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

1 HET2Sti N, LONDON, MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1876.

time. The engine driver of the coal train was next
examined at some length ; after which the chairman of
the magistrates, in addressing prisoner,fsaid they consi-
dered it to be their duty to commit him for trial at
Durham Assizes, which commence to-day.

THE SORTIES FROM PARIS.

The special correspondent of the Telegraph, writing
from the Royal nead-quarters at -Versailles, Dec. 7th,
says :—The recent sorties from Paris have brokett dawn
through want df energy dr talent on the part of their
commanders; not throngli ladk df epurage or resolution
in the soldiers. Nothing dould have been niare gallant
than the bearing of the' MoblotS during their long
struggle with the Wurtemburgers and the Prussian Saxons.
They undoubtedly had the best of the hitting for
a considerable time, and, had they been phshed forward
without an hour's delay, either towards Lagny or Fon-
tainebleau, I have little detibt but that they might
have
.broken through tae German lines altogether,
and, besides inflicting incalculable daniage upon
this army, might have forced it to ra.igd
siege of Paris. The inaptitude of the French
generals seems to have reached its apogee yesterday
morning, when, after developing an army of seventy
thousand men in battle array on the plain fronting their
newly-acquired positions—Brie-sur-Marne, Champigny,
&c--at eight a.m., they marched the whole force back
to Paris at midday, although not. a gun was fired at it
from the German batteries, and withirew their troops
from the villages they had occupied at such slim,
mous pains and terrible cost. It,, was a lovely
morning, although atrociously cold, the sun shining
brightly, the ground as hard as a stone, and the weather
in every respect favourable for rapid movements of infan-
try and artillery. We were all out, as near the field of
the expected action as we could get, and on the qzti tire,
although more than half frozen, and waited for
hours, vainly endeavouring to keep up something
like circulation of the blood by violent exercise,
listening to the distant booming of the guns from
Vanves, Montrouge, and Bicetre, which kept up a drop-
ping fire at the Bavarian and Prussian works throughout
the day, and gazing wistfully at the glittering mass of
white buildings, far away to the westwards, through the
field-glasses our stiffened fingers could scarcely grasp.
Beautiful city ! who can think of its cruel pangs with-
out sorrow ? But we waited in vain for the advance
of the dark battalions, gathered together in huge
oblong blocks on the plain intersected by the Marne ;
for hours they moved not, and when they did, it was to
retire slowly towards the fortress of Vincennes. The
losses sustained by the Germans during the three days'
fighting are heavier than was at first supposed. In all—
killed, wounded, and prisoners—they amount to nearly
six thousand men. The Wurtemberger and Pome-
ranians (2nd Corps) have been the greatest sufferers.
His Majesty of Bavaria is expected next Friday or
Saturday, and, it is said, will bring with him the
" Kaisermantel." Trianon is set apart for his
residence, and has been put in order for his reception.
The Russian Question, I hear. is in a fair way towards
adjustment, at least, for the present. It is to be hoped
that the English nation will select some suitable and
handsome means of expressing its gratitude to Mr.
Odo Russell for the inestimable services he has
rendered to the interests of Great Britain during his stay
here. Speaking with the reserve that my position here
imposes upon me, I may venture to state authoritatively

that no one has contributed so largely to the maintenance
of peace, with the single exception of Count Bismarck, as
our distinguished and talented countryman by his clever
and intrepid manipulation of the recent difficulty.
Paris was summoned yesterday to surrender on the terms
already made known to you. I have just heard (3 p.m.)
that the Parlementaire has returned, and that Trochu
has declined to surrender, and, moreover, manifested no
desire to verify the statements of the despatch forwarded
to him. We must, therefore, expect the worse. It may
come to a bombardment yet, though I still doubt the adop-
tion of that extreme measure.
The correspondent of the Standard at Paris, sends the
following, under date December 2 :—A. determined
attempt to regain their lost ground was made by the
Prussians at the break of day. They appear to have
called up reinforcements from Ferrieres and also from
their positions to the north of Paris. Trains were heard
passing in the night in the Dammartin direction, and as
soon as there was light sufficient they were noticed to
stop opposite Aubrey, and discharge their passen-
gers on the borders of the Forest of Bondy. The
advance on the French lines was made in conipact
masses, and was as furious as the onslaught of the Rus-
sians at Inkermann. But for the strength and admirable
placing of the new artillery, powerfully aided by the
redoubts in advance of Vincennes and the long-range
guns from the forts of Nogent and Charenton, the young
troops could hardly have withstood the assault, so fierce
it was. A desperate fight continued for seven hours
with varying fortune, but on the whole the French
had the advantage, and at a quarter to two, when
the last despatch arrived from the field, the Prussian
infantry, which had temporarily succeeded in getting on
the heights of Villiers, was forced back all along the
line, and steadily retired to the coppices an cover in
the rear. General Ducrot inspired the French by his
daring example. He was present everywhere. Trochu
was also conspicuous, and was hailed with enthu-
siasm as he rode along the line of skirmishers
from Brie to Champigny at one o'clock. The
action continues, and the issue is still doubtful, but
reinforcements have been rapidly .sent on, and General
Vinoy having lent them aid by a vigorous diversion to
the south, the chances are in favour of the French.
Thirty-three battalions of the National Guard have
marched out under General Thomas to their
support, and General Liniers and De Beau-
fort, with the 3rd and 4th divisions of the
3rd Army, are held in readiness. The struggle is
much fiercer than that of Wednesday, of which it
may be considered the complement. The losses on both
sides are serious. Joinville-le-Pont is choke-full of poor
wounded wretches. Many of them, less fortunate, I fear
must rest on the ground the length of this bitter cold
night. Their agonies are dreadful, owing to the frost.
The city is quiet, but thrills with suspense. No wonder,
when one thinks how sons, husbands, and fathers may be
dead or dying at the moment.