The Sun.
London, England, 1870-12-07 00:00:00

THE GREAT SORTIES' FROM PARIS.
The special correspondent of the Telegraph, in his letter
from the Royal head-quarters, dated December .Ist„.gives
the following account of the great sortie from Paris :
The advancing force numbered, I should say, about
25,000 men ;. and these wbre supported by about
35,000 more, who did not come into action, and at
first the French had it all their own way, They
drove in the German front rank, ain't they
took a couple of villages. One of these in
fact Champigny - sur - Marne they at present
partially hold; that is, they are at ono while the Wurtem-
bergers occupy the other end of the place. I cannot suf-
ficiently express my astonishment at the manner in which
the French acted during the later portion of this sortie.
While they began with energy and skill, they
ended with displaying a want of both these
qualities. When they had conquered and thrust
back the Germans, that was the time for a general
rush from Paris—that was the Moment when the
besieged should have followed in thousands on the heels
of the pioneers of victory. Had they done so—had some I
one hundred thousand men supported the twenty-five
thousand who opened the attack—the investing line
might have been burst through, and the army of
Prince Frederick Charles might in a day or two have
been surprised to find in its rear a powerful and
victorious - army, elated with its triumph in
escaping from the besieged city. The French, in
fact, might this morning be in Meaux, while in reality
they occupy positions at least two miles and a half further
back than those they held at one period of yesterday's
sortie. They have thus given the Germans time to con-
centrate themselves, and to strengthen the point that was
weak ; and the infallible consequence will be, that before
two or three suns have set the French will be driven
back from the places they now hold; the two
armies will resume their former positions ; and
all the blood, all the energy, all the success
of yesterday will have been unattended with any material
result. We have heard a great deal of Trochu's plan.
By dint of repetition at first, and latterly by means of
mysterious silence—silence no less from the forts than in
the official journal—many people have been brought to
believe that Trochu has really some great design. If
such he really has—if he wished to express this mighty
and portentous intention in real action why then
did he not push his advantage when he had
got into the very heart of our weakest point ? In place
of adopting this bold but really rational plan, what has
Trochu done? He has occupied a couple of trumpery
villages ; he his even set his men to work at entrenching
themselves. What incomprehensible folly I These places,
which he is taking such pains to defend, are com-
manded on both flanks by an enemy to whom every
hour is adding numbers and strength. The men
that might have been using the bayonet to some
purpose are engaged with the spade in the pursuit
of the unattainable. 'Troche, I repeat, should have
pushed forward, and at any cost. He might have relieved
Paris by forcing the enemy to pursue him. This—l have
not the smallest doubt or hesitation in'saying it—this he
might have, but this he has not done. His chance has
come : his chance has gone. Meanwhile, although
the French have thus, So my mind, acted with
the utmost folly, they have at least in this
much succeeded the Wurtembergers and the
Saxons have been greatly cut up. The former lost no
fewer than 33 officers (seven killed outright) ; the latter
17 officers and a large number of soldiers. It was, in-
deed, on both sides a bloody—on both sides a well-fought
—day. The Wurtembergers acted with the greatest
bravery ; indeed, they were as fierce in the onslaught
as tigers. They were, however, far too few in num-
ber for the powerful enemy that attacked them.
Nor do the French deserve less praise for their
conduct. They undoubtedly behaved with great intre-
pidity ; and they took prisoners 120 Saxons. The line of
battle was not less than four English miles long. The
closing scenes of the conflict were enacted at Mesly, not
far from Creteil. The Saxons were very roughly handled,
and the 4th Corps had by no means an easy time of it
on the north-west—the other side of Paris. In prisoners,
killed, and wounded, the French, in their fight with the
Wurtembergers alone, lost no fewer than 2,000 men.
The following is the proclamation addressed on the same
occasion by the Government of the National Defence to
the population of Paris :—" Citizens—The effort which
the honour and salvation of France required has now
commenced. You were waiting for it with a patriotic
impatience which your military chiefs could hardly
moderate. As determined as yourselves to dislodge
the enemy from the lines in which he has en-
trenched himself, and to wish to meet your brothers
of the Department, their duty was to prepare powerful
means of attack. They have done so, and now they fight.
Our hearts are with them. We are all of us ready to
follow them, and, like them, to shed our blood for the
deliverance of our country. In this supreme hour, when
they nobly expose their lives, we owe them the co-opera-
tion of our constancy, and of our civic virtues. However,
violent may be the emotions by which we may be agitated,
let us have the courage to remain calm. Whosoever
might foment the least disturbance in the city would
betray the cause of her defenders, and help that of
Prussia. Just as the army can conquer only by discipline,
we can resist only by union and order. We rely on suc-
cess ;no reverse could discourage us. Let xis above all
seek our strength in the indomitable resolve to shun all
incitement to civil discord as we would a disgraceful
death. Long live France 1 Long live the Republic !"
[Here follow the signatures of the members of the
Government of National Defence.]
The Jonrrta,l Officiel of this morning publishes the follow-
ing :—" Paris, November 29 (Evening). This morning at
daybreak two attacks were made, under the orders of
General Vinoy, on the cattle railway station at Choisy-le-
Roi and on L'Hay. The first, directed by Admiral Poth-
nau, vigorously carried on, has fully succeeded. The
position was carried before daybreak by companies of the
106th and 116th battalions of the National
Guard and of Marine Infantry. The enemy was
taken by surprise, and withdrew in disorder, leaving in
our hands some prisoners, one of whom is an officer. In
the direction of L'Hay, Colonel Valentin, commanding a
brigade of General Me.udhuy's Division, attacked that
village with the 109th and 110th Regiments of the Line,
and the 2nd and 4th battalions of the Mobile National
Guard from Finistere. The position was attacked with
much resolution ; our troops penetrated into the first
lines, which they gallantly carried ; and, according to in-
structions given to General Vinoy, with a view to future
operations, which will be developed in due course, orders
were given not to push the attack any farther. At the
moment our troops were withdrawing; and when the
Prussian reserves were arriving in considerable force in
the village, a formidable artillery fire from the Hautes-
Bruyeres and the adjacent batteries covered and crushed
L'Hay, as well as the columns which sought to approach
, it. At the same time the gunboats of Captain Thomassiss,
of the navy, above the Port d. l'Anglais, ordnance of large
calibre, mounted on ironclad carriages on the railway ;
the batteries around Vitry, those of the Moulin Saquet,
and, lastly, a portion, of the artillery of Fort Charenton
—opened a scathing fire on the position occupied by
the enemy, and caused an immense loss. The report of
the exact number of our wounded is not yet to hand—
it probably amounts to about 500, amongst whom
is Lieutenant-Colonel Mimerel, of the 110th Regi-
ment of the Line, grievously wounded. Christian de
Ravaran, commanding the 110th, was killed. Chef de
Bataillon de Reale, commanding the 4th Finisthe Bat-
talion, has been wounded. General Vinoy praises the
good behaviour of our troops in this affair. Various tac-
tic movements were carried out during last night and this
morning, but it is important that they should not be
dwelt upon, as they are closely connected with prospec-
tive operations."

IMPORTANT TO TRADESMEN.-Mr. William Haynes, all
extensive greengrocer, carrying on business in various
parts of London, was summoned, at the Westminster
Police-court, under the Metropolitan Streets Act, for
allowing vegetable on a barrow to rest longer than neces-
sary for loading or unloading in a certain public carriage
way in Tachbrook-street and Churtin-street, Pimlico.
The facts were not disputed ; Sergeant Hillock, of the
B Division, proving the barrows standing for five hours,
and the defendant and his servants serving therefrom.
Mr. W. D. Smyth, of Rochester-row, appeared for the
defendant, and submitted broadly that the commissioner
of police, under the powers of the Metropolitan Streets
Act, had made regulations for the guidance of coster-
mongers, itinerant traders, and hawkers, who congregated
in large numbers round the defendant's p remises, and in
some instances undersold him. He saw no reason to
believe that the defendant, although a tradesman, should
not be a costermonger, if he chose, for his own protection.
After referring to the definition of the word costermonger,
which appeared very vague, Mr. Smyth said his client
had no wish to offend, but he required the matter set at
rest, and to put an end to the frequent complaints of the
police. Mr. Woolrych was clearly of opinion that a
costermonger was not a shopkeeper, but an itinerant
vendor. He, therefore, was against the defendant, but
in consideration of the question he had raised he should
only order him to pay the cost of the summons.

ANOTHER TERRIBLE RAILWAY

ACCIDENT.

SIX PERSONS KILLED AND THIRTY
INJURED.

(CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAM.)

We record with painful feelings another very shocking
railway accident. A collision, resulting in the loss
of five lives, occurred yesterday morning at Brockley
Whine, a junction on the North-Eastern Rail-
way about four miles from South Shields. As an
express train, consisting of four or five carriages, was
advancing towat de the station, it ran right into a long -
goods' train, which wee running in a contrary direction.
The result was most disastrous. Two of the carriages in
the passenger train were smashed to atoms. The engines of
both trains were completely wrecked, and in a few
minutes five grown-up passengers were taken dead from
among the debris, and a large number of others were found
to be seriously injured. The drivers of the engines saved
themselves by jumping off in time, but the guard of the
express is supposed to be hopelessly injured, both of his
legs being almost torn off. The goods' train was heavily
laden with coals. The cause of the accident was, it is
said, a mistake of the pointsman, who turned the wrong
switch for the goods' train. Medical aid was telegraphed
for from South Shields, and a number of doctors were soon
upon the spot. Upwards of thirty persons are injured by
the accident ; several of them are not expected to survive
many hours. Frederick Younge, actor, who manages
Caste's Company, is reported to be among the killed;
as is also a well known colliery owner in
the Tyne district. The whole traffic is stopped ;
and the line is torn up for some distance.
Only a half of one of the carriages is left from the express
train, the rest being smashed. The express was going at
from twenty to thirty miles an hour. Great crowds were
gathered on the spotwhere the accident occurred.

(LATER TELEGRAM.)
LIST OF THE KILLED.
The names of the killed include those of Frederick
Young, actor (as before mentioned) ; Mr. Richard-
son, proprietor of extensive paper mills at Spring-
well -on - the - Tyne ; Mr. Hodgkin, large colliery
owner, and also two other influential local gentlemen.
The pointsrnan is not to be found. He is an old man, and
has for many years borne a good character for sobriety and

steadiness.
Tapley, the guard of the express train, who had both
his legs injured, has since died. Amongst those seriously
injured are Mr. Shuttleworth, traveller for Messrs.
Lazenby and Co., London ; Mr. Reay, a member of the
Sunderland Town Council ; and 11liss Martell, a London
actress.

THE CONSERVATIVE LAND SOCIETY.

The eighteenth annual meeting of this society was held
yesterday at the Norfolk-street offices, Viscount Ranelagh
in the chair. The secretary (Mr. C. L. Gruneisen) having
read the advertisement convening the meeting, the fol-
lowing report of the Executive Committee was submitted :
—The Executive Committee, in laying before the share-
holders their eighteenth yearly report, are enabled to
append thereto a satisfactory return of the busi-
ness of the Society, as shewn in the audited ab-
stract of accounts and balance-sheet for the financial
year ending the 30th of September, 1870. It will be seen
from the subjoined tabular form, that the receipts for the
four quarters andthe grand totals to Michaelmas, indi-
cate that no change has taken place in the continued
prosperity of the Conservative Land Society, notwith-
standing the unforeseen and disastrous events which have
marked the present year, causing such large fluctuations
in the prices of public securities

•
Shares in Shares Total
Qrs. ending proess. Complete. Shares. Receipts.
prod
- ...... •
Dec. 25, 1869
3Larch 25, 1870 ..... 383 88 471 2.:4,365 2 1
Juno 25, 1870 ...... 516 IC2 618 36,093 14 3
Sept. 32, 1870 ...... 4 1 77 478 36 6.d3 7 0
1,816 :44 2,160 133,276 15 11
Totals to 611.
chaelmas, 186. ' 26,237 6,3.19 32,596 1,450,082 19 3
Grand totals to.
Allehaelmas,l• 70 ,:8,1151 6,701 34,756 1,683,359 15 2

Total withdrawals under the rules since
the formation of the Society (1852) to
Michaelmas, 1870, are ...

£399,971 3 9

The last share number issued to Michaelmas, 1870, was
No. 34,756.
The reserve or surplus fund to Michel•
mas, 1870 (exclusive of office premises
and furniture account), amounts to ....

£10,500 0 0

The four auditors appointed at the quarterly meeting of the
shareholders, on the 10th of October last, namely, Mr.
Clemow, Manager of the Dudley and West Broomwich
Bank, and Mr. Goad, Estates Agent, Essex-road, Islington,
elected by the members, and Mr. Thomas Russel. Public Ac-
countant, and Mr. Newman Winstanley, nominated by
the board, under the certified rules, met on the Bth, 9th,
and 10th of November, verified the vouchers, books, and
accounts, duly signed the balance sheet, and certified
as to all deeds and securities being deposited in the
strong room. After leaving the reserve or surplus
fund at £10,500 (exclusive of office premises and furniture
account, which now stands at the present value
of £2,533 10s. 5d.), the executive committee are enabled
Ist. To provide for the interest, at five per cent. per
annum on shares (completed, or paid a year in advance),
and for the interest -of four per cent. per annum in De-
posit Department. 2nd. To add to the accounts of mem-
bers holding uncompleted invested shares, not in arrear (iu
respect of which no interest has been paid}, a bonus
equivalent to five and a half per cent. per annum, and
on shares paid a year in advance and upwards, a bonus
of half per cent. will be added to the accounts in the
Pass-book. 3rd. To pay to the holders of Completed Shares
'Alf per cent., in addition to the five per cent. already paid.
Every payment on the shares on the register at the pre-
sent annual meeting, not being in arrear, will therefore
realise 5i per cent. per annum for the present year, ending
the 30th September, 1870. As regards the additional
interest of half per cent. to which the holders of com-
pleted shares will be entitled by the above declaration of
bonus, the amount will be included in the half-yearly
Lady-Day interest warrants issued and payable
on and after the Ist of May next (1871). The
rate of interest on shares (completed) and those in
progress (paid a year in advance), will remain for the
present at 5 per cent. per annum, and the half-yearly
warrants up to Lady Day and Michaelmas will be issued
at the customary periods, namely, the Ist of May and
the Ist of November. As regards rate of interest for the
deposit department, that is, for investors who are not •
members of the society, it will remain unchanged at 4
per cent. per annum, payable half-yearly on the Ist of
May and Ist of November, simultaneously with the
interest warrants of the share department. The ordinary
quarterly meetings of the members were held on the sth
of April, the sth of July, and the 10th of October.
Since the last annual report, H. W. Currie,
Esq., has 'ceased to be a member of the
board, and J. C. Cobbold, Esq., honorary member
of the executive committee, has retired from the office of
trustee. The executive committee, under the rules„have
appointed N. W. J. Strode, Esq., of the Alliany, and
Camden Place, Chislehurst, a member of the board, as
trustee, and the resolution as to the nomination has been
duly certified as a rule of the society. The following
members of the executive committee retire by rotation,
viz. ;—The Hon. Robert Bourke, M.P,. Colonel Augustus
Meyrick, Sir Lawrence Palk, Bart., and Newnham Win-
stanley, Esq. ; and, being eligible,. offer themselves for re-
election. The beneficial effects arising from the co-osuffi-
sta-
tion with the United Land Company (Limited) are
ciently indicated in the subjoined return of estates on which
the society has made building advances during tie past year:
Kilburn and Harrow-road, Middlesex ; Finchley, Mid-
dlesex ; Ealing, Middlesex ; Fulham (West London No.
1), Middlesex Fulham Fields (ditto No. 2), Middlesex ;
Hammersmith' (ditto No. 3), Middlesex ; Holloway,
Middlesex ; Kentish Town, Middlesex ; Wood Green,
Middlesex ; Willesden, Middlesex ; Portsmouth (Nos. 1
and 2), Hampshire ; Clapham Junction (Nos. 1,2, and
3), Surrey ; West Hill (Putney Heath), Surrey ;Plough___
Essex ; Forest
Lane IBattersea), Surrey ; Red Hill, Surrey ; Walling-
Putney Common, Surrey ; Sutton, Sur-
reyton, Surrey ;
; Carshalton, Surrey ; Wanstead,
Gate, Essex ; Sheerness, Kent •; Sandown, Isle of
Wight ; New Ferry (opposite Liverpool), Cheshire.
As regards the Advance Department for the current year,
applications have been made for the annexed properties :
Wellingborough, Northamptonshire ; Northampten
(Kingsthorpe), Northamptonshire ;Havant, Hants ;
G'ipsy Hill (Norwood), Surrey ; Muswell Hill (Alexandra
Palace), Middlesex. As the -United Land Company,
Limited, have acquired estates at Wolverhampton (Stal-
fordshire) and the 'Forest of Dean (Gloucestershire), and
are in treaty for other eligible properties, there will be no
lack of building proposals, the extent and proportion of
the loans on which are matters of consideration at the
weekly Boards of the Directors. The Execu-
tiOe Committee have again to refer with gratification
to the success of the system of combinedaction ,• as proved
by the readiness displayed by the members in the taking
of the shares of the United Land Company (Limited), on
their third issue. The nineteenth year of the Conserva-
tive Land Society is in progress, and no exertions will be
spared by the committee to secure a continuance of the
confidence reposed in them for so many years by the
members, and to ensure a steady rate of interest for their
investments. It never has been, and it never will be, the
policy of the board, to embark into speculative transac-
tions on the chance of obtaining large profits. Security is
the first consideration, and no sounder security can, be
found than that of laud and houses,