The New York Herald Newspaper, August 17, 1870, Page 3

NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 1870.—TRIPLE SHEET, a Mets, thas Cutting the communications between MaoMabon and Bagaine. To avoid this Bazaine ; panes» THE WAR Z a s left Metz, going towards Veruun and Chalons. Re ~~ A Desperate ‘sattle Fought Med Metz. Sinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnne i Frevsch and Prussian Reports of the Engagement. “The French Claim a Victory, with Ticavy Losses to the Germans. King William Announces Another | entire “Desperate Conflict.” General Palikao’s Statement to the French Parliament. Birasbourg and Bitche Still Held by the French. How MacMahon’s Zonaves were “Demoral- ized” by the Prussians. fore reaching Longueville tne corps of Generals Ladmirault and De Caen encountered the army of Freterick Charles, Thus began the battle on Sun- day, which, according to appearances, Was fohowed by the great battle now going on. The following is an order of the day tasued by Marshal MacMahon:— SoupieRS—In the battle of the 6th of August ‘or- tune betrayed your courage; but you yleided your positions only after a heroic resistance, which lasted not less than nine hours. You were 85,000 against 140,000, and were overwhelmed by force of numbers. Under these conditions defeat is glorious, and his- tory wii say that in the battie of Froschweiler the French showed the greatest valor, You have suf- fered heavy losses, but those of the enemy are much greater, Although you have not been successful yousee @ cause In your misfortune which makes the Emperor satisfied with you, and the country recognize that you have worthily sustained the honor of the flag. Let us show that, though subjected to the severest tests, the First corps, forgetting these, closes up 118 ranks; and, God aiding us, let us seize a great and brilliant revenge. Seventy-five arrests have been made in the Villette affair. It is suppose’, however, that many of them were mere vagabonds, who were not actually con- cerned in the disorders, Edmond About, the correspondent of the Afontteur du Sotr, has-been heard from. He is alive und well and will soon return to Paris, The AMoniteur du Soir published yesterday an article full of confidence and resolution, The following ts an extract, and is a fair exhiblt of the tone of the French press:~ Everything progresses well. haste to Apish nie work. He knows full well that The enemy makes Special Report of the Slaughter of | tne protongation of the war exhausts his forces and the Zouave Corps. ‘Napoleon’s Condition of Mind---“I am Cut Off” Paris in a State of Con- sternation. ENGLISH STATEMENTS OF THE SITUATION. FRENCH REPORTS. Tbe Tide of Victory Turning trem Prussia— Pablio Confidence and Hope—Reporte of the Prussian OperationsMetz and the Other Fortresses—The Agitation in Lyons—Tho Field Despatches Toe Bricf—Latest from Metz—Tho Prussians Said to Have Lost a Great Battlo—General Newe and Public Rumor. Panis, August 16—Kvening, ‘The evening reports say oficial confirmation of the ews of the great victory over the Prussians is im- Patiently awaited. Great crowds of people have collected at the Bourse, at the Ministry of the In- terfor and in the streets, Important news has been recetved from Stras- bourg to-day. Tho Prussians tn that vicinity seem Inclined to retire. Some shots have been exchanged. ‘The people of Strasbourg are determined to defend the place to the last extremity. The Petrie to-day publishes an article saying that false reports have becn circulated to the effect that Boarms were to be obtained for the troops, The Patrie afirms that there 1s a complete provision of ‘arms of all Kinds, and quotes a statement made in ‘the Chambers that the supply of guns is large ana the quality excellent. The Moniteur to-day says:— During the battle on Sunday Marshal Bazatne had in position a masked battery of mitrailicuses, Four regiments of tue Prussian Royal Guard approaching, the batieries were unmasked and two of the regi- Micnts were completely annihilated. The Patrie, re‘erring to the faci that Paris is with- out oficial news from the front, says that Marshal Bazaine ts evidently determined on strict secrecy, so far as his movements are concerned. He 1s in com- munication with the camp at Chalons. News from the various departments show that the people are determinedly warlike. The public depres- mon, occasioned by the recent reverses, is giving way toa ferce desire to drive the Prussians from French soll. An official despatch from the Prefect of Meuse to the Minister of the Interior is published here to-duy. He says a body of German Unlans pas been seen in the neighvorhood of Commercy, marching towards Bar le Duc. He has, therefore, cut the railways in that section to impede the ad- ‘vance of the enemy. The French journals complatn of the brevity of the despatches ‘rom the scat of war. Even the Constitutionnel, a semi-oMcial organ, says the espatches do not give a very precise idea of the Position of either of the armies. The Journat Opictel tc-day contains a decree de- claring the cities of Cherbourg, wrest, L’Orient and Rochefort in a state of siege, Algeria has been declared jn a state of siege. The Gaulots says the pubiic is astonished to fd the teh announcing a battle at Longueville signed only by Napoleon. That journal adds that it wae countersigned “Bazaine,” but the latter name ‘Was suppressed in the pubilcation of the despatch, which was regalar in every other respect, ‘The Sub-Prefect of Verdun telegraphs as follows ‘to the Minister of the Interior:— Vervun, August 16—6 A. M, No news from Meta, Nothing ls known to have ‘Occurred to-day, All day yesterday the roar of cannon was heard between Metz and Verdun. Persons who have reached here from that direc. tion say that a great battle was fought, opening at Gaybreax, and that the Prussians had lost more than 40,000 men in the combat and been completely defeated. During yesterday, at the extremity of my arrondissement, twenty-eight kUometres from the fortuications of Verdun, the enemy nad deen seen directing his retreat to the south, Thongh this intelligence was transmitted by au- thority the government has not ea yet been able to Verify It, and it is given to the public under reserve ‘by the Minister of the Interior. ‘The Bishop of Luxembourg and eeyeral clergymen bave gone to Metz to administer consolation to the aying. ‘The Presse gives the following explanation of the Movements of the Prassians, afer the battle of Forbach, on the 6th tnst., the army of Prince Charles Gdvanced and established its headquarters at St, Avoid, After the batuie of Wissembourg the army Of the Prince Royal went by way of Saverne to Nancy. Wyle this army, having no opposition on is front, advanced on its route to Paris as far as Bar te Dne, Frederick Charles, making a Dold gyrve. endeavored to turn ihe French troops at augments onra, His tactics alone show that we have only to gain time to divert the Prussian from his base of operations while defending our ground inch by inch. The passage at arms which took place yesterday under the guns of Mctz Is the Oret act inthe new drama. Eight days hence the energy that has marked the first operations of the invaders will Dave given way to discouragement and exhanstion. Our fortified towns all hold out— Bitche, Phalshourg, Verdun, all defenied by the army and their inhabitants, answer with their guns to the arrogaat summons of the enemy. The na- tional defence commences, It but just commences, ‘and every Brenchman ts ready to answerthe call of his country. See your National Guards, Guards Mo- bile and volanteers who are on the way to the Vos- ges Mountains, ‘There shall the Prussians fod their graves. They have asked for a war of races and such they shall have. The Constitutionnel says:— ‘Yhe plan of conquest of the Prussians cannot any longer be a matter of doubt. The German empire tukes advantage of the Hohenzoliern dynasty to inangurate 11s policy of spolfation of French verri- tory. In the departments which the chances of war have given to the enemy the King of Pruszia com- mands at present as territorial sovercign. decree has been issucd by his Majesty the King of Prussia and dated at St. Avold, abolishing con- scription In al! the French territory occupied by the German troops. The Prussian government, which pretends to be €o well informed about men and things In Paris, does not seem to be very strong in the towns of Alsace, which will know how to Oud the means to rejoin the national fag. In place of conscripts all men from sixteen to Mfty years Will rush to arms. The Prus- siau Journals continue to pour forth their insults against the French nation. We underline these two words because Berlin newspapers formally declare that war is mado not only against the government but against the entire French people, The Courrter, of Lyons, to-day has a long statement of the popular demonstrations which recently oc- curred there. The following is an extract:— Yesterday morning, about cieven o'clock, a popu- Jer commotion, arising from bad news from the army, took piace in the Place Croixrousse, which ended in a deplorable coufiict between the police and the people. The particulars of the affair have been much exaggerated, ‘the originator of the trouble was an old notary, Leutilion by name, well known for his political eccentricities. This person clambered upon the pedestal of the cross, io the centre of the Place Croixrousse, to make a speech to a group of laborers, His hearers were few at the start, but in a short time a@ large crowd assembled, Cries of “Vivé ja Republique” were heard on all sides, Though called upon to stop by the police Leutillon per- sisted in his seditious declamation, Calling upon the audience to defend him tho latter attempted to defend him by the ald of stones, The authorities seized the orator notwithstanding the violence offered; butone of them, baving allowed one of the rioters to draw his sword trom the scab- j bard, was siruck by one of these infuriated people in the abdomen, from which wound he died in a few moments, Five or six policemen were wounded, Leutillon,and other prinetpal rioters were arrested and taken to prison between two files of soldiers, The mass of the population of the Place Croix. Tousse took no part in these violent proceedings, It was all caused by @ few turbulent characters, ‘These demonstrations are generally denounced, General Cansade, tne commander at Lyons, ha: issued a proclamation Warning the peopic against future disturbances, and announcing the readiness of the authorities to repress them, SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE WERALO, Letter from a General of Zounves on the Battle of Woerth—Frightful Loeses of His Command—Forty-seven Out of Sixty-five Officers Missing—Heavy Loss Inflicted on the Enemy=—Thirty-flve Thousand French Against Ono Hundred Thousand Germans. Lonpon, August 16, 1870, The following letter, written by General Bocher, commanding the French Zouaves tn one division of Marshal MacMahon’s corps, tells the story of the almost annihilation of his fine body of soldiers at the battle of Woerth, Tne letter, it will be percetyed, was written almost tmmediately after the battle and before the Crown Prince of Prussia had resumed the pursuit of the defeated army:— SAVERNE, August 8, 1870, My DEAR —Let us thank God that I am preserved through the most terrible of dangers 1t is @ soldier's fate to encounter. By miracle I am still alive, without @ scratch and in perfect heaitn, though heart-broken and overwhelmed with grier. But my poor ofiicers, my poor soldiers! I dare not gure transportation of the wounded, French and oharger was killed under General Saureur, to whom I bad loaned him, his horse having been killed early im the action, Out of all Ihad there remains only the clothes I wear. Seventy francs, which was in the pocket of my coat in my baggage, which was with that of Marsha! Been, were taken with the rest. Ido not care for my personal losses, but I cannot help crying inwardly when I think of all the brave men I have lost, We fought like lions—tnirty-five thousand against one hundred thousand, and surrounded on aii sides. General Calom was killed and so was Robert de Vogue. Alfred de Grammont, brother of the Duke de Grammont, Minister of Foreign Affairs, was wounded in the left arm, Other corps have suffered almost ag much as wy own, Marsiial MacMahon vehaved splendidly. He did all that man could do, but he had not men enough. We were unable to cope with one hundred thousand Men, supporting three times more artillery than we had, Nevertheless we inflicted such heavy loss on the enemy that that is doubtless the reason why he has not pursued us more vigorously, Had he done 9 the disaster would have been fearful. Heaven knows it ts bad enongh as it 1s, The battle began about half-past seven o'clock in the morning and lasted ull after night. We retreated in a pouring rain, and when we halted were without tents or fire and had to le down in the mud, On the day after the batule we marched seventy kilometres from the vicinity of the battiefleld to Baverne. The last thirty-six kilometres we got over during the night, pell mell, without stopping or sleeping. War is a fearful scourge. We are doomed to forced tuaction tor the next few days, Ihave but 600 or 600 Zouavs left, with- out Knapsacks, tents, clothes or food, but we have arms and do not complain. Being without officers and non-commissioned officers we cannot be sent into action now, and will probably be sent to Stras- bourg to reform, The regimental chest, with our accounts, was taken by the enemy. If we do not make a movement soon the General will probably leave me alone for a little time with what men I have left, Legielative Proceedings—The Minister of War to the Parliament. Paris, August 16, 1870. Tho proceedings in the Corps Législatif to-day were exciting and important. Deputy Keller said that for three days now the troops had been fighting, and no news had been re- ceived as to what had been accomplished, In such @ sttuation of affaires the Chamber could not think of any other matters. The meeting of the Corps Must be permanent, to awalt communication from the, Minister of the Interior. The Minister of War, Count Palikao, said he was not prepared to speak of a defeat the Prussians were sald to have sustained, but of a serious check, forcing them to retire and forego their attempt to disturb the retreat of the French army. He had no oficial despatches touching the events of yesterday, but he had received news from reilable sources, and might state that the Prussians had been checked several times and were retiring towards Commercy. He ‘was full of confidence, but could not at present enter pon, deta, 24 6/9 GaFt. 8 muh, greater forge would be under the command of Marshal Bazalne, the only and the true Commander-in-Chief. The Minister then retired, and Deputy J. Ferry took the Noor, In his remarks he referred to the Emperor's proclamation to the inhabitants of Meta as having created an unpleasant effect upon the public. The speaker was here interrupted by expressions of disapproval. The tumult became too great for him to be heard, and he took his seat. The Chamber then voted several laws for the pro- secution of the war. Deputy Forgade then announced to the Corps Lé- gislatif that a certain religious society had placed at the disposal of the French authorities thelr houscs of worship for hospital purposes, PRUSSIAN REPORTS. King William Aunounces a “Desperate Con- flict%—The Buttlefiecld Near Metz—The French Driven In—Despatches of the Gen- erale—Marshal Buzaine’s Rear Guard Assaiicd—Capture of a Fortress and War Material. BERLIN, August 16—Evening. The following Gespatch 1s from King Wullam to the Queen:— Henny, August 15—7:30 P. M. Thave Just returned from the battlefleld near Metz. The advance of the Seventh corps attacked the en- emy, who instantly reinforced from the fortress, The Thirteenth division and part of the Fourteenth sustained the advance. The confilct was desperate, involving the entire liue. The enemy was repulsed atall points and pursued to the glacis of the de- tached works near the fortress, which enabled the enemy to give shelter to their wounded. Our wounded were Instantly cared for, By daybreak the troops returned to their first bivouacs. All fought with incredible and admirable energy. I have gone among them and congratu- lated them with all my soul. Ihave speken to Gen- erals Steinmetz, Bastrow, Manteuffel and Goeben, DESPATCHES OF THE GENERALS. The following oMclal despatch, dated on the 16th, at about four o'clock in the afternoon, ts just made pablic:— Our advance finding themselves before Motz, and believing the enemy, who were encamped under the walls, about to retreat, General Galtz’s brigade was ordered to attack the rear guard of Marshal Ba- zalne's corps. <A violent combat ensued, The Sec- ond brigade then advanced under Ostensacken and immediately the divisions of Generals Karnecke and Wrangel participated, driving the enemy at ail points, Meanwhile the French General Ladmirauit endeavored to flank the Firat corps, but was attacked by the reserves, which advanced with drums beat- ing under General Manteufel. The enemy was splendidly repulsed and driven into the fortress. Many were captured. Our troops advanced W Bellecro}x and Borucy, within range of the forts, This morning the King made a reconnoissance on the fleid of battle, visiting the aavance poste to en- Prussians alike, to @ point above Kouke, on the right of the Moselle. From this point the enemy was Prussian victory, Great consternation prevalla in Paris, ne RY Hostility to Bonapartism on Al) Sidee—Tho Empress Out of Favor—Napoleon’s Mental Condition—“2 Have Been Cut Down.” LonDon, August 16—Noon. ‘The telegraphic reports from Paris received here this morning state that the hostile feeling which has ‘been displayed towards the Emperor Napoleon dur- ing the past week is now being extended to the Empress Eugénie, who has heretofore been such & favorite with all classes of the French from the very day of her acceptance of the ministertal duties of the regency, Cries of “Vive ta répudlique!” gre heard in all bere ia i a! the eC Bia parts of the city, Reliable information has bee Te- ceived here as to the dejected condition, mentally and physically, of Napoleon since his reverses, Be mutters to himself, and is heard by those near to him repeating almost constantly the words ‘Au m'a coupé,” or “I have been cut off” or impeded, The Germans Driven to the Moselle. Lonpon, August 16, 1870, The correspondent of the Datly News, writing from Luxembourg, says that the result of Monday's battle was to force the Germans back to the Mo- Selle, Prussia “full of Triumph”—OmMcial Advices from Berlin—French Deuinl of the Loss of Bitche—MacMahon’s _Pesitiou—Napoleon’s Necessity—Sympathy for Germany—A Freuch Provisional vernment Spoken Of. Lonpon, August 16—Evening. Despatches from the Prussian government to the Prassian Ambassador here are full of triamph, and eapress the greatest conflaence as to the early result of the war. The French deny the story of the capture of Bitcne. It is feared in Parts that Marshal MacMahon’s corps at and around Strasbourg is entirely cut off from the main body of the French army. The following items are extracted from the French official builetins:— The Prussians are not in any great force before Strasbourg. The town of Bitche still holds out against the enemy. A railroad bridge at Terges- heim, on the Und between Strasbourg and Basle, has been destroyed by the enemy. The London 7tmes, in its money article, says a French victory is necessary to predispose the Empe- ror to treat for peace. ‘The stories of the arrival of the Empress and the Prince Imperia! on English soil are repeated to-day. They are, however, untrue, It is certain that the Prince is now in Paris. ‘The Admiralty has refused permission to surgeons 4n the British naval service to volunteer for the relfef of the Prussian wounded, Advices from Paris state that the Cent Guard has been disbanded. The members have been dis- tributed among the various cavairy regiments. It ts generally thought the Corps Législatif is willing to create a provisional government. A document, ascribed to Count Bismarck, !s in cireuiation iy Prussia, declining territorial Aggrandisement as a result of the War. The Bavarlans have not yet been supplied with the needle gun. They still use the old percussion Jock muzzie-loader, The London Telegraph's Paris correspondent writes that the French Chambers are uaworthy of public respect. Were the members not elected by fraud and coercion they might be trusted as a com- mittee of public safety. The Nor % German Gazette yesterday urged a gen- eral celebration of the last Napoleon séte. ‘The report recently circulated that Prussia was seeking an aliiance with Spain is untrue. Experiments recently made with the mitrailieuse at Shoeburyness indicate that the Instrument is a destructive one in close quarters, but that the troops dependent on it may be annihilated by artil- lery before the mitrailicuse can be gotten in range. The London 7inws sympathizes strongly with the Prussians and rejoices at their recent successes, Six Handrcd Thousand German France. Lonpon, August 16, 1870, The following recapitulations are published here to-day. Six hundred thousand German soldiers are now in France, carrying the needle gun. After them come the reserves, the entire male poputation of able- bodied Germany, This mass’ is distributed in three portions—the Army of the Saar, the Army of the Rhine and the Army of the South, Prince Frederick Charles commands the army of the Rhine, as the leader of the centre. On his right, advancing southeast of Luxembourg, 1s the First army, or that of the Saar, under General Steinmetz. » On the Prince’s left is the Third, or Southern army, led by Prince Frederick William, the helr to the Soldiers in crown. Under the latter are 250,000 men, under Frederick Charles 260,000, and under General Steinmetz 70,000. Total, 670,000 men. Steinmetz has nearly 200 guns, the Crown Prince 660 and Frederick Charles 660; total, over 1,600 guns. In other words, Steinmetz has 60 battalions of in- fantry, 48 squadrons of horse, 32 battalions of artil- lery; Prince Charles, 197 battalions of infantry, 62 squadrons of horse, 110 batteries, and the Crown Prince 192 battalions of infantry, 164 squadrons of cavalry and 114 batteries, Marshal Bazaine Surprised at the Moselle— Critical Condition of His'|Army—Conflicting Reports of the Engagement—The Republi- can Movemeut in Paris. Lonpon, August 16, 1870, A special correspondent writes from Paris Mon- day night:—Sunday’s battle was only the semblance of success, or mitigation of disaster. The Germans having cut off all railway communication with Metz, Marshal Bazaine commenced to setreat across the Moselle, and proposed to follow the ordinary high road towards Verdun, whither the Emperor and Prince Imperial, leaving Metz to its fate, had pre- ceded him, When balf the army only had got over the river the Generalissimo upon whose presumed skill the hopes of France now fxed was surprised just Uke other French commanders, Reconnois, sances had found no inkling of a German corps in the neighborhood, but nevertheless when one- half the army had crossed the river it was attacked by a great force. We bave the Emperor's word that after four hours’ fighting the enemy was repulsed with great loss, but it 16 not assertea that the half of the army which wanted to get across succeeded. Taking the view most favora- ble to the French, it 19 obvious that a invisible in the clouds of dust, We inter, therefore, that the main body has departed, ANOTHER SUCCESS, The following oMcial news has also been made public to-day:— BeRLin, August 15—9:30 P, M. The little fortress of Marsal capitulated yesterday, tell how many we have lost; it would grieve you too much. Ata later date you shall know the names of those you knew and loved, whom you shal) never see again. = The gallant fellows fought like heroes—like lions | Ont of sixty-five officers in nry command forty-seven are miseing. Seven, this morning full of life aud ardor , were all killed—two this afternoon, My un- fortunate Lieutenant Colonel, Deshorties, was wounded in the side by a bullet which penetrated his abdomen. He was just able to squeeze my hand asIretired, He was carried off and has probably died by this In a Prussian ambulance. Two chess de datatiion were shot dead; a@ third {s either dead or a prisoner. St. Suvenx was wounded badly; there ts very little hope of his recovery. Ihad him taken to the rear in anambulance. The bullet went through his chest. He behaved splendidly, Pierron was shot stone dead. I have five captains here out of thirty—the rest are in heaven, All my adjutants and most of my sergeants met the samo fate as Pierron. Five of the latter are left. Two, who were with the baggage, were either sabred or taken prisoners. My horses wore algo captured, My poor black after a short bombardment, to the Second Bavarian army corps, A great quantity of provisions and six guns were captured, The Federal Council has voted to reimburse to each native of Germany expelied from France the cost of his passage home, ENGLISH REPORTS. SPECIAL TELEGRAMS TO THE HERALD. A “Great Battle Going On?—Consternation in Paris. Lonpon, August 16—Evening. More reliable reports from the Vontinent state that the evacuation of Metz by the French was stayed by the advanced guard of the army of the Crown Prince of Prassia, Intelligence to hand from Verdun states that agreat battle is going on between the contending arinies. The silence which prevatis in France appears to Condrm the reports which are growating were of movement thought to be of capital importance must have been to a considerabie extent thwarted and im- poded by an attack for which it was not prepared. ‘The Emperor tells the Empress of the great losses of the enemy, but says nothing of his own, which, however, alter a four hours struggle with the sol- diers of Wissembourg, Forbacn and Froschweiler, are not likely to have been small, What ts the exact meaning of the repulse in the respective positions of the two armies? If the Germans had attacked Metz from their own side of the Moselle andbeen driven back the repulse would have been Intelligiole enough; but on the showing of the Emperor's despatch they unexpectedly got round in great force to that side of the river by which Marshal Bazaine meant to retire, and checked hia retreat, The further they were repulsed in that direction the further they were pushed upon Verdun, and the more likely they were, if reinforce- ments should come from Thionville, to prevent Marehal Bazaine from joining the Emperor and from going on to Chalons to protect him and the Prince Imperial. Some French papers call this the combat of Longevilie; but they have no other ground for this denominat.on than that the Emperor's despatch 1s dated from Longeville. The Emperor does not say he was at the fight, and probably he was not, The oMcial despatch from the Prefect of the Moselle states that the Emperor leit Longueville ts a village, only four kilometres from the left bank of the Moselle. La France assumes, but I should think incor rectly, that the Emperor, hearing the sound of cannon, came back and took part in the battle, All this has to be cleared up; but, according to pre- sent appearances, the Prussians have once more outgeneralled the French, If it were otherwise, and if @ really important advantage had been ob- tained, the deiatls promised by M. Chevreau would not fail to be published, but up to this time—seven o’clock—we are told no- thing more than that the corps d’armée of Generals Ladmirault and De Caen, two of the most eminent generals In the service, and Marshal Bazaine in person, took part in the engagement. ‘This shows that tho affulr was very important, but throws no light upon the strategical result. Specla. Wj rom Metz Friday evening:— tir some ane theré as been nothing but march- ing ae Nu poEmenohing, rhe ares DOrDe hap weal early the whole of Cay , arrived, and the eating feglanehth AWW eosssag ie evening. By to-morrow 200,000 men will be in Hae between Montigny les Sablons, Grigny and Herny. The soldiers, though complaining of useless fatigue, are full of ardor and impatient of the probibinon to fire on Prt jan scouts, ‘The Prussians occapy the whole country in front and use the Frencn railways to bring 2 troops. ‘The whole country has been abandoned to thein. ‘They occupy the villages and towns in parties of 100, and even twenty, It is believed here there 1s a comparatively small force opposite Metz, and that the main army Le gg in the rear of the French, General Frosgerd is reported to be under arrest. The soldiers are kept constantly in readiness, and are ordered not to take of their shoes, Thirty Prussian prisoners were brought in from Pont-a-Moussou last night, The railway was cut atthat point, but is now repaired. Four spies were taken to-day. The dragoons of the Sixth corps have just returned from a serious reconnolssance, THE CONDITION OF PARIS. Aspeclal correspondent from Paris writes Mon- day:— For the first time for years the 15th of August has not been celebrated. The good sense of Le people protested by anticipation agamst the usual acmonstrations, — though holding themselves ready, In the event of § victory, to enthusiastic. Moreover, yesterday Afternoon, in a remote quarter of La Villette, a sanguinary onslaught was made upon & it oc cupied by a company of fremen and an uumerciful fire opened upon the place. About four o'clock some forty individnals, armed with revolvers and poignards concealed, having marched down he Rue de Auvervilliers, suddenly drew up tn line in front of No, 156 Boulevard de la Villette and summoned the man op duty to surrender his post. The sentry, seeing them about to make a dash through the open door, placed himself across one of the group, drew a revolver and shot him dead. ‘The sergent de ville hearing the report rushed to ase certain the cause, and received @ bullet in the breast, above the heart, and fell dead, The occupants of the post rushed to the windows, but the assailants were drawn up in double line and sent a volley en masse and then rushed tuto the house and seized four chassepots and two cartriuge boxes. Having accomplished this murderous feat the band mude a precintiate retreat, shouting ‘treason’ and “Vive ja Republique.” A lieutenant named Colbrez was inside when the Loo came up. Soon as he saw the men he demanded their business, ‘The reply was a shout of “Vive la Republique.’ Tivo Neutenant then ordered his men to go in- side aud shut the door and load thelr guns. Seek- ing to galn ttme, he asked the groups what was the object of their demonstration, The leader, @ stall man, very Well dressed, answered, “We are goin to proclaim the republic, Give us your guns anc come with us to the Corps Légisiatif.” “Come, come,” sald the Heutenant, still aiming to. gain time, “are we soldiers? You knoW Wé don't fis upon the people. But it ts not our duty wo march with you. {[f you want to prociaim a republlo Just go on @ little further.” The leader of the baud answered: Q trick worth two of that, Hand us over your guns.”” “Never,” exclaimed the lieutenant. ‘Ten we shall take them,” was the rejoinder, At this moment the whole group drew out thelr revolvers aud (is. charged them. A sentinel fell dead. A COpg tal named Babou received three wounds. “Wo Know a Het aod qtaby Tne ileuienant was nor Iyured, “ihe report of the firearms brought Out thé people trom thetr houses, who rushed upon the band. These wretches then began to use their revolvers rigit aud left, and to stab Kage} one within reach, ‘The sergents de ville now appeared On the scene, sword in hand, and endeavoured to surround te madmen. One of them received a builet, and, having fallen, was trampled to death by the vand. A girl, 3x years old, was killed in her jpother’s LB. The fight now became general. Men were faliing right and left, others were ravning away, while others went in pursuit, The Cominiss of the Po.ice of the Rue Tangier now exclaimed, whu will follow me? Come on, citizens! Upon tis is rushed upon the rioters, who, having no more am- munition, and seelog themscives likely to be overpowered, immediately fled, followed. by the people, exclaiming, “They.” are Prussians! Kill them! Kill them?’ Besides two men kilied three police agents received several wounds. It 1s feared that many Inhabitants of the neighvoriood were injured. ‘he leader of the band was aimost Immediately apprehended. A tall, well dressed man was also arrested at night. He called himself an Englishman, but spoke with power and with a strong German accent. He held a number of goil sovereigns and gold Frederick pleces, Arrests have been made, including the originator of the plot. Paris being in a state of siege, this act comes nn- der the head of offences to be tried by military law. A military tribunal will sit’ this eveuing. It 19 next to certain that the men who have been taken red handed will have short shrift for their cowardly, wanton and pur- poseless attack. It is certatn that the republican party nas nothing to do with these atrocious raf ans. ‘he Emperor sent word of condolence in the evening to the mother of the child kiiled. All par- ties seem to concur that every considera- tion must give way to the necessities of the hour. the Ministry is desirous to be designated a ministry of action. They work unceas- ingly, The new Minister of War has done wonders- Within the last few days he has sent enormous rein- forcements to the front, and others are following rapidly. Munitions of war of all kinds and pro- visions are despatched as fast as trains can conve. them. The levy en masse proceeds now with Immense Boe. So close was the organization of the National Guard for this measure on so vast a@ scale that no adequate provision haa boen made, Routine would have probably accomplished the same operation in time, put the new War Mints- ter says, and the Minister of the Interior repeats, “If you cannot get uniforms go in blouses, shoes, Lie waistbelt and kept. Your ancestors ack fourteen aries aud had no shoes, se: bread. Dp ps they dd.) 2 ue MREE TY om 4 Corps 0 Be ire organized all over the omntry. Those he Vosges are Leginning to tor- fea the eliemy. 4 bh There is to be an immediate issue of twenty-five franc notes. Change for notes of even tifty franca 1s dificult to procure. One hundred franc notes useless for ordinary purposes. Lhe people here are bewtldered at the silence of the government. The Prussians have been steadily advancing, and are now within 81x how's of Parls—say twelve hours at the outside, : TY DEFENCE, for the defence of Paris are pro- gressing rapldiy. The beauttfui iron gateway at the entrance of Boils de Bolougne, at the end of we Avenue de l’imperatrice, is removed. Blocks of trees have been cut down, The wali of cir- cumvalotion is nearly finished, uniting tho two formerly open spaces, aula ix pierced with loopholes. The great ditch is dug across the road and a drawbridge {8 ready to be thrown across it. orks are also being thrown up in tof What were the gates, and will now be onty entrances guarded by sentinels instead of Custom House onicers, The big guns are being mounted and the little ones craftily conceaied in ugly little unsuspicious corners. Many of the par- riers are entirely closed, and the people turong the rainparts holiday-making and commenting upon the novelty of the thin, For ali their preparations an impression prevails that after a French victory, Which is looked npon as quite certain® the neutrals will Interfere and make peace and that Paris wont't be bombarded. THE BATTLE OF WorRTH. A special correspondent on Thursday from the headquarters of the Crown Prince sends an account of the battle at Woerth, thus:— The swift and sktifal movement against Weissem- burg, resulting !n the complete success of our arms, The preparati rt was but @ foretaste of the storm which threatened the northern art ft Alsace, On the second day after ‘elssemburg came the battle of Woerth, and the Crown Prince gained a great victory over the ablest general in the French army. Itis admitted that the French fought with reckless courage, and that they Inflicted heavy losses on their opponents; byt the fact of this hard fightt and of tnis heavy loss shows how serious a defeat was sustained by MacMahon. I traversed the little nel while the dead still tay unburied on the trampled grouad, and could form @ good idea-of how the fight had goue by the ghastly evidence which remained, Woerth is at the bottom of a fer'fle val- ley, between two ridges of cultivated ground. There 19 @ quantity of wooded In the neighborhood, and especially behind the French position, or on the western aside of the valley, there is a strip of forest, which forms @ cover for reek troops. The little river Bruden, not big enough In summer time to float a skiff, ows through the village, and a Mgh road comes winding down towards the vilage on the eastern side of the valley, Nanked by trees. Here was whe Prussian position, stretchin; far to the right and left. Aiong the row were heaps of spiked helmets to fe seen, and cartloade @f needieguns collected under the treea at @ distance. The French musketry hed told more heavily tan the Prussian, and I heard that the French artillery had been weil served. But, though the burying parties were busy with the German dead on the eastern side of the Metz at two yeateraay afternoon for Verdun. This evening. The Emperor's telegram from Longue- vie ig dated omy two hours lawn despatch Is dated Meta, ten minutes past we | Woerth, there was more than aa exchange of the slaughterous work on (he western side. Here the Prussians and Bavarians had pushed fo ward in strong foree, and thew fire bad told fea Suliy Upon toe Kreuch, The big ppult aud rigid ; fand, | In Seventh avenue, 3 disetp!ine of the one army had been more tian @ match for the desperate resistauce o° the other, Whole companies of Frenchmen had been mowed down in ther wild attom, to oheck the enemy's advance. It bad been a tolérably equal fight tn some places, for the ground was strewn with German dead; ut more and more Frenchmen had fallen In propor- tion. ‘The black Tarcos and Wide trowsers Zouaves lay thick at many points, and the Cuirassiors had suffered much. There was steel breastplates and brass helinets scattered thickly on the lime of the re- treat; while the dead horses in all directions might be counted by hundreds. And so westward through the Wood, went the traves of increasing disaster—om- cers and men lying grimly where y had fallen,’ some of them in quite shady spots, as though they Were picnicers asie-p, aud pools of blood where the wounded lay, SWITZERLAND. National Confidencs. DEANE, August 16, 1870. The Swiss corps of observation tus been dis banded, - ne AUSTRIA. No Tender of Meditation. VIENNA, August 16, 1870, Baron von Reust has publiciy dented any attempt on his part to mediate on the questions at issue be tween France and Prussia, GERMAN PATRIOTIC AID 8 CIETY. The Germans of the Firat ward heid a meetihg last evening at 130 Greenwich street to elect oMcers and effect an organization for the purpose of ex- tending aid to the soldiers and their families. The meeting was well attended, and the following oificers were elected :—Herman Schmidt, President ; Charles Helndorf, Secretary; Charles Scbulta, ‘Treasurer. It was resolved to appoint an execative committee of eight to collect subscriptions, and tbe Sore mutenss were named:—Chiistian Sehulta, John F. Biking, Jacob Werner, J. Wahrenberger, H. Bick Jr., G, Haase, H. Schmidt and 0. Hetadorf.. The gum of $168 was collected during the evening, and it was resolved to band it, with all future Collections, directly to the German Consul, The Fourth Ward Germans, Aregular meeting of the Fourth Ward German Patriotic Ald Association was held last evening as No. 449 Pearl street, Mr. William Wagner presiding, The collectors who Lad been appointed at a previ+ ous meeting made the following. returns:—Willtany Wagner, $265; Henry Dalvecher, $240; Frederlo! Wimmer, $60, and Joseph Klein, $60, making a tot: of $626, all of which was collected within two days, Some discussion took place regarding the nal dis- position of the money, and it was decided that is should be placed in the hands of the treasurer, Charles Hansen, with instrucitons to hand it over to the Central Committee, The collectors have met with great success so far in this ward, and they ex- pect to raise jarge amounts. Tke Ninth Ward Germans. A meeting of the Ninth Ward Patriotic Aid Assoel- ation was held last evening at No. 60 Greenwich avenue. The attendance was very large and the utmost enthusiasm prevatied, A large amount of money which oon collected «uring the week Was paid over to the treasarer, and alter transac ing some routine business the meetlag adjourucd, German Demonstration in St. Louis, Sr. Lovis, Angst 16, 1870, The mans of this city ure preparing for @ monster demonstration, in celebration of the vic- tories of the Prussian army, ‘The programme will Include a gramd proce: a festival at the Fair Cro ventent. pli All the German singing soctettes, bands of mus lother Gerwan organizations are expected to p ¢. AN the money received for rt festival ickets, &c., Wil be applied to the sanitary VALIDITY OF A MARRIAGE, An Erte Ratlway Eugincer Attempts to Dise card uw Woman With Whom He Lived Six Years. {From the Port Jervis (N. Y.) Gazette.) Alexander Gordon, proprietor of the Minisink: House, brought an action against Joseph 8. York, an enginecr onthe Erie Railway, to recover for the board of a woman and child, claimed on the art of the prosecution to be the wife and child of he defendant. Ltappears that York became ac- ah Bix ie ago, in Jersey City, ri Neill,a young woman residing in He paid his addresses to her for some time and finally promised to marry her. This pro- mise, York claiins, was never legally fulfilled, but they lived together as man and wite in New York until the middle of last January.. A child was born to them in the meantime, and, at the time stated, the defendant brought the woman and their child to Port Jervis, taking them to the house of his father. They lived there until the following April, when, on the 3d of that month, York, evidently ttred of the responsibllity im- posed upon him by the support of the woman and child, turned them into the street. Some of the engineers of the road, becoming acquainted with the fact of her desertion, they befriended her, and at their instance the unfortunate woman stopped atthe Minisink House and they tried to indoce York to provide for her wants. He refused to do anything for her and her child, and it was to re- cover the amount due to the proprietor of the hotel for their board that the suit was brought. Mr. Gordon claimed that this woman was in fact the wife of York, from the circumstances con- nected with their intercourse with each other, and from the fact that he had up to the time he turned her adrift acknowledged to the world that she was his wife by introducing her as such wherever they went. The prosecutor also claimed that having thus publicly acknowledged the marital re- lation, York is now bound to support and maintain the woman, and js liable for the amount of her in- debtedness to the hutel. Evidence of the most conflicting nature has been taken in the case. The defence labored to prove that Catharine O'Neill was a woman of loose habits, but it could not be proven that sh: had not borne an irreproachable character up to the time York became acquainted with hor. Justice Ducher decided the case in favor of the plainsilf Gordon, awarding him the amount gued for with costs, The Justice claimed that al- though there had been no marriage ceremony per- formed, the living and cohabiting together of the parties, and the acknowledgment on the part of the defendant of Miss O'Neill as his wife, preceded by repeated promises of marriage in the presence of respectable witnesses, made him responsible for all claims agai -* A ROUGH TRIES TO EAT A POLICEMAN. : Corktown, in the netghburhood of West Brighton, S.L, Was the scene of a desperate und brutal en- counter yesterday. Patrick Kelly, who has long been known as arough character, broke outopa spree after fourteen montis’ sober and decent con- duct, aug when bali mad with Staten Island whiskey went fo the residence of his brother-in-law, Squire Powers, ana commenced tearing up the fences, flower beds and the Squtve’s pet melons and fruit. Remonstrance was useless, so the atd of the police was invoked and officer Lyons ap- peared on the scene. Being well acquainted with Kelly Lyons at first attempted to pacify hun and jead him quietiy away, but Kelly showed tight and @ tussle ensued, in the course of which the officer had bis cheek badly bitten and Kelly got clubbed on the head, He was at dength taken before Justice Kilpatrick, by Whom he was, at the solicitauon of Squire Powers, bound over to.keep the peace, and on the gn of chawing up the poilceman was heid in $200 pall to awall examination. Justice Kilpat rick is much censured for the course he has en, in the matter, but he finds many precedents an his own court) for acting 80 leniently towards the Toughs of West Brighton. i “THE GRAND PARK ROT. Hugh Reilly and John Burns, alleged ringleaders in the riot occusring at Grand Park, Westchester county, were arrested at that place yesterday, on warrants issued by Justice Lyon,.of Mamaroneck, and subsequently committed to the county jail 4 ‘aitthe action of the Grand Jury. It is alleg that the acct parties entered the cellar of thetr employer, Andrew Nelle a on last Friday even- le ing, expect! wo themselves with unlimted quanuty of wines and liquors. ‘ailing to discover th they commenced an indiscriminate smashing of nearly everything with- in thelr reach, and after leavin; cellar wantonly destroyed @ number of gasollpe lamps on some of the avenues in Grand Park, ey then proceeded to the quarters occupied by the jane and warned some Of the latter to cease work and quit the Frounds, at the same time threatening them with Aily injury if they failed to comply. The county authorities appear determined to thoroughly inves- tigate the cause of the riot, with the view to dealin rigorously with the Inatigators thereof. To this en anumber of warrants haye been issued for the arrest of those Who took an active part in the dis- graceful attra: ne STABBED IN A STREET FIGHT. At nine o'clock last evening, during a street fight near Forty-second street, be- uand John Fogerty, whose rest tween Thomas No! dences the po to record, the former wart siightly stabbed fleshy part of K witha peuknite In the hand of the rested. The wound w reeeed euepg aRd (he mau sroceeded Lome,