The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-01-07 00:00:00

THE LATE BOMBARDMENT OF MONTMEDY.

The details r I the late bombardment of MontnlE ty, which
have Just reached us in the Sictate•A laze iger, are well worthy
of some study as refl. cling light on the liter homhare molt
of Mont Anon, and the expected attack upon the forts.
The guns employed were as follows : eight long rifled 21-
pounders: ten short rifled 24-pounders; four rifled mortars ;
twelve rifled 12 pounders ; and sin riled 6-pounders.
Montm6.ly being built only to meet the old guns of
shorter range, Ilea commanded on every st-te by heights
at distances varying from 1,600 to 3,00 yard, iht
these heights the gene were distributed in batteries,
made with certain materwl difficulties, but, like thou
round Slant Avron, so fur from the worlts of the place as not
1.1 to seen or disturbed by them. the works were completely
armed by the 12th of Mecember, on which morning early fire
was opened from all ales, and continued—often through
heavy rain—until the place offered to capitutate late next
day. In the daytime tile garrison hail responded briskly,bnt
ceased firing in the dark, while the Germane kept theirs up.
in the thir4y ale house bombardment the sixty-two guns
fired 2,505 shot; lii.the periods were Irregular, as during the
night and the heavy rain the fire was at very lung-measured
int-rvals. One artilleryman was killed, and nine wounded
In the batteries, the early surrender of the piece was at-
Mild:table In great part to the effect of the tail ai mortars,
which spread desnitatton though the balding, by constantly
setting them on fire. She public buildings, width had been
made the mark, were utterly destroyed.

!., ! FOR BEAUTIFUL PARTS!

When the crews arrived in London, they went to
the ilome-office, and were sent therm,' to the office of
the Registrar-General of Seamen, Mr, Mayo. Most
of them being m -aided men were anzleani to get to
their families, but Mr. Mayo sent an ofliker with them
to the Sailors' Rome, where they have been requested
to stay pending the action of the Government.

Mr. William Howe, mate of the Alice, given the
following account of the circumstances :
The Alice had for the laq le or 17 years been under a con-
tract with a I,,er.ets and Enslleh company to supply coals to
the gas and chymical wodu at flatten. A week before
Christmas alto discharged a cargo et coals at Coe whorl at
Rouen, and then on the Sunday ulght went down the river
for bsalast. She had a pass from the Prtuahms. On the
Monday she was at Imelelr, and she lay there until Tuesday,
the 21st. Oa that day, while the crew were busy c'eaning
the vessel, a troop of Pruasiana came on board wet
their commander asked, " Where is the master? "
The officer polutsd to the Ann JefBaMille and the
SallY idol s, which wfqe at that noment being sunk In
the river, and said, " I want to do the acme with you, like
them " 'I he salute looked at them In amazement. At that
moment the msster come oboes with is permit trim the
Pillsoiall authorities for the crew of the vessel in quest:on
to polls to Won. This document the Prussian officer pro-
nounced to be quite satisfactory, hat Said the ship must
stop and awolt further miter. The Prusalana rernainsd
aboard till three In the afternoon, when an officer came end
took the drat detachment away, hut the vessel and hir
crew had to remnio pending further orderc. The next
morning, about 9 o'clock, to Prussians came Its a tar. and
having removed the crew took the Alice to where the °Our
vessels were sunk, the crew being put ashore its the tag.
When the Germain; boarded the vessel, the crew bad to put
all their clothes into the hosts, which were subsequently
towed along by the tug, but In the passage they were adi
swamped and spoilt. At Dachas. the Consul went aboard,
nud enitt it woe a great sP.atne, and remonstrated with the
Prussians. Before the crew lett the vessel the Prussians
ordered Nicholas Odey, the cook, to haul down the With&
dog, which he had to to under penalty of their violence. The
next day they were allsent on to Renee, and they had nothing
toes' from breakfast time until their arrival at Rouen, whore
the Consul did Ma beet for them. They were ullinsttly sent
to England vet Dieppe.

Oa Monday night an order was igsued by the Go-
vernment authorities f.r the immediate removal from
the Well-4, ert Sailors' Home of the thirty.four sabers
who had been placed thereby tl e ReAstrar-General of
Brithth Seamen. The officers and seamen of the ves-
sels in quei.t.on will I e compelled to return to their
hones, and some of them state that the destruction of
their vessels and the loss of their property had left
them destitute.