The Sun.
London, England, 1870-12-26 00:00:00

THE ARMY OF THE SOUTH.

In a letter from Bordeaux, dated December 20, the
special correspondent of the Standard remarks :—The
Government of the. Defence at Paris have issued a pro-
clamation, stating that no idea is entertained of rationing
the bread, and that there is an abundance both of meat
and bread for a considerable time. General Trochu is
actively employed in forming and disciplining the
armies. It is probable that the next sortie from
Paris will be upon a much larger scale than
that of the Ist of this month. The Province publishes
a statement that the Army of the North now amounts
to a force of 147,000 men. I can scarcely credit that it
can attain so considerable a strength, but if it be true it
will be able" to render efficient aid when the moment for
a general advance upon Paris arrives. General Faidberbe
is said to be a bold and skilful general, and as he is now
cut off from the south of France, he will be able to operate
unba mpered by orders from the Government here. The
movement of retreat upon the part of the Ger-
man army upon the left bank of the Loire continues.
Salbris, Montrichard, and Amboise are evacuated, and
there is a report that Blois is also free from the enemy.
The army of Bourbaki is now said to amount to 140,000
nen. A journal announnes, under reserve, that Bourbaki
is already in movement, and that he has routed a body of
the enemy in his front ; also that he is moving towards
the- Loire to effect a junction with Chanzy. Another
account states that lie is moving towards Gien.
These accounts are altogether contradictory, and
I should certainly doubt the intention of effecting
a junction between Bourbaki and Chanzy, as, bad
such an intention existed, the latter general would
have fallen back towards Tours without retiring upon Le
Mans, and thereby greatly increasing the distance be-
tween himself and Bourbaki. His advance when it
takes place will, I have no doubt, be towards Gien.
There is a rumour, indeed, that his advanced guard l'as
• already occupied that town. Bourbaki has with him
1,800 Spahis and 1,200 Arab horse. These 3,000 men
will form an admirable body of eclaircurs, and will
effectively prevent those surprises which have been
hitherto so fatal to the French. A vigorous search

is going on throughout France for deserters, and large
numbers have been seized in Lyons and other of the large
towns. The men belonging to the Mobiliscies, and who
have not left with their regiments, were yesterday bought
before the tribunal here, and sentenced to ten days' im-
prisonment before being sent forward to join their regi-
ments in camp. It would have been better to have sent
them forward at once, with a sentence of a month's punish-
ment drill. It is said that in Bordeaux alone upwards
of 2,000 men have at the last moment slunk away from
their colours. A rigorous search is going on, and they
will all be collected and sent off in a few days. Some of
the Mobilisees of Bordeaux have already arrived at Le
Mans, but the larger quantity are still in camp at St.
Medard, a place some ten miles from here. The wounded
who have arrived here are now most excellently housed
and cared for. The arrangements the first day or two
were defective, but they now leave nothing to be desired.
The weather continues warm and damp.