The Sun. — London, England, 1870-08-30 00:00:00

rash- ries, a Is the —The The investment of Longwy is denied. The head-quarters of MacMahon are at Sedan PRUSSIANS. MACNIAHON REINFORCED WITH 50,000 MEN. THE KING MARCHING ON PARIS. AT RHEIMS. REMOVAL OF GOVERNMENT FROM PARIS. PARIS, AUG. 29 (Evening.) The French army left Vouziers yesterday, it is believed, in the direction of Rethel. The Prussians arrived at Vouziers very shortly afterwards, after burning the village of Falaize. The Prince Imperial was sent to Sedan yesterday. MacMahon's strength is estimated at 180,000 ten, and Bazaine's at 100,000 men. The 13th Army Corps of about 50,000 men has been despatched to MacMahon from Paris yester day: The Army of Prince Frederick Charles is esti fnated at 100,000, that of Steinmetz at 120,000, and the Army of the Crown Prince at 150,000 men. 11 , Mahou is now operating against the armies of Prince Frederick Char:es and of Steinmetz. He hopes to join Bazaine and to strike a decisive blow befor e the Crown Prince comes up. It is stated that he has 48 hours' start of the Crown Prince. I \l 4 l\fahon's troops are represented to be well .61 1pplied. Great preparations for the reception of 'the wounded are being made at Charleville. Inter tational ambulances placed all means of transport as readiness at Sedan. It is affirmed that King William, with an impor tant force, is still marching on Paris by the Upper - Rhine and Meuse. Prussian Uhlans were seen still advancing in the department of the Aube yesterday. They avoid large towns. The Prussians are in great force between the Verle and Marne, and before Rheims. The railway co mmunication is almost entirely interrupted around Rheims, and the Laon line alone is free. A. detachment of Prussians occupies Foiriville, and they guard the banks of the river Suippe for a distance of forty kilometres. 40,000 people entered Paris on Saturday from the surrounding country. It is stated that the Government has decided to remove the Ministries of War and of the Interior from Paris. THE BOMBARDMENT OF STRASBURG. CARLSRUHE, AUGUST 29 (EVENING.) The official Carlsruhe Gazette contains the following : "The Bishop of Strasburg has made an attempt at mediation. He came from Strasburg to Schiltigheim, Where the Baden Staff Commander, Lieutenant- Colonel Leszinsky conferred with him. "The Bishop argued that the bombardment was contrary to the usages of warfare. This was denied, and he then asked that the in habitants of Strasburg should be allowed 1 3 0 . leave th e t own. This request was refused, and the 'shop finally asked for an armistice of 24 hours, which was agreed to on con diti on that after the ' 4 1 3 8e of an hour the Governor of Strasburg should announce a desire to negotiate. The Governor was t a , t the sam e t i me requested to take note that prepara -I?ns for a tt ac ki ng the town would be made. On ,L ' leu tenant-Colonel Leszinsky' s re t urn , a l t h ough he :lizself carried a fl a g o f truce, a regular file fire was jetted upon him, and the flag was riddled w ith " Ike attempt at mediation was unsuccessful, and 1, b ombardment was continued with slight inter _,ions. G uns of heavy calibre are now brought "'lto position.' IMPORTANT CAVALRY ENGAGEMENT. GERMAN OFFICIAL ,kCCOUNT. CLERMONT, AUG. 28. b et Yesterday a b r illia n t engagement too k place w een Voupier es an d B eaumon t b e t ween Saxon - .,, 11(1 Fren c h cava l ry. T he 12th Regiment of French t 'llass eurs was di s p er s e d, an d a l most ann i h i lated. w lent enant- Colon e l L a p or t e an d many ot h er wounded Were taken prisoners by us. A IZCIYA,L HEADQUARTERS, AUGUS T 28 . etar 4-1- v ictorious engagement was fought yesterday Oh n usaney, b e t ween s i x F rench squadrons of ass eurs and th e 3 r d S axon Cavalry Regiment, t i tP°rted by a squa d ron of the Ist Regiment of co 'ans and the " lzwinker" Battery. The French 11 ',. w ander w as woun d ed and taken prisoner. 27 1 t The Times correspondent telegraphs that on the five German squadrons and one battery routed tl~ e i r ench sq ua d rons near Buzancy, Department of A r r dennes. Th e G ermans b elonged to the Fourth eon% scouring North-Western France to prevent allruluication between MacMahon and Bazaine.] NE WS OF MACMAHON AND BAZAINE. OFFICIAL PRUSSIAN DESPATCII. CLERMONT, A utflusT 28. d,All the i n t e l l i gence published in Paris as coming ect and Icy telegraph front Marshal B aza i ne is til teiaz.ufaett.treci in Paris, for Marshal Ba za i ne h as no c ommunication with Paris, and any mes ;gea ma y send wou ld h ave to ma k e fully a d ay's Journey from Metz to the first French tele graph station. EMPEROR SIIUT UP IN MfaZ. OFFICIAL PRUSSIAN DESPATCH, A rn tno BAR-LE-D.UC, AUG. 28. ur is Current th at the I , _:roperor Napoleon EVENING EDITION. SUN OFFICE, 2.15 P.M. LAT EST INTELLIGENC E. DISMISSAL OF THE MAYOR OF EPERNAY„ PARIS, AUG. 30. The Official Journal of this morning announces the dithnissal of the Mayo . '. of Epernay, who ordered ttleieitizegs 'not 'to opp o se the Prussians. A despatch has been received from Schelestadt, which states that for the last two days a very severe bombardment thas been kept up against Strasburg. Judgment has been passed on the prisoners im plicated in the affair at La Villette. Eudes and Prideaux have been condemned fo death, Lagar rieu to ten years at the galleys, and Mordacq to five years' imprisonment. ARLON, AUG. 30: The battle reported to have taken place on Sun day between Dun and Stenay was an engagement without any importance. BURNINGOF FALAIZE BY THE PRUSSIANS IN GREAT FORCE and Virgil. re now BP' ,re already dyssey" of ia,t sciencef 3nts of the ad for the .s, we have r Trollops In the done into i classic succinctl33 qn SIIG Drgics, ADS at, in one poem sug ilius Maro 1 verses of g only just scorn for iet's more, Anthony f English. from the Lure of our t of vieiY, T be quite vhich Mr. •d it. In rith a:verY tut nu//us. Eiere drop ether. It o to say at. Two esar, and of his etatorship 6s ever its ,rs before orn. He f Rome— rius, who , ling him kith and r swept' 17 Caesar' a, he had stor, and: Pontife% 'rwtor in abstained he would t 41, he the dig,- e rise of rapidity. Ind Con- ession of tuthoritY Al 34 he awned as the iron his reig" li his in- e leading, me after ing another f West- Naples, .e. 11° world's was a as Lord , s a poet i grand° L i m per- Charles eve him atest of brought ibal—it a ques' er than on as — dubbed public Pears of he ex r. Tie ivalled, Trol )on the )upling ;h such ox and absurd .in the Caesar is paid luiring could !rasa r, has £)pears to be coot:l.mM by am fact, thfit for sere: al days nothing has been heard of his Mjeity. 113 L Up 4.1 " i ,1 GENERALS FROSSARD AND BOURBAKL "Of'F'ldlA BERIAN, AUGUST 20, 2 P.l. According to the latest advises from the seat of war, the French Generals Frois:strd and Bourbaiki are said to be wounded. THE PRUSSIANS AT RHEIMS. PA ISIS, A rousT The Prince Imperial arrive.' at Mezierei on Saturday afternoon. The Emperor was also exptcted there from Poix. Two Prussian army corps, each about 12,000 strong, held positions oh Saturday ou the heights near Rheims. • T.t is believed that the Prussians have 100,000 between Epernay and Rheims. Preparations are being made for a vigorous defence of the latter place. Letters from Rheims complain that the discipline of the French troops is becdluin somewhat relaxed, and that there Were a great number of stragglers When on the march. A foeign legion is foriming at / fours. Preparations to resist the Prussian advance are being made within a circuit of 80 to 40 leagres from Pltris. The detached forts are supplied with 800 rounds of ammunition. Immense qua.itities of provisions of all kinds are continually' arriving in Paris, and the distribution of arms is proceeding on a large scale. THE GUARD MOBILE. PRUSSIAN OFFICIAL ACCOUNT. BAR-LE-DUC, AUGUST 26.* Yesterday, about 800 of the Guard Mobile and a certain quantity of booty were captured by our troops at St. Menchould, From this experience it may be seen that these men are not very dangerous to our troops. * This telegram arrived in London at 4.15 p.m., August 29, BELGIAN NEUTRALITY. BRUSSELS, AUGUST 28. The Etoile Belg of to-day publishes the fellowibg in reference to the neutrality of Belgium :—" We said in our number of Thursday that in case of an attack being Made upon Givet, a French town on the Meuse, situated within gunshot distance of the Belgian frontier, our Belgian army ought to ap proach the frontier in order to repel, should it be necessary, all violation of our territory. We learn to-day that such a movement has been made since yesterday. Many troops of the garrisons of the interior • have reeeived orders to proceed towards the valley bf the Meuse to reinforce the Army of Obeervation, and it is esti mated that about 50 ; 000 men are concentrated at that point. As We have remarked, Givet is situated on a point which forms a narrow and deep indenta tion in our territory, and if one or other of the belli gerent corps d'armeCe should be there driven back, the situation would certainly be a very delicate one for our army, because penned up in that wilier, the belligerents might be tempted to fall back i❑ the direction of Charlemont and Phillipsville in order to regain the French territory at another point. Now, in such a case it would be impois Bible for our army to hesitate in the face of the instructions it has received, hod it would immediately commence hostilities to guarantee our territory from every attack. That is a law which will be imposed upon us by the conditions of neutrality in which we are placed." THE BELGIAN ARMY OF OBSERVATION. BRUSSELS, AtiGU3l' 29 (EVENING). The Belgian Army of Observation is concentrated on the extreme limit of the Belgian territory on the Luxembourg frontier. The greater part of the garri son of Brussels is about to leave to join the Army of Observation, and the advanced guard left to-day. THE PARIS BOURSE. PARIS, AUGUST 29, 3,30 P.m. A slightly firmer tone prevailed to-day on the Bourse. Rentes closed at 59.15, or 40c. higher than on Saturday. (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) BPAIN. MADRID, AUG. 29. Several bands of Carlists have been defeated. The Governor of the Basque Provinces attributes the movement to the sermons of the clergy, and he has issued a proclamation announcing that all persons taken with arms in their hands will be shot. He also threatens that the population of those places where disorders may arise will be compelled to pay the expenses of the measures which may be incurred in putting them down. PORTUGAL. LISBON, AUGUST 30. The Marquis Sa, to whom have been joined the Bishop of Vizen and Senhor Carlos Bento, has been commissioned to form a Cabinet. Marshal Saldanha has been appointed Ambassador to he Court of St. James. CHINA. •SHANGHAI, AUGUST 4. Advices from Tientsin state that the foreign officials are awaiting instructions from Europe in reference to their future action. Meantime much evidence is being collected, but no decisive steps have as yet been taken to bring the perpetrators of the massacre to justice. Mr. Wade, the British Minister, has visited Tienstin. It is reported that Tseng Iwo-fan, the Governor of Chihli, has written a letter to Chung-how, the superin tendent of trade for the three northern ports, and the Governor of Tientsin expressing his belief in the inno cence of the missionaries, and that the magistrates were guilty of not restraining the outbreak. No further attack is reported. INDIA. (By British Indian Submarine Cable.) BOMBAY, AUGUST 29. Mr. Donald McLeod starts for England on the 25th o; September. The ship Richmond has gone ashore near Kurrachee. [The Times' correspondent at Calcutta telegraphs that Mr. Justice Norman, in asserting his right to issue a writ of habeas corpus outside Calcutta in the case of natives, refused an application from the Whahabee prisoner. The judge decided that the Indian Legislature had power to pass the State Prisoners Acts of 1818 and 1858. The Viceroy has the same power as Parliament, when it sus pends habeas corpus. Mr. Anstey asked for his client's discharge under a writ of mainprise.] (CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAMS.) PURSUIT OF GERMAN MERCHANTMEN. The Yarmouth correspondent of the Central Press telegraphs that two German merchant vessels have put into Yarmouth Roads for safety, having been hotly pur sued by a large French ironclad. The . French ship remains outside the sands on the watch. ANOTHER PRUSSIAN REFUGEE. A Prussian schooner of large dimensions put into Lough Swilly yesterday. She is bound from the Brazils to Hamburg, and has taken refuge in Lough Swilly from the pursuit of a French frigate now waiting for her out side Ennishowen Head. IRISH SYMPATHY WITH FRANCE. Upwards of 30 persons have been summoned by the police for forming part of a riotous mob, on the occasion of the demonstration in favour of the French, recently held in Carrick-on-Suir, Tipperary. An enthusiastic meeting was held at Carlow on Sunday evening to express sympathy with France. A committee was formed for the purpose of collecting funds in aid of the French wounded. The war fever is very high, and ttiv, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, AUGUST 30. itiio WITH, MAUMAIWA 5 All3ll The following letter, dated llethel, August 2.5, is box the.SPetial do&dsql(fildent, s of the 2'er f iviii74=- ," The (lie is cast ! The veil Ivhich has itirionilderi MarMahon'a :nevem 'tits has been suddenly torn away: We are gyi»i, post-haste tewards the North to effect our junction with tile a nny I a rsb Bazaine, and united to give battle to the ern•ly itl ti.e gorth wherever we may meet it. I.'os,ihly by the time this letter reaches London, you will ha. e beard ef the 'most momentoui battle a yet' fought daring this bloody war. Whether. the French will secceed in so thoroughly defeating the German army in the forth as to he able to wheel round and follow the great masses under the command of the Kin: and Crown Prince, ie one of those hazardous problems which no mortal can solve, however favotiMbly he may be impressed i with the actual state of ANN ininiediately sarrotindhigliiva. Add there is no doubt about the . !lent spirit and efficiency of the army under the coiumnand of MacMahon. It consists of the Ist, sth, 7th, and 12th Army Corps and the eavalry of the 6th (Canrobert's). The general impression, lam forced to tell you, is that the bold and hiejily dangerous move will be attended with complete success. But why should I enlarge further upon speculations, or enter deeper into the region of anticipations ? You will know perhaps ere toil! to that extent facts have realised theft!: Let the rather girt! Ybn Et short hceoulit ef our ovemeuts since we suddenly left Chalons, and of the conditions of other corps of time French army as far as I have been able to gather them from trustworthy reports. You will have learnt by telegraph tint, after leaving the camp of Chalons, everything was destroyed by order of the Marshal, and the beautiful little Imperial villa has been since the sport of vagabonds who have helped themselves to every available article, destreying all they could not possibly take away. Chalons . itself is a deserted place, hoW occupied by rrussiau dragoons. The rapidity and order with which the French effected their march from the camp to Rheims, and thence to Bethel, at present the head-quarters, are beyond praise. It is truly astonishing how these large masses of troops have been set in motion, moved, and concentrated within a space of forty-eight hours. On Saturday they were encamped at Chalons. On Monday no vestige of them was to be teeetv : ; they were • then already ih ltheintsi or Pticaneped in the neighbour hood of the town: The morning ftillowing the old Kaieerstadt had. resumed its usual quiet appearance; the whole of the army had left .on its march to Bethel, where we arrived about two o'clock in time afternoon, wet through, and with an appetite which twenty four hours' fasting can only adequately describe. I was glad of anything dry bread and a tumbler of wine. The troops bivouacked round the town. The Emperor and Prince Imperial are with the army, which has commenced its onward march towards the north. I have been unable to ascertain the exact place we are bound for ; but I anticipate that our movements are in the direction of Stenay, on the river Meuse, vid Vouziers. However, lam not in a position to give you any positive intelligence in that respect, since I also hear that our destiny is to be Mezires. It is very probable that infantry may be moved by rail via 111,zieres, while the cavalry and artillery will take the road above indicated." Writing from Nazianes, on the 2Gtls inst., the same cor respondent says : -" On my arrival here I found the place in. a state of active commotion. Thu fortifications have been stren.;thened by felling trees and tying them strongly together on the ground. Rews frond Carignan, which is a town situated on the railway line between Sedan and Montmedy, told us of the presence of Prussians at 'Lamouilly, the second station, and fifteen kilometres from Carignan. We started upon a locomotive offered.us by the station-master, in company of this functionary.. At the first station the news was confirmed ; and, arrived at Lamouilly, a party of Uhians, who were before us, cried out to us to stop, as they had come to cut th 6 li re. The tall t)as f.e4 over a tvoodeti bridge in the midst. of the village: Thiiy had endeavoured to burn it, but had not succeeded. These; Uhlans are said to form part of a detachment number ing from twelve to fifteen hundred, who, it appears, occupy, just now the heights between Stenay and Mouzay to the north of the Meuie department on the way from Se dan to Verdun. I am informed on credible authority that the army of General Steinmetz is at this moment near Stenay, endeavouring to join that of the Crown Prince in passing by Monson. The general belief is that this junction will meet with serious obstacles, and will probably be the result of a great battle, thus confirming my assumption. contained in my letter of yesterday. At Montm6dy the gates remain closed even at daytime, and no one, I hear, can go farther into the town than military organisation permits. The Montmedians do not relish the war, and numbers have flocked and continue to flock to Belgium. It is said that the women have the highest courage ; two thousand Gardes Mobiles, high-spirited young fellows, who are camped on the ramparts, are also resolved to fight to the last." Another correspondent, writing from the same place on the 26th, says :—" Since Sunday last I have been con stantly travelling, and to-night I hope to join MacMahott's army, which is at some place within Rethel and Stenay, where, as far as I can learn, there is likely to be a great lTattle in a day a tivo; as 1r hm informed that Bazaine and MacMahon succeeded in joining their forced last night. lam trying to keep my communications open with the Belgian frontier, so that I may be able to send you a telegram of the battle as soon as it is over. From information which I have been able to collect while moving through the country as fast as possible, I should be taking a sanguine view if I were to say that the im mediate prospect of this particular contest is a very hope ful one for France." The correspondent of the Standard gives, writing from Alontmedy, the following account of the composition of 13azaine's and Maar:lloll's armies :—Bazaine has under his immediate command the 2nd Corps (Frossard's), so crue!ly decimated at Forbach, but since well re organised; the 3rd Corps, with General Decaen for com mander, which corps, with one of Frossard's, specially distinguished themselves on the days of the 14th and 16th ; the 4th Corps (Ladmirault's), engaged on the 16th and 18th ; the 6th Corps (Canrobert's), which so bravely fought on the 18th, composed of new and old troops; the Imperial Guard, partially engaged on the 14th, also fought on the 16th and 18th. You will see by this recapitulation that, notwithstanding its losses, the army of Bazaine must be very strong yet. On the 21st the army under Marshal MacMahon was composed of the Ist Corps, perfectly' reor ganised since Froeschwiller ; sth Corps, de Failly, which had fully rejoined on the 20th ; the 7th Corps, Felix Douay. arrived also on the 20th ; and the 12th Corps, under General Lebrun, which has been newly formed, is composed of a fine division of marine infantry, another division of infantry, and of several regi ments who have just rejoined. The 13th Corps remains at the disposal of the Governor of Paris, with 25,000 magnificent troops which must have just arrived from Algeria. At this moment I cannot tell you anything positive about the positions occupied by the two armies. It was believed generally that Marshal Mac:- Mahon had the intention to retrograde on Paris. Another hypothesis was, that from Rheims he would take the opportunity of the railway to Meaieres, to join or rescue Bazaine. One thing remains sure. If Bazaine is cut off, he is yet powerful ; he might be kept in check, but he is far from being subdued, and the formidable army of Prince Frederick Charles cannot march on Paris and join the Crown Prince, and leave on his rear an enemy so important as Marshal Bazaine. Large bodies troops are expected around Montmedy; preparations have been made also for wounded, and I am told that an engagement is now taking place at Stenay, ten miles distant. I have vainly tried to go there—they will not let my horse or trap leave the town, and it is too late to go to the fortress to see the commandant, and arrange my affairs. With whom, with what corps d'arm6e, are the Prussians fighting at Stenay? I am told here, and as iured, it is with MacMahon's troops ; they repeat, it is MacMahon who is expected ; but as generally when I write a fact it is because I am sure of it, now I can only 3onjecture„ Montmedy, August 2G, Four a.m. In my anxiety to know the news I have been watching part of the night, and I have just ascertained that an engagement took place yesterday at Stenay; a few wounded have just been brought up with the positive intelligence that the railway between Lamouilly and Chauvancy, on the Sedan line, and at about ten miles from Montmedy, has been cut by the Prussians to inter rupt communications with that town and the railway des Ardennes. Montmedy, August 27, Morning. The doors of the town were kept closed all day and night yesterday ; but refusal to leave the town, under any circumstances whatever, has been relaxed, and I feel myself free again to wander about and rejoin the head luarters. Although Montmedy is well protected by .he 94 powerful cannons of the fortress ; although the tnhabitants are brave and sociable, the prospect of being :..ompelled to remain with them for a few days was far from agreeable, and I shall take good care not to be shut ap again for 24 hours within their walls. I did succeed, aowever, in sending my despatches and letters to Virton, snd I hope you will have duly received them. The firing )f the artillery had been so distinctly heard on the after icon of the 25th, the despatches sent to the commandant le place so numerous during the day, and my information •ominr: front so rood a source. that I did not hesitate to sand you a telegram about an engagement having takeil Some wounded have been brought up, and, in fact, a combat did take place;. but it turns out to have been a me-7d ofitiZtt tffortfir=•the driving back on two occasions ' of the Prussiens who ifere : ending the rails between ' Lamouilly and Chauvancy (Sedan line.) qlll4 Mal'ning the railway has been repaired, and I shall during the day nspprtain personally the state of affairs there This very mofillffB' MaoMahon is at Stenay, ana Vie Emperor near Bethel. On the tither side 400 IThlans are occupying Longnyon, only 14 miles froid MettneFly ; and I shall not be surprised if I meet them somewbeß: about this afternoon. Previously to my journey to Chalons I announced to you the cutting of the railway line between Vionville and Montmedy. The work was done by the Prussians without opposition, but they find quite a different state of things on the line be tween Montmedy; Sedan; and Mezieres ; they have succeeded niotheiitarily;; but they , have been repulsed at Chauvancy, and it is riot likely that a line of such vital importance in the present strategid iiicifeinents of Marshal AlacMahon will be left without efficient protection: Montmedy, Sedan, Mezieres, Rottay, Soissons, arAII becoming of great importance by the very plan of de fence that the French commanders have taken, owing probably to unforeseen results of the last battles. They will be so many points of communication on which the French army tan sligtafg itself, and Montmedy, being the most eastern of those. frontiei fortresses/ is becoming now the first Straiegie point in the direction of Vie/1141k and Metz. In My letter . from • Mourznelon I do not think I exaggerated the forces of Marshal NacMahoil: His troops are in splendid condition, hits artillery powerful, his corps d'arnade numerous, and 016 Prince Frederick Charles and Steinmetz will find in him a redoubtable enemy, whether he is advancing to clear off Bazaine's position, or to give battle in the valley of the Meuse: lam starting for Stenay, where I really believe the outpost eriga,gethent has been more serious than it is said, and where I have reason to lielieYe some more fight ing will take place. I know the Prussians are not far off M'Mahon, and a collision must ensue." A. GERMAN VIEW OF FRENCH REPORTS. The composers of the official French reports from the seat of war are doing their best, by the use of ambiguous and reticent language, when they dare not lie boldly, to cheat the Parisian public; mid gain twenty-four or perhaps forty-eight hours' time. Thep have the coolness to claim the victories of the 14th, 16th; and 18th instant; conceal: ing or ignoring the fact that the result of these conflicts' has been to cut off the French army from its line of re= treat on Verdun and Chalons, and tti drive' it bac': into Metz. In the two first-mentioned battles the Prussians - Made at least.4,ooo prisoners, including more than 100 officers and one general. The Parisians must be sin: gularly ignorant of military operations if they believe that an army forced to retreat from Metz in the direction of Chalons, and afterwards driven back with heavy loss to the point it had found untenable, is to be regarded ass victorious. As a few English journals which, since the beginning of the present contest, have made themselves conspicuous by their lidstility to Prussia, affect to regard General Steinmetz's attack on tile' retreating French, on the 11th instant, as a usel ess e ff us i on o f bl oo d, It may not be sliperfhionfi to explain to our readers the strategy d the Prussian commanders from the 14th till the 18th instant. On the former date, while Bazaine's troops were passing the Moselle, the rear was attacked by the Prussians under Steinmetz, and after hnvii,g the field covered with th e i r kill e d and WOlinded (181 Jerendh dead were found in a single fosse), was driveli Into Nigti: 'ills, affair detained Bazaine in his retreat about 31 hours, and by this meana Prince Frederic Charles, who' had already CroSsed the river, was enabled to debouch on the line of the French retreat behind Metz, and threaten the left flank of the enemy. On the 16th the battle of Mars la Tour, between Metz and Verdun. took place. The 3rd Brandenburg corps maintained, single-handed, for six hours, a struggle against 4 or 5 corps of the French army, till reinforced by the 10th Hanoverian corps, two divisions of Rhenish troops, and the titli Corps (Schleswig-Holstein), Even at the end of the battle' however. the eneiny remained supe rior in nu r hers. After an obstinate and bloody fight of 12 hours, Dazaine's army was dtiven back on Metz, the I—periel Guard was crushed by a charge of ,the German cavalry, and our troops took ZOOO prisoners; 7 ca;nnon; and 2 eagles. The grand crowning victory, lit.,WeVer; was reserved for the 18th. Details are still wanting ; we' know that Bazaine's army w as a ll b u t annihilatd, and its shattered remains seem at present to have no other pros pect than capitulation or complete dissolution. The sympathies of the great majority Of the English people and the English press, we have reason to lielieve c are with Germany, and we can afford to smile at the slanders; obtained second-hand from Paris, and the sinister prophe cies and denunciations levelled at us by the Bonapartist papers of London. Since the French declaration of war the world has been assured by one or other of these jour nals :-1. That the French would certainly take the Initiative, and drive the Prussians back to Coblence and IVlayenee; 2. That the Rhenish provinces, already " half-French;" tvordd at once johi the invaders. 3. That all the new PriisSian provinces would revolt. 4. That the South-Germans would riot fight with Prussia, 5: That a French army would advance along . the Maine, and cut off the Confederation from S ou th Germany. 6t Thar on account of the " noted and acknowledged superiority of the French arms," Germany would never dream of invading France. How these prophecies have been ful filled everyone knows • and when we read in the la s t numbers that have reached us how the German troops are to be cunningly allowed to advance to Chalons, or per haps to Paris, in order to insure their compl e t e destruc tion by the redoubtable ponzpiers and the Garde Mobile, We content ourselves with shrugging our shoulders and saying . nue Verrons," — North German Corre spondent. FIRE IN LAMBETH AND NARROW ESCAPE OF SIX CHILDREN. Last night, at ten o'clock, a serious and destructive fire took place on the premises Nos. 50 and 51, Cornwall. road, Lambeth, occupied by Mr. Beeby, paper-hanging manufacturer. The premises are of great extent, and the who]e of the upper portion was let out to families of labouring men. The flames were first discovered by the neighbours opposite issuing from the basement, which Was filled with oil, turpentine, and other articles of a like combustible nature used in the business. The alarm was at once given, and a number of persons hastened to get out the inmates, who were screaming at the windows. This was a work of danger and difficulty, ai the fire had seized on the shops and the whole of the house part of the building. Ladders were obtained, on which several men ascended and entered the upper rooms. In two of these rooms six young children were found in bed unable to move from fright. They were at once dragged out and lowered down to the street by the ladders ; the grown up inmates escaping by the same way. By the time the last person had escaped the *hole of the premises were on fire from top to bottom, and not a vestige of furniture or the stock could be saved. It was scarcely half an hour before any engine arrived, except one from the Waterloo Road Station ; they being all engaged at a large fire which broke out in Bermondsey at eight o'clock. When the engines got into work the efforts -of the firemen were directed to the safety of the adjoining houses, the premises of Mr. Beeby, with the whole of their contents, being entirely destroyed. The prompt action display-ed. by the neighbours in getting into the premises in which the fire was discovered was the means of pre venting a catastrophe similar to that which occurred a few weeks since in the Waterloo-road. Not more than five minutes had elapsed from the discovery of the fire before the whole of the inmates were got out, and when the children were discovered they were suffering severely from the smoke of the oil and paperhangings, and must have been suffocated in a few minutes. Several of the persons engaged in rescuing the inmates were much burned and otherwise injured. , popular feeling is exclusively with France. A large sum is to be forwarded to Paris during the current week. DEATH OF Mit CLEME4I. 4 ., M r i'„ Mr. William qtamOs dlenient; Liberal M.P. fo r Shrewsiiiii.y, and Who has represented the bort:nigh slice July, 1865, died on Sunday. FIRE AT CHATHAM.-NARROW ESCAPE At two o'clock yesterday morninga serious fire occurred at Chatham. Two houses were burnt and others much injured. The fire originated at Mr. Tadman's beerhouse, and seventeen persons who were asleep at the time were with difficulty rescued. The inmates of the other houses were in great danger. TWO DEATHS BY A COLUIIItY RXPLOgiOIk. Two men batted Artdiur arid Shires, both, Unionists, died •Ydi'erciity from the effects of injuries received by an explosion of fire damp, which occurred on Friday, at the Newbiggin Colliery, Thorncliffe. Both men had just resumed work after a lock out of seventy-three weeks. THE ROYAL COMMISSIONERS ON THE TRUCK SYSTEM. . _ The Roy6l Conith'issioli, appointed to inquire into the thick system, and the alleged disregard of the acts which prohibit in certain trades the payment of wages in goods, commenced their work yesterday at Hamilton. The proceedings were conducted in public. There were nine witnesses examined, three of whom were on the mas ters' side, and the others on the part of the woikpeople. The evidence went to show that stores are kept up to a great extent by the system of cash advances, which are asked generally by those men who misconduct themselves. Thane-folicths of these advances are expected to be expended at the store. It was affirmed on the em ployers' side that the articles supplied at the store were as cheap and of as good a quality as those obtained elsewhere. This was denied on the part of the men. Weekly payments were objected to by the em ployers, as involving expense and inconvenience. The Commissioners will sit at Hamilton until the end of the week, when they will proceed to Glasgoi.v. They will afterwards visit England. rtm MONEY MARKET AND 'Ollll is CIA I, I NTELLI 0 ENCE. CITY, Tito o'CLocx. On the Stock Exthange MarketS the tendency is pro ceeding satisfactorily, the deuitangos have been light, and in some ihstanecs a backwardation has had to be paid: This being ticket-day, the fresh business going for ward is limited. The English Funds retain the advance of per cent. established last night. Consols for money and account, and New and Reduced, are 911 to 91k. India Five per Cents., 110 to 111; ditto Four per Cents., 100:1 to 101; ditto Ten-and-a-half per Cents., 205 to 207 ; Exchequer Bills, par to ss. prem.; and Bank Stock, 232 to 234. There is no change in Foreign Stocks,' and but little business is doing pending the receipt of some definite news. Italian, 48,E to 49; Lombardo-Venetian, 151 to 151; Spanish of 1867, 261 t o 261 ; ditto of 1869, 25i to 253; Turkish, 541 to 54! ; tgyptian of 1868, 73 to 74 ; and Peruvian, 85 to 86. It is stated that the Tuildsh Government have obtained from the Comptoir d'Escompte of Paris an advance of £1,040,000 for 15 months on the security of the unplaced portion of the 1869 loan. As the daily Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and other mails for this country pass through Paris, and also the bi-monthly mails from India, China, Australia, &c., the question arises whether any precautions have bbeil sug gtsted by our Post Office to have thein forwarded by some route so as to avoid Paris in the case of that city being besieged. IncalCulable mercantile inconvenience might arise in the event of any of the sertices being interrupted even or t few days. The suspension has been announced of Messrs. Straith,l Ripley, and Co., of Mincing-lane, indigo and colonia brokers, a firm of respectable standing. The liabilities are believed to be about £15,000. The advices by the Amazone from Rio de Janeiro men tion the publication of the decree granting a guarantee of 5 per cent. upon £431,697 additional capital of the Per nambuco Railway Company. The report presented to-day at the meeting of the Tower Subway Company stated that since the 2nd inst. the line had been open daily except on Sundays, and had worked most succtassfuliy, making twehty trips Per hour. Berger Spence and Co.'s Weekly Report says :—" There has been little real improvement in the state of the che mical trade during the week which has just elapsed. Ad vices coming to hand from various quarters indicate that there is likelihood of a continued demand for articles ne cessary for the preparation of home products ; and this tendency, which is very uniform, keeps up prices and checks speculation, manufacturers being unwilling, in the face of present events, to incur any risk by running up heavy stocks. In minerals a shade less business has been transacted, but Hens continue to beS well stistaihbd. A limited business is still being done in metals, but during the past week a slight improvement has taken place in some descriptions. Scotch pig iron continues in fair demand, at improving prices. Cleveland is rather easier. In copper more steadiness is observable. The other metals remain at almost un changed prices. POLICE INTELLIGENCE THIS DAY. A BARONET FINED FOR AN ASSAULT.-Sir Claude de Crespigny, Bart., of 20, Half-moon-street, Piccadilly, w as charged, at Marlborough -street Police-court, before Mr. Knox, with assaulting Jules Dachot, a waiter at the Hotel de l'Europe, Leicester-square. The complainant said the defendant struck him because he could not find his master. Sir Charles said the complainant, last night, brought him a putrid lobster to table, and on his remonstrating he was abusive and he pushed him away. The complainant then took up the pepper-box and threw some of the contents in his face. Sir Charles considered himself the injured party. Mr. Knox said an assault had been made out, but as the complainant had suppressed all about the pepper he should not order him any compensation. The fine inflicted for the assault was £5. RUSHING INTO THE LION'S MOUTH.—Patrick Sullivan, aged 21 years, Frederick Smith, 26, and Edward Davis, 25, were brought before Mr. Paget at the Thames Police court, charged with stealing 631 b of lead piping, the pro perty of some person er persons unknown. Last night at ten o'clock the prisoners were outside the door of the station-house of the K division, adjoining the court, and being suspected by a constable were taken into custody. When searched there was 251 b of 251 b of lead piping in front of Sullivan, forming a kind of breast plate, on Davis 281 b of lead piping similarly disposed, and on Smith about 91b of lead piping arranged about his body. On being asked to account for their possession of the lead they said they picked it up on Stepney-green. They all came from the notorious thieves' colony Flower and Dean-street, Mr. Paget asked what business the prisoners had in front of the station-house, and was informed that they were waiting to see the night-relief go out, and would, no doubt, follow one section to ascertain how many men there were in a particular district. A skeleton key was found on Davis. It would open half the doors in London. The prisoners were remanded. SERI OUS FIRE AND PROBABLE LOSS OF LIFE. A fire attended with a considerable destruction o. property took place at an early hour this morning in the premises belonging to Mr. C. M`Carthy, a wholesale and furnishing ironmonger, carrying on business at No. 5, Edwin-terrace, Burdett-road, Mile-end-road. The flames commenced in the front shop, and rapidly extended up the stairs, almost to the roof. The fire was extin guished in lees than an hour, but not until Mr. M`Carthy's premises were nearly destroyed, and the adjoining premises of Mr. Knight severely damaged by fire and smoke. The origin of the disaster is unknown. Another fire also occurred in the premises belonging to Mr. J. J. Weise, a hat manufacturer, No. 82, Bishops gate-street-without. The fire commenced in the shop, and soon reached the upper floors in the building. The flames were not conquered until the fire had entered every room in the building, and had done a considerable amount of damage--in fact the whole amount of the stock in trade was all but destroyed. A fire of a dis tressing character also happened in the private residence of Mr. W. George, No. 14, Little Carlisle-street, Church street, Edgware Road. It was caused by the upsetting of a paraffin lamp, which set fire to a quantity of wearing apparel, and the blazing spirit shot about the room, and, falling upon Mr. S. George, aged 23, so severely burnt him that he was obliged to be removed to St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington, where he at present remains. The engines soon attended, and the fire was confined to the lower part of the building. ve t In-. _lave authority for stating that Inspector Penn, who received such injuries at the Elackfrials station of the Metropolitan Railway yesterday, is not dead, as stated by a contemporary. Th e i nspector i s going on favourably, and hopes are entertained that he may recover. CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED MURDER. Yesterday, at the Southwark Police-court, George Mar tin Bailey, aged 46, who described himself as a labourer, living at 269, Kent-street, Borough, and who has lost his left arm, was charged before Mr. Benson with feloniously cutting and wounding Geo. Meyers by striking him with a knife in the abdomen, with intent to murder him, at Violet place, Dover-road, Borough. The injured man was stabbed on Saturday night, and in consequence of the surgeons . of Guy's Hospital stating that he might die very suddenly, Mr. i3essoii, in company with Mr. Hankinson, the office-keeper, proceeded on Sunday night to the hospital, where the depositions of the sufferer were taken. After being sworn, he said—My name is George Meyers, and I live at 3, Violet-place, Dover-road, Borough. lam a porter in the Borough Market. Last night, about lialf-past nine, I was at my house, when Emma James, a woman I am living with, ran up to me. She warned to have had a blow in the face. The landlady called out, " Mr. Meyers, you are wanted." I then went down stairs to the front deor, and saw the prisoner there. Ho said, " I want a ticket of a shirt." I said, She has not got one ; if you don't go away I shall give you a ticket." lie said, " Will you ?" and I said, "Yes, I shall." I ran upstairs, put my waistcoat on, and when I got down stairs I gave him a punch on the side of the head. I said, " Now go, or I will lock you up." Immo reediately I said that he put his hand into the breast pocket of his coat. He then came close up to me, and gave me a plunge in the stomach. I felt that I was stabbed, and my entrails came out. He made no indication of opening a knife beforehand. It had happened in a mo ment, and I put my hand to the wound. I walked a hundred yards to look after a policeman, and I then went upstairs and lay down. I did not see what became of the prisoner. Some co ns t a bl es came up and took me to the hospital on a stretcher. Some one stood by when the pri soner stabbed me, but no one was near enough to stab me. I have lived with Emma James about six months. The prisoner has quarrelled with me about it, and I have heard him say he would have his revenge." After corroborative testimony, including that of Emma James , who stated that she had li ve d with prisoner as his wife, and left him on account of his brutality. Mr. Ashby, one of the surgeons of Guy's Hospital, said the injured man was in a very precarious condition, and no hopes were enter tained of his recovery. The prisoner, who seemed to feel his position acutely, was then remanded. A man named May has been committed for trial at Waterford, for stabbing a person named Daly, with whom he had a dispute. 6PIRIT OF THE PRESS. x. #ACMAiial'eS STRATEGY. The :times coUtiders that the great aim of MacMahon has not even yet ,ben attained ; it can never be attained, unless he can fight his way through the Prildslans froth Montmedy to Yienville and Metz; nor is it cittitti Certain that he can fight his way through the Prussiaild back to his former quarters at Rheims or Chalons, or that hd cOn extricate himself from the f‘osition into which he has brought himself,—a posi tibii hardly more enviable than that of Bazaine hintself, from Which there is no other outlet than acrcsa the Bel gian frontier. Desperate valour may, indeed, do wanders; for both the French Marshals,' but, so far as one can judge from present appearances, thq , are both so overmatched separately, that it is difficult to triderstand how people in Paris can fail to see that MacMahon, in his attempt to rescue Bazaihe, has probably lost himself. People in Paris, however, think that MacMahon, even if he can do no tticite . has achieved a great d ea l by d e l a yi ng th e Crown Prince's advance on their city. By his masterly strategy; they think, MacMahon has averted the storm that was ready to burst an the capital. This may be so, btit he has at the same time removed th e l as t o b s t ac l e against thd iftfaders' advance. So long as the Prussians on their march to - Wards Paris had MacMahon and his army at Chalons or tat Rheims, or even further on at Laon and Soissons, it was only with a lar g e force they could venture far into the interior of the country. But now, with Bazaine at Metz and AfacMa.lion at Montmedy, they have open ground before them to the west, north, or south ; and their &W ens tihlans, who were so fearless in their movements while they still had an army on their flank will hardly limit theif inentsions now that the last French force has voluntarily moved Mit of their path. In the opinion Of the Times, it can scarcely be asserted that the Prussian alvaned 114 been arrested or diverted. The actual in vestment of the, eapital may have been delayed; but hitherto there has been no evidence of the Prussians' in tention to do more than march upon Paris. MACMAHON'S ARMY. "Lost ! supposed to have strayed somewhere in the provinces, two or more great armies in the territory of Prance. Whoever can give any trustworthy infor maticni as to where they can be found, or were last actually seen, will be liberally rewarded." Such, says the Standard, might be the wording of Et bill or placard issued by the curious of all nations, and dated August 29, 1870. righting had been going on, near Stenay, where MacMahon, or MacMahon's men, or Bazaine, or a portion of his host, may have been, one or other of them, engaged. No one yesterday was very clear on these points, and if we in England do not know we may be pretty certain that the Parisians are no better informed, At any rate a force of nearly 150,000 men is lost from view irt the case of MacMahon, who disappeared on Tuesday last to turn Up, heads or tails, as Mars, a great gambling deity, but too generally on the side of the stronger batta lions, may decree. It appears incredible, among the strangest features of this astounding war, that during the. space of nearly one week, in a country like France, so populous p.nd so intersected with roads and railways and telegrapind wires, a great army should be thus absolutely lost from sight. Vet so if is. Probably the railways may have much to do with it ; and still more the dread fact that France is now an invaded territory, more helpless and more confused in proportion to its vast population and tesonrces. In former days great campaigns were not thus carrie'cl oni The movements of troops were far slower in proportion idsli the rate of travelling by coaches and dihgences compared 'With that which railways have of late years introduced. PriiSeti' has inaugurated the era of rapid invasions. But to be Sticeessful on her system they must be consistently and continnottsly rapid, and an error in ettmbination or a great disaster would be followed with fatal results just as swift and conclusive on the invading side. GERMAX CAVALRY. The Telegraph, speaking on the subject of the Prussian cavalry, says :—The Uhlan is merely a light horseman, whom the astute Prussian generals emplcy as cavalry ought to be employed. They have well-nigh abandoned * to the French comtnanders the fatal custom of launching horsersoldters against fnf.sutry. The utter destruction of 4he Fre,nch Cuirassier regiments, which charged in the face df ttje needle-gun and the shrapnel batteries at. Woerth, has sheOn what must for the future be the fate of heavy cavalry _ when matched against foot sol diers armed with the breech-loader and supported by artillery. The Germans, it is true, have also their ponderous squadrons of hore, which they have once or twice flung against the French line, only to , waste noble stuff ; but the major part of their splendid dal/vary ;s light, and it is so numerous that. it can be used to mask all their own move. Ments, and, like a swarm of spies, to search the country of the enemy ; to gather in formation from all quarter's ; to facilitate, and often f4i fender' unnecessary, an armed at tack and to lieffikler, while harrassing the foe. General Sheridan, who is noif litritir the Prussfan army, must be wonderfully interested to see how Sherman's example, with his renowned "raiders," has been developed 1.):-;t the eelaireurs of the Crown Prinf.e. Nelson called his frigate the "eyes of his fleet," but the Uhlans are eyes`, ears, and hands all in one; for, besides picking up information from every point of the compass, they have, by sheer andacltYl And the prestige of their übiquity, also picked up towns villages for the main army in their rear. It would be muilfs accurate, perhaps, to call them the antennce of the host, fc , r . they at once inform and shield the mass which sends them forth.. THE DUTY OF ENGLAND. thely News observes that, when the settlement tones, France may be quite sure of the good offices pf England to spare her any needless humiliation ; but Wd must. go into negotiation as neutrals, nor as allies. liiiperiat France went to war against .our earnest efforts and protests, and she must not come to us to guarantee' let _against its consequences. We are as much the friends of Getinany, as of France, and as we did not stand between Pinssia and an unjus attempt to despoil her, we cannot atteinpt to thrust our selves betw een h er an d th e j us t f ru it s of her victory. As for the Imperial dynasty—that must take care of itself, Our good offices will be between France and Prussia =but we have no power to interfere between Fran& and the Emperor. Even if we had the power Pradee Might not thank us for using it. Our friendly ielati6ns With France began before the Empire, and will survive its fall, and that friendship rests on the only basis on which at friendship can rest, that of letting our friends' private affairs alone. The second Empire has always seemed to its a national misfortune to France and a danger to Europe. We- have never believed in C:.-esar ; we have only accepted him because a ma jority of our neighbours appeared to believe in him. Their disenchantment .is a painful one, but it is nob for us to hinder it. On the contrary, all the Liberal feeling of England and of Europe regards the Empire as the real cause of the disasters of France, and believes that the very calamities which attend its fall may regenerat e th e na ti on b y reawa k en i ng its public Ixplut. rekindling it s l ove o f f ree d om, an d rous i ng it to talc its own government and its destiny into its own hands. DEATH OF LORD SOHERVILLE.—We have to record the death of Aubery John, thirteenth Baron Somerville, in the peerage of Scotland, which took place on Sunday afternoon last, at Somerville Aston, near Bvesham. His lordship was born in 1838, and in 1868 succeeded his cousin, who was killed by being thrown from his horse in the hunting-field, in Leicestershire. The deceased, at the time he succeeded to the title was a squatter in Australia, where he had an extensive sugar manufactory. His death was somewhat sudden. On Friday last he returned home from a dinner party un well; and was attacked by bronchitis and inflammation of the lungs, from the effects of which he died. ITARVEAT IPc THE NonTH.—Since the 18th inst. rain has fallen in greater or less quantities every day over the northern counties. impeding- to some extent the harvest operations. Around Invernrie and Kintore, in Aber deenshire, as in other early districts of the county, cutting will soon be generally completed. Several farmers in these localities have their crops all in the stook, or at least all of the root. In the Laich of Moray not a few have the grain crop all reaped, while some have a good deal in the stockyard ; in. the earlier districts of Aberdeen, Banff, Moray, Nairn, Inverness, and Ross-shires, cutting will be completed in a few days. In the Highland glens harvest has not been commenced, and will not be general for a week or ten days. There, however, the moisture came more in sea son , an d th e grain will be better filled generally ; while there is also more straw on the acre. So far as bulk is ooncerned, there seems to be a h eav y cro p of barley all over the counties above named, and a fair. yield of wheat. The oat crop is rather under an average. The recent rains have done much good to turnips and grass. .—Scotsman. THE BISHOP OF EXETER ON THE WA E.--• Bishop Temple preached at Okehampton Church on Sun day, and made an eloquent appeal to the congregation on behalf of the sick and wounded in the war. He remarked that, whatever might be said for the rulers of the two countries who had thus gone recklessly and suddenly to war, it could not be denied that a vast inajority of the poor soldiers who were fighting were simply obeying the orders of their rulers, and had not either the knowledge or the power to prevent the war from being fought. Let it be granted that the rulers had made a fearful mistake in going to war, let it be granted that the war ought never to have been fought at ail, still the vast majority of those who suffered from it were quite innocent of any blame on that account. Of course it was quite true that the chief duty of doing what was to be done for the sick and wounded ought to rest noon the nations that had gone to war, and it must rest there, for whatever might be done in England it would fall far short of the demand. The appeal was liberally responded to by the large congrega• Lion assembled. MARRIAGE OF SIR JOHN I%PN - 11:ILL AND LADY EMMA CAMPBELL.—The marriage of the Right Hon. Sir John M`Neill, G.C.8., and P.C., of Granton House, with the Lady Emma Augusta Campbell, only sister of his Grace the Duke of Argyll, took place on Friday last, at Inverary Castle, in presence of a distinguished circle, including the Duke and Duchess of Argyll, the Marquis of Lorne, M.P., Lord and Lady Archibald Campbell, Earl and Countess Percy, Lady Elizabeth Campbell, Lady Charteris, Miss Callander, Lord Colonsay (brother of the bridegroom), Sir George and Lady Home, Mr. J. C am pb e ll (Islay), &c. The of& plating clergyman was the Rev. Dr. Candlish, of Frog gt. George's, Edinburgh, the bride being a member of that congregation. After the ceremony the marriage pchedule was signed, first by the contracting parties, then by the rninistar, and lastly by the Duke of Argyll and Lord Colonsay as witnesses. Sir John and Lady M`Nrll thortly afterwards started for Roseneath Castle. During the dayphie Grace's beautiful yacht Columba and the other craft in the bay were gaily decked with bunting in honour )f the occasion.—North British Daily Mail. t refe- states the have ached ,nday stake veral ender race, I the e the 0 I ' k ;y at .nex the king