The Sun.
London, England, 1870-12-06 00:00:00

THE WORKS AROUND PAM.

The Paris Temps of the 17th gives an account of the
works before Paris, which has some bearing on recent
operations. Champigny, it says, is at this moment the
point to which the French. converge. The Prussian
officers have some reason to complain, for the shells have
destroyed more than one house in which they
used to assemble. The French bombs, aimed with
great precision at the trenches of Champigny, drove
out a band of scared soldiers. The French themselves
are under shelter. The works at Villejuif, which unite
with the forts of Charenton, d'lvry, de Bicetre, and
Montrouge, give them the road on both sides of the
Seine when they are able to use it, and mean-
while prevent the enemy from advancing either
from Choisy or Valenton. These works also
deprive Chatillon of some of its force, since Chatillon, not
being secure from an attack,can neither destroy Montrouge
itself nor give any efficacious assistance to Meudon
ngainst Vanves and Issy. T.,ey give besides a
support to the French troops in case of an ad-
vance, which is invaluable. It has been asked
what battle-field the army of Paris could act
upon if necessary. There is one of two leagues extent be-
yond Villejuif, on the plateau of I,ongboyan, and another
beyond Yvette and Orge, on the plain between Montyery
and Corbeil. The enemy can make no solid re-
sistance there, for it is certain that the Prus-
sians are in no great strength in those parts,
We shall not precipitate matters since events are in our
favour, but wo are ready to act. This is known at Ver-
sailles, where orders have been given to construct and arm
a tete-du-pont at St. Germain. The precaution of sheltering
so strong a position against a surprise shews that a descent
of our Northern forces is apprehended in the valley of the
Oise. No large reinforcements have been received by the
enemy, and some surprise is felt that the army which
besieged Metz has not done more to help the besiegers of
Paris. The fact is that since the fall of Metz despair
has given the French that energy which Germany is
losing.

ON THE LOIRE.

COUNT KERATRY AND M. GAMBETTA.

Count Keratry has addressed the following letter to
the Minister of War, in explanation of his reasons for
resigning command of the Breton army :---"By a decree
of October 22nd. you appointed me commander of the
mobilized forces of the five departments of Brittany. At
that period there was no army in existence. Thanks
to the patriotism of my fellow-countrymen and the
devotion of roy officers, on November 22 the camp
of Coulie was established and rendered impregnable.
This was an exceptional instance in France, and on the
24th of November, after having personally ascertained
the fact, you expressed your great satisfaction, which you
repeated to me the same night at the Prefecture of Mans.
At that time Le Mans was menaced ; the left wing of the
Army of the Loire might have been outflanked ; the
troops of General Fierech had been routed, and were
fleeing from Nogent-la Rotron to my camp." After
paying a tribute to the Army of Brittany, and stating
that the enemy disappeared suddenly when he and his
troops marched to meet them, Count K4ratry adds
Notwithstanding the entreaties of my troops, I in-
formed you on November 29 that the tenour of your
orders issued from Tours on the 26th, at the very mo-
ment when we were proceeding to attack the enemy,
compelled me to resign my command. You accepted
my resignation on the same day. In summoning my
fellow-citizens to the defence of the country I contracted
a responsibility towards them. I have, therefore, the
.honour to announce that when circumstances permit I
shall invoke the decision of a Council of War upon the
conduct of the superior War and Marine Departments,
and thus, both they and myself, will appear at the bar of

the country, and none of the documents which I have in
my possession shall be withheld."

SMALL ENGAGEMENTS IN THE LOIRET.

A French letter from Tours on the 26th ult. says the
enemy draws every day closer to the Loire. The fighting has
extended from Nogent-le-Rotrou to Montargis, a distance
of fifty leagues. The armies have not yet had a pitched
battle, but there have been numerous skirmishes. The
25th was 'a day of battles. The most serious encounter
was in Eure-et-Lore at Brou, which laSted great part of
the day, and in which the Prussians were repulsed with-
out being able to carry the French positions. Near Or-
leans the Prussians pushed a reconnaissance on to Arthe-
nay, but on two cannon opening fire they retreated in
disorder. At Neuville-aux-Bois, about six leagues from
Orleans, they surprised the advanced posts and fired a
shell into the town of Neuville, but were driven back by
some French troops, who came up with artillery. The
Prussians left some dead, and fifty prisoners. Another
engagenient took place at the Orleans forts near St. Loup
but no particulars have been received. The line most
threatened is still that of Mans and of Vendome.
Doubtless the Germans are 'massing their forces for an
attack on Mans, which is preparing for a resolute resist-
ance. In the direction of Chateaudun and Vendome the
Prussians are making progress. T.Thlans have been seen
at Chartres, that is ti say within a dozen leagues
of Tours. The spirit of resistance is everywhere
growing stronger, and orders have been issued by the
government for the formation of ten entrenched camps,
at St. Omer, Cherburg, Coulie, in the department of
Sarthe, Nevers, La Rochelle, Bordeaux, Clermont-Fer-
rand, Toulouse, Pas-des-Lanciers, and Lyons, - The
National Guards, mobilised by the decree of November
2nd, and the National Guards now in the depots, the
Free corps and the contingents of the:depots, will be sent
to these camps for military instruction in waiting for
their summons to the field. The camps at St. Omer,
Cherbourg-, La Rochelle, and Pas-des-Lanciers, will, from
their vicinity to the sea, be strategically fortified and
armed with artillery.