THE IMPENDING BATTLE.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2305, 26 September 1870, Page 2

THE IMPENDING BATTLE.

From both sides, the reports indicate concentration for a great ha*tie near Metz. The Emperor has assigned Marshal Bazaine to the chief command, doubtless because his ill health unfits him for the present exigency, as it has perhaps hitherto caused a fatal delay and vacillation. The preparations to defend Paris, and the general call to arms, indicate that the Prussians arc believed fo be approaching Metz in superior force. This is a surprising fact, if true ; but the German accounts tend to confirm it. The Prussia) s boast of having 800,01)1) men in the field j and it is scarcely possible that the French have yet brought more than 500,000 into active service. In fact, we. have only heard of eight corps of the French ; and 50,000 to the corps would he a large estimate. Still there must be at least five corps available for the battle at Metz, including the Imperial Guard, none of which have yet h n en in action. These will number in all 200,000 and perhaps 250,000. Besides these, the two corps of MeMabcn will apparently be brought across the mountains by railroad. They were last heaid from at Saverne on the railroad, 20 mihs west of Hngenau, and as far from Strasburg, and SO miles from V’ctz by way of Nancy, Of course, the Prince Royal cannot prevent their going thither without using a stiii[ larger force for the purpose, and he, too, is apparently finding his way back towards the frontier. At Hagcnau ho -would bo onlj r 52 miles from Saarbruck, or 40 miles from Sarguemines, wheri ho could faT into line with the grand army. The French corps at Bitcbe we have lost sight of. It may have joined McMahon when he was at Worth (17 miles) or when he fell back t) Niederbronu, only 11 miles cast. It was probably in the tight, and the corps at Belfort was not. Tlure appears, therefore, no impossibility of bringing what is left of thesa three corps into junction at Metz, thereby adding from 70,000 to 100,000. This would leave the Rhine valley pretty well stripped of both French and Prussians. We estimate the total French forces, therefore, at 270,000 to 350.000; and it is quite impossible to say that it may not be 100,000 larger still, though it can scarcely be less than 250,000, The Prussian force is still mors difficult to estimate. The Prince Royal apparently had a force of 100,000 with which he overthrew the isolated right wing of the French. It will be noticed that the Prussians have been mostly massed behind the frontier from Saarbruck to the Rhine 67 miles, while the main bo ly of the French were behind the 33 mdes of frontier west of Saarbruck, and separated from M‘Mahon by the Vosges mountains. In such a situation, it was imperative upon the Emperor to move and occupy the Prussians, or to withdraw M‘Mahon out of reach. Instead of this, the latter rushed forward to meet the blow, while the Emperor tm vaeditating and content with a mere reoon. uoissanec in force at Saarbruck. The consequence is that the Prussians can now concentrate t'.oir who’e forces upouM'tz, while three and perhaps four corps of the French have been more or ‘less shattered. Considering the number of troops detached on the c ast and elsewhere, we may estimate that the Prussians have had at least 20Q,000 on the border, between Saarbruck and the Moselle, or within 50 to 100 miles of it by raiload, at Bingen, Mayencc and Mannheim, Another 100,000 is added by the Prince I’oyal’s army ; and possibly another 100,000 or 200,000 may be poured into the light. We should judge, however, that 400.000 would be an extreme limit, and that 300,000 is the more probable. At the smallest estimate there will be more on either side than any of the genera's has ever handled on the battle-field ; and the result of such a battle would be beyond human foresight, even if wo knew the exact numbess and position of each army. From the distances above given, readers may judge of the time necessary for the combatants to close. From the border to Metz, the distances vary frapp 30 to 47 milejj. ju the Saarbruck battle the Prussians pushed on to Forbaeh, hvc miles. Whether they have rcaly advanced on the Moselle Ihionville is not yet continued.