THE WAR IN EUROPE.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 713, 20 September 1870, Page 2

THE WAR IN EUROPE.

THE NEWS by the SAN FRANCISCO MAIL. By the arrival of the steamer Murray we have American and English papers brought by the San Francisco mail. The following are some of the details of the events of the war which have already been reported by telegraph : THE BATTLES OF SAARBRUCKEN. According to the French account, the troops passed the frontier at eldven o'clock. They encountered the Prussians Btrongly posted on the heights commanding Saarbrucken, which were carried by a few battalions. The capture of the town instantly followed, the artillery compelling the Prussians to evacuate it in great haste. The buildings in Saarbrucken caught fire from the French artillery, and half the town was destroyed.

The Prussian Government furnishes the following account, more in detail, of the affair at daarbrucken:—" A feeble garrison held Saarbrucken until the French deployed and advanced in three columns. The Prussians then retired to a position north of the town, to observe the enemy. In spite of the free use by the French of the Mitrailleur artillery and Chassepots, our losses were only two officers and 70 men. The loss of the French appeared more serious. Our troops were admirably cool. The fight at Saarbrucken lasted six hours, and on both sides 600 men were placed hors de combat."

A correspondent, endorsed by the " Times " as trustworthy and neutral, says the French made some prisoners, but captured no cannon. They lost forty killed and sixty wounded. The French force in the battle is estimated at 30,000, and the Prussians at only 6000. The artillery won the fight. There was but little infantry, and no cavalry engaged. Three companies of the Prussian 40th held their ground against the French until the latter s force had fully developed its strength. The Prussians then retired.

On August 6th, the town of Saai*brucken was retaken by the First Prussian Army Corps, unaer General Steinemetz.

Prussian despatches from army headquarters say the result of this battle was more important than at first supposed. Frossard's corps was dispersed, and the entire division was taken. Prisoners, by thousands, were taken ; Lumbers surrendered, and the French loss must be immense. Their forces have disappeared from all points in front; none can be seen beyond patrols who are within gunshot of Metz.

THE BATTLE OF WEISSENBUBG. The following despatch was received at Berlin on August sth:—" We have won a brilliant but bloody victory. The loft wing was the attacking body ; it consisted of the Fifth and Eleventh Prussian Corps, with the Second Bavarian. This force carried by an assault, under the eyes of the Prince Eoyal, the fortress of Weissenburg and Grisburg. Douay's Division of Marshal M'Mahon's corps was splendidly defeated, being driven from its camp. General Douay himself was killed, and 500 prisoners were taken. None of them were wounded. Many of the Turcos were among the captured. The Prussian General Kirschbach was slightly wounded. The Eoyal Grenadiers and the Fifth Eegiment of the Line suffered heavy losses.', The Prussians captured one cannon. The Prussian commander, Kirschbach, was slightly wounded. A special correspondent, writing from Berlin, says: Further despatches from our correspondent say, respecting the engagement at Weissenburg, that the two regiments which suffered the most severely in attacking the town, behind the hill, with the bayonet, were the King's own Grenadiers and the 15th Fusiliers, the one recruiting in Dantzic, and the other in Lignitz, Silesia. They are good troops, of General Von Steinmetz's own training, but yet are not the best of the Prussian army. The bayonet attack of the Brandeburgers and the Pomeranians mean yet a different thing. The regiments of the Eleventh Army Corps, recruited in the former Electo-

rate, iu Nassau and Frankfort, cooperated with the regiments abovenamed, and thus, for the first time, fought as Prussian soldiers. As nothing is stated about their losses, it would appear as if care was taken not to expose them too much the first time. The remainder were Bavarian regiments of the Second Bavarian Army Corps irom Franconia and from the Palatinate itself.

THE GREAT BATTLE OP HAGENATJ. A. great battle was fought near Woerth, on the 6th August, commencing at daylight and lasting till dark. The Prussians were victorious and the French army fell back in disorder. The official report of the victory of the Crown Prince is as follows : —" A victorious battle has been fought near Woerth. M'Mahon was totally defeated. The battle was fought by the larger portion of my command. The French retired upon Bitche."

King William sends the following despatch to the Queen: —Good news ! A great victory has been won by our Fritz. God be praised for his mercy. We have captured 4 000 prisoners, 30 guns, 2 standards,and 6 mitrailieurs. M'Mahon, during the fight, was heavily reinforced from the main army. The contest was very severe, and lasted from eleven in the morning till nine at night, when the French retreated, leaving the field to us. Our losses are heavy."

Napoleon's despatch was : —" Metz, 6th August. Midnight. Marshal M'Mahon bas lost a battle. General Frossard, on the Saar, has been obliged to retreat. His retreat was effected in good order. All can be retrieved. My communications have been interrupted with Marshal M'Mahon. I am going to place myself in the centre of the position." The French Major-Q-eneral's account was : —" After a series of engagements in which the enemy brought a heavy force into the field, Marshal M'Mahon was forced to fall back from his first line. The corps of General Frossard had to fight yesterday from 2 p.m., with an entire army of the enemy. Having held his position until 6 p.m., he ordered a retreat, which was made in good order."

One account is that the losses of the French in the battle were 5,000 dead, wounded, and missing, and 6,000 prisoners. M'Mahon's baggage, many cannons, and two long railroad-trains, with stores and munitions of war, were captured. The Prussian cavalry, in their pursuit, captured thousands of stragglers who had thrown away their arms. The total Prussian loss was 3,500 dead and wounded. The loss of eagles is denied by the French official Press. The action was severe. A position at which the French endeavoured to make astand during theretreat was carried by thePrussiansat the point of the bayonet. All the members of the staff of M'Mahon were killed or wounded in the battle of Biachwiller. Colonel Grammont, brother of the ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs, lost an arm; Colonel Absek was mortally wounded ; Colonel Espenilles, aide to the Prince Imperial, has disappeared; Count Vogue Septend, and others, were among the killed. THE POSITION ON AUGUST 10—METZ AND STBA.SBOUEGSUREOUNDED. On August 7th information reached London that the defeat of M'Mahon was complete, and that the Crown Prince had advanced to Hagenau, and captured the place, routing the French. M'Mahon was supposed to have fallen back from Bitche and Hagenau towards Metz and Nancy. The Prussian troops were advancing on Metz.

A despatch from Carlsruhe on the 10th states that Strasbourg was surrounded by 60,000 troops, mostly South Germans, and must surrender, as the garrison numbers only 7000. The advance of the Prussians from Saarlouis, and Treves had commenced ; it is supposed that Prince Frederick Charles was in command, and that an immediate attack would be made on the French.

The following important news was telegraphed to the Editor of the " Alta," on the morning of the 11th instant, the day the Ajax sailed from San Francisco: —" Metz is surrounded by the Prussians, and the capture of the entire French army is expected." The French continue concentrating on the road to Paris, and all that region was in a state of siege." INCIDENTS -OF THE WAE. The London German Committee have already received a subscription of £25,000 for the wounded. British ports are rapidly filling with North German vessels, anxious to escape French cruisers. The French squadron is cruising off Thurso, Scotland, to meet German vessels passing through the Pentland Firth. The feeling in Berlin against England is most intense, and seems to be shared by people of all classes. The press is unsparing in its attacks on England. A journal says England evidently wants another Alabama question. In the House of Commons, Mr Louthe called atttention to the shipment of horses to the continent, chiefly Germany. Fifteen thousand were shipped daily, and he feared horses would soon become scarce. Cardwell admitted the fact, but saw no legal means to prevent it.

The Catholic clergy of Limerick are preparing for a grand demonstration in favor of France. It is probable the Government will take measures to prevent the movement. It is reported that England will send two frigates to the Tiber, to protect the Pope. Advices from Borne represent that the Jesuits are endeavoring to induce the Pope to remove to Malta. Collisions between the German and French soldiers in the Papal service are of constant occurrence. The Papal Committees in France, Ireland, Holland, and Belgium are making great efforts to raise recruits for the Pontificial service. Bismarck, before leaving Berlin, was asked whether, if successful, Germany ought not to insist on Napoleon'B abdication. He replied : " No; Germany can only fight for German subjects, not for French." One telegram states that the Prince Imperial of France has arrived in London, and is at the French Legation in charge of W. F. Smith, the Empress's confidential agent. According to the " Pall Mall Gazette "the Empress Eugenie was preparing for flight. Lafrene, editor of the " Soir," says he witnessed the entire destruction of Frossard's corps, and he claims to speak for 30,000 French soldiers who were cut to pieces by the fault of their leaders and who lamented, with their last cry, that they fell uselessly. A number of French newspaper correspondents, who arrived to-day, are wounded. In their accounts of the battle, they testify to the wonderful bravery of the French troops, and particularly the African Corps, who fought for eight hours incessantly against ovrepowering odds.