The Sun.
London, England, 1870-12-29 00:00:00

SPECIAL EDITION.

SUN OFFICE, 7 P.M.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

ATTEMPT ON THE LIFE OF
MARSHAL PRIM.

MADRID, December 28.

While Marshal him was proceeding to the Cortes
from the Ministry of War some individuals fired at
his carriage in the Calle Alcala.
The Marshal was wounded, as we's also one of his
adjutants, but not dangerously.
The utmost indignation is felt at the villaneous
attempt.
The authorities at once took steps to repress any
outbreak, and also for the arrest of the assasins.
The city remains tranquil.

THE WAR.

EXPECTED BATTLE NEAR HAVRE.
HAVRE, December 29.

The Germans have assembled in great force near
Bol')ec, and an engagement is looked upon as im-
minent. The enemy also occupy strong positions
between Duclair and St. Paer.

THE BATTLE OF PONT NOYELLES.
LILLE, December 29.

General Faidherbe has issued an order of the day
to the Army of the North, congratulating the troops
composing the Army of the North on their gallant
conduct at the battle of Pont Noyelles, and on the
glorious success which has been the it reward. He
says the artillery was well directed, and he compli-
ments the Mobile and National Guards on their
bravery under fire. He concluded by saying that
some days' rest merited by their glorious deeds will
soon make them forget the privations and the
rigour of the temperature which they have borne
with resignation. Let us be penetrated with this
thought that these rude trials are imposed upon us
hS the safety of the country.

THE PILLAGE OF ST. CALAIS.

' BORDEAUX, December 27.

The Germans at St. Calais, on the 25th inst., de-
manded 20,000 f. but finally accepted 15,000 f., and
levied heavy recquisitions of all kinds. The town
was delivered up to pillage during one hour.

BLOCKADE OF FRENCH PORTS.
COPENHAGEN, December 28 (3.50 p.m.)
The French Chargé d'Affairs has made officially
known to the Government of Denmark that all the
French ports occupied by the Gentians are to be
blockoded. The port of Kiel is completely shut up
by ice.

GREAT CONSPIRACY DISCO-
VERED AT COLOGNE.
INTENDED MUTINY OF 50,000 FRENCH
SOLDIERS.
BERLIN, Dec. 28, (4 p.m.)
A. great conspiracy has been discovered among the
French prisoners at Cologne, Coblentz, and Mayence,
60,000 strong. It is declared that they intendel to
mutiny on Christmas-eve, disarm the guards, and
fight their way back to France.
The troops, being kept in readiness, prevented the
outbreak.
Many French officers have been removed from the
Rhine to the fortresses on the Russian frontier.

The Allgerneine Zeitung states that the French
prisoners at Coblentz, and Mayence, numbering
60,000, plotted an outbreak on the night of
Christmas Day. They proposed to fall on
their guards at a given signal, disarm and
kill them, and then hasten to the French
frontier, where they calculated on assistonce,
especially in Alsace. Ihe military and police
authorities had, however, a timely warning, and
on the 24th brought up considerable reinforcements
of infontry and artillery. At Cologne 10,000 troops
were posted in the barracks, rea'ly to march out at
the first beat of the drum. No outbreak, however,
was attempted. Many of the prisoners had pre-
viously asked whether they would be allowed to
receive Christmas presents from France, and, being
rnswered in the affirmative, boxes containing
Weapons were forwardod to them. These were con-
fiscated. At Coblentz a chest arrived, addressed to
a Freneh officer, which was proved to contain five
six-barrelled reuolvers and a dagger, concealed in
clothing. The defiant and insolent demeanour of
the officers is strongly complained of, and 300 of
them have consequently been removed from
Wiesbaden to tho eastern provinces, where
they will be subjected to stricter su-
pervision, and will be further from the
French frontier. On the 19th two officers escaped
from Dusseldorf, and a number of Mobiles recently
attempted to escape from the Saxon fortress of
Konigstein, having constructed a rope out of towels.
They were, however, detected in the act. It is said
the prisoners will in future wear an epaulette, on
Which will be stamped the place where they are
interned, and their name, battalion, and company.

CONTINUED BOMBARDMENT OF MONT

AVRON.

\ BERLIN, December 28.
The following telegram has been received here to-
day :

VERSAILLES, December 28.

I‘lnt -Avron was uninterruptedly bombarded in
the course of yesterday, and the bombardment will
be continued to-day.
Our losses are insignificant.
The Provincial Correspondence of the 28th, an-
nouncing the bombardment of the fort, says the
Maasure is not yet io be looked upon as a bombard-
ment of Paris, nor even exactly as a bombardment of
the• forts, but as an effectual introduction to that
Course. As soon as Mont Avron is taken, not only
Will operations against the surrounding forts be
greatly facilitated, but the bombardment of the
neighbouring parts of Paris will become possible.
This great object will now be all the more safely
effected, inasmuch as the besieging army has but
little to fear from without.

HEADQUARTERS OF THE CROWN PRINCE OF
PRUSSIA, VERSAILLES, Dec. 28.
The cold weather has continued without inter-
Mission. The Seine at Villeneuve St. Georges, oan
be passed on the ice.
The Germans continue to cannonade Mont
A.vron to the east of Paris. All is quiet south
of Paris. _ _

OLICHY, December 26.

Everything has been very quiet to-day, but the
24th Saxon Division, from here to the Marne, was
standing on the alert.
The commencement of the bombardment of Paris
is to be on the east side.

Circumstances are not Very sanguine as to the im-
mediate result.

BALLOON NEWS FROM PARIS. -
LIMOGES, December 26.

A. balloon has descended here. The news from
Paris is up to the 27th. The reports from Paris—
that the city is in a thorough state of defence. The
excessive cold impedes military operations. The
Warlike preparations daily become of a more for-
midable character. On Monday the Mobilised