Another and very considerable battle has been fought before Metz,
and was witnessed by the excellent correspondent of the Daily News at Maizieres. On the morning of October 7, Bazaine, taking advantage of a deep fog, made a false attempt on Ladon- champ, and a real one on the villages to the north, trusting to open communications with Thionville. The attack was splendidly made, the Germans for once were surprised, and but for the splendid courage of the 58th, Landwehr, which set its back to the wall, refused to retreat, and perished almost to a man, the movement might have succeeded. As it was, time was gained, the supports came up, and the French were, by repeated desperate bayonet charges, driven in again within their lines. They fought, says the correspondent, "like devils," and used the mitrailleuse with effect; but the superior individual strength of the Germans tells heavily in a bayonet charge, and the French line bent like indiarubber before the shock.
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