NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE storm clouds have been rolling together during the week, but up to Friday evening they bad not burst, though they are said to be bursting. The French Govern- ment has forbidden correspondents to join its armies, and the Prussian Government, though it has sanctioned their pre- sence, has imposed silence for the hour. Enough is known, how- ever, to assure the world that two immense armies—a French one exceeding 300,000 men, and a German one exceeding 400,000 men —are opposed to each other in the Valley of the Saar, and have commenced the great movement which must end in battle. Count Bismarck announced on Tuesday through his semi-official litho- graphed sheet that all was ready, and that " German territory would be spared the direct inconvenience and burdens of war operations ;" while the Emperor of the French quitted St. Cloud on Thursday for Metz. The German announcement points to a policy of invasion, and we incline to believe that Baron von Moltke, whose intern, gence department is splendidly served, will succeed in securing the initiative. If he does, the battle ought to rage around St. Avoid ; if he does not, its centre should be Sarrelouis. The active commandant on the German aide will be Prince Frederick Charles; on the French, the Duke de Magenta, Marshal MacMahon.
