjtions, yut placed their fortunes, their pergonal services, their material and their experience at the disposal of the authorities for the defence of Paris, The officials and engineers at once took possession of the workshops offered by the contractors, Last night posters were distributed over the city, inviting citizens between the ages of thirty and forty to present themselves within three days at the Mayoralty nouses for enrolment in the National Guard. As soon as the enrolment is completed the distribution of arms will commence. ‘The Minister of the Interior has issued a procla- mation announcing that according to the terms of the Article of Law of the 9th of August, 1849, on declaration of a state of siege the military authori. | ties have a right to interdict all publications of & nature to excite or keep up disorders, 4s such a proposition as that made by the Siecle to institute a Committee of Defence tends to anarchy and compromises unity of action, creating useless agitation, on advice of the Council of Ministers, it is decided that the mill- tary authorities shall apply prescriptive measures to any journal renewing such propositions. The Oficial Journal, after describing the resources and the patriotic spirit of the nation, which has al- ways been an obstacle to Prussian ambition, asks what other Power would like to see Prussia making the North and Baltic seas Prussian lakes, invading smaller States and acquiring a dangerous prepon- derance. Favorable signs are already ap- parent, England, satisfied with the categoric assurances of France, hastens to secure the northwestern frontiers of France by causing Belgian neutrality to be respected, In Sweden, Norway and Denmark the pupular feeling is with France, and the Emperor of Russia gives proofs of the best understanding with France. Austria ana Italy are arming and will cause embarrassment to Prussia, French diplomacy is not more idle than French arms will be, and France will prove that she has not degenerated in 1870, Republican and democratic journals advise the immediate meeting of the Corps Législatif, and the arming of the peoplo, They all censure strongly the disorders which have taken place in the streets and counsel calmness and moderation. The deputies to the Corps | now in Paris met yes- terday afternoon and called upon the Empress, There 13 great activity in the enrolling of volun- teers in all parts of the city. Thirty-three thousand workmen are strengthening the fortifications, as- sisted by 20,000 sailors from the fleet. The Gaulots says the false news of a victory was disseminated in Strasbourg last week at the same hour it was sent out here, There was a precon- certed attempt to deceive the nation, ‘The citizens, defiant of martial law, continue to assemble in the streets and discuss the war, The proclamation of ‘martial law was rather a precautionary than an imperative measure, and its rigorous enforcement is not contemplated, Parliamentary Vote Against Ollivier—A Min- isterial Crisis. Panis, August 9—Evening. The Corps Législatif met to-day. An order of the day directed against the Mmmistry ‘was proposed by Deputy Clement Duvernois and was adopted by a large majority. M. Ollivier asked for the suspension of the sitting for a few minutes, Fi PRUSSIA. Losses of the French at Woerth=Popuinr Ovation the King=The River Elbe Closed Against the French Fleet, BERLIN, August 9—P, M. The losses of the French in the battle of Woerth on Saturday were 5,000 dead, wounded and missing and 6,900 prisoners, MacMahon’s baggage, many to cannon and two long railway trains, with stores and munitions, were captured. The Prussian cavalry in their pursult bagged thousands of stragglers, who haa thrown away their arms, ‘The total ‘Woun ded. The King of Prussia in passing through Neustadt yesterday received a great ovation. The streets and roads were filled with joyful people, who waved flags, covered the King with flowers and cheered wildly. Count Bismarck, General von Roon and others addressed the people aud thanking them for the King.” Hambarg advices report that the river Elbe has been closed to prevent the entrance of the French feet, bulga small passage is stilileft open at Goose Island for steamer trafic. The Prussian Cross Gazette protests against the attacks om England, whose just neutrality it ap- proves, The North German Gazette is graterul for the ac- tion of South Germany and says the federal govern- Ment will study to reward it. Prussian loss was 3,500 dead and ENGLAND. Field Despatches from Woerth—Prussian Ad- vance on Strasbourg—The French Umpiro Collapsiug—Italy aud Austria May Aid FrauceEugenic “Preparing for Flighv?— Opinion of Napoicon’s Position. Lonpon, August 9—5 P. M. The following oMcial despatch is dated at Hom- ‘burg, in the Palatinate, quarter to ten o’clock A. M., August 8:— Yesterday after the battle of Woerth the enemy retired in the greatest disorder. The French artil- lery endeavored to make a stand at Niederbronn. That town was taken by the Bavarians. The enemy retired on the route to Bitche. whe cavalry of Wir- temberg captured the enemy's stores and four pieces of artillery at Retchshofen, The dead and wounded covered the route of the retreating army. This morning we have occupied Haguenan, evacuated by theenemy. The German troops hold both banks of the Saar, having occupied Sarreguemines and For- bach after slight resistance by the French. The buoyancy in the cotton market {9 attributed to the Prussian successes. The general Impression here 18 that Prussian victories augur speedy restora- tion of peace. ‘Arumor has reached here that the Prussians are in Mulbansen, sixty-one miles southwest of Stras- bourg. The Pall Mall Gazette has assurances from private sources in Paris that the empire is on the verge of collapse. ‘the Germans are expected in Paris. Even if they are arrested, the empire is dead. The Parisians are receiving arms, and they are all re- publicans at heart. The establishment of a pro- visional government is already talked of. The Orleanists through Generals Chaugarnier and Trochu are in the ascendant, and eminent imperialists are leaving France. e ‘The Paris correspondent of the Manchester Eram- tner telegraphs that Italy and Austria each send 100,000 men to aid France. The Empress Eugénie, according to the Pall Mat Gazette, is preparing for fight, The army at Metz is still undergoing thorough re organization. The London 7imes ascribes the French disaster to the Emperor's obstinacy in refusing sound mili- tary advice and to his illness, The London Times says pares in France will make the Emperor pay the penalty of his ill success, Iiis name 1s alreaty ignored in the acts by which the regency seeks to rally the peopie, Things arrange themselves as if he was not ex- pected toresume his power; as if testing how he may be dispensed with altegether. The only ques- ‘on js, Who shall first utter the word “abdicaueon.” Eadtaond About writes from the fiela, bitverly con- demning the Emperor's mismanagement. He says:— “Having declared war he let the Prusssians begin it. ‘True, neither party was ready, Yet the French lost twenty days in useless marching and counter- ee na ‘ROW in fhe following position:—On the extreme left are massed the Thira corps, Marshal Bazaine; Fourth ~ corps, General Qount Luadmirault; Second corps, Major General Frossard, aud a part of the Imperial Guard, Im addition it is probable that the troops concentrated at Dankire (some 40,000) have been hurried by rail te Metz, and it 1s not unlikely that @ part of the Garde Mobile has also been sent there, Considering that of these troops Frossard’s corps alone has been in Action, the force coucentrated at Metz cannot be less than one hundred and fifty thousand, and may reach as liigh as two hundred thousand. Whether Bazaine will risk a general engagement with this army seems undecided, as we have a report that he intends reuring to the Vosges mountains, thereby uncovering Paris, To the superficial mind such a movement as this may seem another evidence of French weakness. But, in fact, it would be an adinirable change of front. It is the same plan Which Napoleon 1. began in 18l4—viz., to uncover Paris and retire to the iortresses of Alsace and Lore raine. Baron Jomiui writes that had Marmont or Morher joined him, “and had he possessed 50,000 more men, this plan would have produced the most decisive results, and have put the seal on his mill. tary career.” METZ 48 AN OBSTACLE TO A PRUSSIAN ADVANCE, Should the French army now concentrated in front of Metz be defeated in @ general engagement and fall back upon the Voages mountains, or should it voluntarily retire to the mountains, the roaa to Paris would be open to the Prussians, Before an advance could be made it would be necessary to reduce Metz, And just here the Ger- mans would encounter their first aimcnuity. Metz is the strongest fortress in France and is regarded as impregnabie to anything but starva- lon or voluntary surrender, In 1562 the Constable Montmorency gained possession of it by stratagem. Charles V., Emperor of Germany, immediately after besteged it wii an army of 100,000 men. Atthe end of ten months he raised the siege and retired, having lost 30,000 of lls force in a fruitless contest. ‘The present fortilications of Metz were planned by Vauban. It may be well to say here thatthe city is seated on the Moselle river, at the Junction of @ small stream called La Seille, The population 14 nearly 70,090, The city is entrely surrou 1 by fortifications, 80 con- structed that they can be defended by 10,000 men or by 100,000, Several forta, crossing each other's fire and sweeping the surrounding councry for miles, are situated at intervals around the place. One of the most important of these is called Belle Croix, and Is resarded as a chef @euvre of mille tary construction. Next in strength comes La Double Couronne, an immense work, surrounded by a triple ditoh flea with water, In addition there is the great redoubt of Le Paté, which can be converted into an island by closing tho eluices on the Seille, About 800 guns of heavy calibre are mounted on these works. There are, besides, bastions and redans for light artillery, A fourth great furt is said to have been constructed quite recently, which, if true, adds greatly to the strength of the city. In fact, when it ts borne mm mind that to reach the fortifications it will be “necessary for an assaillng force to cross two ditches, fifty fect wide by eighty deep, the impossibility of carrying Meta by storm will be perceived, Ferthermore, the waters of the le can be raised twenty-four feet, flooding the s iuding counuy so asto forma take six iniles in extent, Ordinarily the garrison of Metz numbers about 15,0009 men, Should the French army uncover Parts, We suppose that a force of 25,000 or 39,000 men, without including thet Garde Moble of the City, would be left to defend it, And here, a3 we said above, the troubles of the Prugstans begin. Nothing, short of treachery, cowardice or starvation is likely, to reduce Metz, Twenty thousand men can defend it againstany force thatcan possibly be brought against, it. Nevertheless ifthe Prussians pus on to Parts, leaving it behind, and are defeated ina general ene gagement, they could only retreat back to Germany. by cutting thelr way through the garrison whicly would by this time have sallied out to oppose them, It is true that they could leave a corps to watch the marching. They were surprised at Wissembourg by an enemy whom there were no videttes to Watch, no skirmishers to meet and no settled plan to repel.’? ‘The French Lror-Clad Fleet at Sen. Lonvon, August 9, 1870, A French feet of nine iron-clads, hound east, passed Dover toda BAVARIA. The gas a Batile ReporterHis Majesty’s Acconnt of the Engagement at Wostth. MUNICH, August 9, 1870, The King of Bavaria makes the following report concerning the battie of Woerth: ~ Early on the morning of the 7th insf., just as our troops had left their piveuac to march on Ergolzbelun, the thunder of cannon was heard, Our movements were hastened, and we soon came up with the First corps, which was engaged with the enemy. The Bavarian troops were placed in action at once, and participated in the assault upon the heights of Gueméné, which were carried about five o'clock, the French being repulsed in cisorder and ‘With heavy loss. The action was severe and sanguinary, The King issued a congratulatory order to the Second corps, thanking them for their splendid conduct and gallantry, PRESENT POSITION OF THS ARME CONTEN! Althongh the telegraphic despatches are confused and contradictory (perhaps naturally so), enough can be gleancd to form a clear idea of the military posi tion in France. It 1s evident that MacMahon was surprised and beaten in detail by the Crown Prince, who advanced hisarmy rapidly across the Lauter river, struck Douay’s division with overwhelming numbers, driving it from Wissembourg and estab- lished a base of operations at that to Almost simultaneously the Baden and Bavarian troops must have ‘ossed the Rhine above Lauter- bourg, occupied the city, and forming a janction with the army of the Crown Prince, pushed ou for road between Hayuenau When the first blow was struck a part of Marshal MacMahon’s corps was lyiag at Brumath. This force, with divisions from Strasbourg, he seems to have hurried forward to meet the enemy, ignorant of the Prussian strength, We think if very probable that in the battle or Woerth the Germans far outnumbered thelr adversaries; and for this reason—not less than four German corps are spoken of as having taken part in the battle, two being Prussian, cue Bavarlan and one’ composed of Prussian, Waurtemberg, Bavarian aud Baden troops. Opposed to them was MacMahon’s corps and five divisions of de Failly’s corp Mention is made of Canrobert’s corps, but it cout: not possibly have participated in the engagement, as It was stationed at Chalons and Paris. While the armies of the Crown Prince of Prussia and Marshal MacMahon were engaged the corps of General Steinmetz moved upon the left centre of the French position, driving Frossard’s corps from Saar- brack and compelling it to fat! back upon Metz. it willbe observed that both movements w of and Wissembourg. Sultz, a town of some importance lying on the rail- | ; city but this would weaken the main army and ex- pose this corps of observation toa sudden and ds. astrous defeat from the French. THE FRENCH CENTER , 1s at present located at Nancy, where tie bulk of tha Iinpermal Guard and the greater part of the Sixth) corps is stationed, the whole commanded by Mar- Sha) Canrobert. We have no idea what the sirengty of this force ts, but it cannot number less than aixty thousand men, Stquding midway between Metz and Saverne Canrofert ought to be in 2 position to afford aid to either MacMahon or Bazaine in two marches, Nancy 18 strongly fortified and is capable of resisting asevere attack, but it ts by no means impregnable. The great advantage it possesses as a defensive position is the large plahr which surrounds it, An advancing enemy would have to move across an entirely open country ex- posed to a raking artillery fire. Nancy is 220 miles from Paris. THE FRENCH RIGHT, a or, to be particular, the right centre, the extreme right being Belfort, is at Saverae, to which place! Marshal MacMahon retired after his defeat near Woerth on Saturda Here he has his owa corps, and near by is the corps under de Failly, the whole numbertng perhaps seventy thousand men. Savyerne ts situated on the east slope of the Vosges and not far from the fore tress of Phalsbourg, which stands on the rocks and commands the ¢ 3 of the mountains, MacMahon is at present safe from any attack of the army com- maanded by the Crown Prince, and wiil probably ba allowed to reorganize luis force unmolested, “5 PRASBOURG BESIRGED. A despatch from Carisruhe announces that 60,000 German troops have surrounded Strasvourg, and that as the garrison numbered only 7,009 men an carly surrender 1s expected. This expectation will not be realized, Strasbourg 1s, Ike Metz, one of the strongest fortresses in Europe, and ts regarded as absolutely impregna- | ble. The fortuications, including the citadel of five bastions, extene to the Rhine, and are of im- Mense strength. . Situated near the continence of the Rhine, the same arrange. defence have been made es witn the By means of large sluices, the whole rasbourg can laid under water, » skle of the Porte des Mines, and sis mined, Six thousand men can hold /,000 ten. ~The Inhabitants of 009, can unaided resist any force the Prussians cau besiege them with, Such being the case we have no idea that Stras- bourg will surreuder. and it is absolutely necessary to the Prussians before they ate tempt an advance to the defiles of the Vosges Mountains. in fact, notuing could be more dangerous than to leave two such fortresses as Stras- bourg and Metz in the rear; while should the Gere mans sit down before them they will enable the French to organiz 1 drill one million of men in the interior of fran THE PRUSSIAN POSITION impossivbie to locate with any tainty, General Steinmetz, commanding the Prossian right, is probably with the mass of his forces ia front of Metz, Prince, Frederick Charles, commanding the centre, was expected to move into Fron +e between Bitche and Sarregue- mines, and is probably now advancing to form w junction with Steinmetz. it would be alficalt to locate the Crown Prince of Prussia. We have no means of learning if his forces are the ones besteg- ing Strasbourg; but it is most likely that he is now the littie river 1) wit ments for Seille at Metz. country around it is cere the same character, No attacks were made on tlie extreme right and left and the centre. The Crown Prince pierced the right centre and General Stein- metz forced the lett centre to fall back. Looking at the movements In a purely military light they were very skilful and energetic. But it is nov unlikely that the Prussians have failed in their great design of cutting the French army m two. If MacMahon at Saverne and Ba- zaine at Metz can maintain interior lines, or, in plain language, if MacMahon can prevent the Crown Prince from getting between Saverne aad Metz the reciprocal support which the two French columns can afford each other will, if the soldiers remain resolute and confident, finally neutralize their defeatat Woerth, POSITION OF BAZAINE'S FORCES, As faras cau be ascertained the French army is in the valley between the Rhine and the Vosges, Mountains. 5 TRE WAR FEELING iN THE CITY. What is Thonght of the News from France Action of the Licderkranz Society-$1,000 for the Patriotic Fund. There was very little abatement of excitement, among our German citizens yesterday, the extraor- dinary en asin of Monday, when the news of the victory of the Prassians over the French became’ generally known, haying full force. Around the geveral newspaper ofiices crowds of people gathered at an early hour and gave utterance fo their hopes and jcars, exuitations and @espondeney at every CONTINUED ON TENTH PATE