The Sun.
London, England, 1870-09-23 00:00:00

THE FRENCH LOSSES AT SEDAN.

The numerous estimates, more or less correct, of the
French losses at Sedan which have been given to the
world are now followed by the official military
report, published in the Berlin Ttloniteur. As
the surrender of MacMahon's army on the Ist
instant is an event unique in the history of war,
an authoritative statement respecting its extent and con-
ditions is of value. The Crown Prince of Saxony's
division made 11,000 prisoners during the day, and cap-
tured 25 guns, seven mitrailleurs, two flags, and one eagle.
The sth and 11th Corps contributed more than 10,000
prisoners, and adding the prisoners taken by the Bava-
rian troops, there was a total of about 25,000 men who
fell into the hands of the Germans during the battle
alone. Besides these 83,000 became prisoners of war
under the capitulation, fourteen thousand French
wounded were found in and around Sedan,
but whether these are included among the 83,000 does not
clearly appear. More than 400 guns, including 70 mitrail-
leuses, 184 fortress guns, and an extremely large war
material fell also into the hands of the victors. Only about
3,000 men succeeded in escaping to Belgium. If the losses
of the battle of Beaumont on the 30th of August are in-
cluded MacMahon's army numbered nearly 150,000 men.
Within three days this army had ceased to exist, its whole
force, with the excepeion of the 3,000 escaped to Belgium,
being either killed, wounded, or prisoners. —.Daily News.

THE BALLOON FROM METZ.

The Sub-Prefect of Neuchateau has forwarded to the
Minister of War in Paris the following official account of
the arrival of the balloon from Metz :

" Neuchateau, September 16, 11.45 p.m.
" This .evening, towards half-past six a small balloon
was found at the corner of the wood at Parguy-sous
Mureaux, some 10 kilometres from Neuchateau. In the
car was a packet carefully tied up, and covered. It was
opened, and the first thing found was a piece of parch-
ment with some writing, bearing date this morning,
September 16, signed by General Coffinieres, Com-
mandant of Metz, and sealed with his seal, begging the
person into whose hands the packet in question fell to take
it to the nearest French post-office. The Mayor of Parguy
on hearing of this discovery, hastened to carry out the
wishes of the General, and brought the packet to the
office of Neuchateau. On opening it I found in a sealed
envelope eight distinct parcels, composed of nearly 5,000
letters written from Metz by our soldiers to their families.
Each note was of the same size and shape. During three
hours the pOstmaster and I read a great many of these
letters, so as to learn news which might be useful to you.
I quote some passages extracted from a number of these
letters which seemed to me the most important :—` Second
letter by means of the second balloon, September 16th,
eight o'clock in the morning.—We are still blockaded in
Metz, and have been for nearly a month. We want
for nothing. We have been hemmed in round Metz since
the 17th, but do not be uneasy, we shall come out in a
few days. We have neither famine nor epidemic. The
army is in good condition ; we want for nothing except
news. We have been blockaded since the battle of
Gravelotte. The Prussians are at Biiey. I wrote to you
that I was starting for Verdun, but we were slopped on
the way. The town has yet plenty of provisions, and
there is no illness. I wait events with calmness, writes
General Jolivet to Marshal Valiant.'

`We have not had an engagement since September Ist.
We are encamped in the suburbs of Metz, beneath the
forts, and we want for nothing. We have abundance.
I think lam growing fatter. The blockade is vigorous,
but we want for nothing. Whatever they may say, the
army of Bazaine was not beaten. We conquered on the
14th, 16th, and 18th of August ; on the 31st we had com-
plete success, and we have not yet made an end. When
the time comes for making a pasrage we shall make it.
The sanitary condition is excellent. We hope to beat the
Prussians well again. The starting place of the balloon
which will carry you these despatches is the School of
Application. We are not allowed to write at greater
length. I am safe and sound, and at the head of the
battalion since the fights of Servigny and Nosseville, on
the 31st August and Ist September.'
' There exists in my regiment the same enthusiasm as
at the departure from Paris. We are encamped at Borny-
sous-Bletz. I took part in the battles of Borny, Grave-
lotte, St. Privat, and Gervigny. lam well, though I
shared in the affairs of the 14th, 18th, and 31st August,
and the Ist September. The car of the balloon can carry
one kilo, we are not allowed to write longer. This is the
second balloon we. have tried to send you. Colonel
Kerleadec has died from his wounds. We only wish for
the return of fine weather. We want for nothing.'
" These several letters will start by the postmen to-
morrow morning for their respective destinations."