The Sun.
London, England, 1870-10-25 00:00:00

GERMAN rLANS AND VIEWS.

The special correspondent of the Telegraph, writing from
Berlin, October 21st, says : From a private communica-
tion which I have received to-day, and which is dated
Versailles, the 20th October, at 10 in the evening, I have
reason to believe that the bombardment of Paris,
.now on tha eve of its commencement, will
open against Fort d'lssy or, rather, the attack,
for which all is reported to be ready, being
made against the line from the Seine to the Bievre
rivulet, this fort will be the principal object of the heavy
battering trains which have now been brought into posi-
tion vis-a-vis of Forts Vanves and Montrouge. It will be
necessary to cripple Vanves in the first instance, because
it takes Fort d'lssy under fire ; and there is an
obvious motive in directing the attack as soon
as possible against the last-named fort, it being
unprotected on the west flank. Should the bom-
bardment on this line not have the desired effect,
it is resolved to go on to the formal attack, opening
parallels against Forts d'lssy and Vanves, but continuing
the bombardment meanwhile. All is prepared for the
commencement of these operations. General von
Werder, having interrupted the railway communication
between Belfort and Langres, is before the fortress of
Dijon, which has been fired upon with field-guns. Belfort
is besieged by the Reserve Division. The operations of
Generals Von Der Tann and Von Werder, directed
against the South, are, by well-concerted plans, designed
to occupy the whole terrain north of the Loire from
Orleans to Dijon, with diversions to Lyons, Bourges, and
Tours. Strong bodies of cavalry will maintain the connec-
tion between both detachments. The reception here of the
proposal which has lately been mooted in England, for
such conditions of peace as may satisfy Germany with-
out compelling France to yield a rood of land, has
been profoundly scornful. The general feeling is reflected,
with fair accuracy, by an article headed " The Arbitra-
tion-Project," published in the Post of this morning. In
certain neutral circles—so we aro told—every possible in-
genuity has been exerted to ferret out a basis of diplo-
matic intervention, acceptable to Germany, and in-
nocuous to the amour propre of France. How shall it be
arranged foi France to come out of the losing game with-
out loss—and, on the other hand, for her German con-
querors to be satisfied without conquest ? The knotty
problem is solved by the project of a guarantee, the giving
of which is considered by those who have proposed it to
be a satisfactory pledge to the victor—before whom,
to be sure, it would not be quite decent to appear
with empty hands. The chief point, however, is the
protection of France against the demand that she shall
surrender oertain territory. The monomania of the
French is to consider their land as superlatively sacred.
They have at no time scrupled to increase it by
treacherous fraud or open violence, their love of
conquest never acknowledging a barrier set by
justice or morality. They rushed without any kind of
scruple into war, intending as Europe knows, and as they
themselves acknowledge, to wrest from Germany a part
of her possessions. Their enterprise has failed ; they
have been conquered, instead of being the conquerors ;
and, when the Power which they assailed has resolved
out the right of victory, .they
on moderately carrying
shriek forth a protest in the ears of Europe—whose duty
it is, they think, to protect them in the possession of two
ill-gotten provinces, and save them from becoming martyrs
to the right of nations.

AunonA BonEALis.—An unusually line clisplb
of aurora borealis was visible in London and places fc%
some distance round last evening, between eight and
nine o'clock, and lasted about twenty minutes. The
whole horizon was lit up with masses of colour, such
se would be caused by extensive fires. The streamers
were white, suddenly changing to pink, and then to car-
mine, while the corona in the zenith was deep purple.
These gave place to other white streamers, again colour
big. A less vivid display was visible for some time longer.
The interest caused in London by the display was very
great, crowds of people having congregated in the more
mien spaces to view the unusual sight.
It is stated on authority that Mr. Disraeli has
signified that he does not intend to fulfil the expectation
which was prevalent that he would deliver one or more
public addresses in Lancashire.
The headmastership of Appleby Grammar School,
Leicestershire has become vacant by the death of the
Rev. Francis banks Falkner, M.A. The rev. gentleman
was educated at St. John's College, Cambridge,
where he took his B.A. degree in 1854, being twelfth
wrangler.

The motion at the Oxford Union cn Thursday
night, that " all religious restrictions in the university
ought to be removed," was carried, after a short debate,
by 20 to 11. The motion for next Thursday is " that the
conduct of the British Cabinet, with regard to the Con-
tinental war, has been satisfactory."

Arrangements have been made to keep open the
London Exhibition for the Relief of Destitute Widows
and Orphans of German Soldiers till November sth. The
eight works executed by the Crown Princess of Prussia
and Princess Louise continue to attract visitors. A first
instalment of £l,OOO from the proceeds of the exhibition
and the subscription list connected therewith has already
been forwarded to the Crown Princess of Prussia, who
has undertaken to superintend its distribution.
_ _

Preparations are in progress at Windsor Castle for
the reception of her Majesty. and their Royal Highnesses
Princesses Louise and Ileatrice and Prince Leopold. The
Queen will, according to the most recent arrangements,
return to Windsor Castle on or about the sth of- next
month. During the absence of her Majesty and the
Royal Family in Scotland extensive alterations and re-
storations have been made at the Castle.
His Royal Highness Prince Hassan has arrived at
his new residence, near St. Giles's Church, Oxford. His
Royal Highness is still a member of Christ Church, but
—as in the case of the Prince of Wales—he will be al-
lowed to pursue his studies out of the College walls. It
is understood that the second son of the Viceroy of
Egypt will, as previously announced, go to Christ
Church.

WRECK ON CARNARVON BAR.—CARNARVON,
Monday.—John Jackson, Esq., the harbour master, re-
p9rts that the brigantine Meteor Flag, of Londonderry,
has gone on the south bank of Carnarvon Bar. The
Llandwyn lifeboat, John Gray Bell, belonging to the
National Lifeboat Institution, put off through a heavy
brokeu sea, and saved the shipwrecked crew. This is one
of the fourteen lifeboats presented to the society by its
Manchebter branch.