The Sun.
London, England, 1870-09-21 00:00:00

DEFEAT OF THE PRUSSIANS.

Several telegrams have reached us giving an account of
skirmishes to the south of Paris. The most important of
these affairs took place at Monthlery. A telegram from
Orleans, dated September 20, states that " 25,000 French
soldiers massed in rear of the Monthlery tower attacked
15,000 Prussians. The latter were mowed down by the
French artillery, and suffered eonsiderable loss. They
recrossed the river in order to fall back upon another army
corps." A previous telegram from Orleans, dated 10th
Sept., states that a Prussian corps, strength unknown,
appeared on the plains between Champlain and Wissons,
but was repulsed and forced to retire on Monthlery and
Arpajon. Again, another telegram, dated Orleans, Sept.
20, states that travellers assert that the engagements
which took place on the 19th at Wissons were of a serious
nature, and that the Prussians suffered heavily from
masked batteries placed in the woods. A fourth tele-
gram from Rouen, dated Sept. 20, 9.25 a.m., in-
forms us that a small engagement took place
at Visors Wissons ?—and that the Prussians were re-
pulsed at Monthlery and Arpajon. Now, the question
arises, were there two engagements—one, a small one,
at Wissons, and the other, a more serious affair, at
Monthlery ; or are the two one and the same, the im-
portance of the action not having been at first
fully known at Paris? Wissons is a small village about
seven and a half miles from the enceinte, due south of
Fort Montrouge, and Monthlery about seven miles further
on in the same direction. Champlain is about two miles from
Wissons, on the road to Monthlery and Arpajon. Now
we know that General Vinoy, at the head of his corps,
which is estimated at 25,000 men, is afield, and 25,000
is given in the telegrams as the strength of the French
force engaged. This estimate is, therefore, in all pro-
bability correct. Now, an engagement in which the
contending parties number respectively 25,000 and
15,000 men, and in which the Prussians " were
mowed down " by the French artillery, cannot be
termed " a small engagement." Napoleon would
have called it "an affair of advanced posts
of the first magnitude." We, therefore, are inclined to
think that two affairs tock place on the 19th—one, a
trifling skirmish at Wissons ; the other, a more serious
affair, seven miles distant from the latter place, at Month-
lery. Whether there were two engagements or only one is,
however, of not much importance ; and one thing seems cer-
tain, namely, that an affair of some importance has taken
place about 14 miles from Paris, and that the Prussians
have been worsted. We are told that the Prussians at the
close of the engagement recrossed the river. The troops
engaged on their side were probably a portion of the army
of the Crown Prince, who is reported to be advancing
towards Fontainebleau, and it is to be presumed that
on their defeat they recrossed the Seine at Corbeil.
The importance of this success to the French cannot be
too highly estimated. With the exception of the little
pas ade affair at Saarbruck, it is the only occasion in
which they have been victorious, and we are much mis-
taken if the morale of the French troops, which sadly
wanted raising, is not improved by their good fortune to
an extent that may largely influence the result of the
campaign. Neither are the present and tangible advan-
tages to be despised, for the investment of Paris will be
delayed, and the Prussians will be compelled to concen-
trate instead of dispersing their army, now that they per-
ceive that their foe is no longer to be despised. The
result of concentration will be increased freedom of com-
munication with the rest of France for Paris, and augmented
difficulty of subsistence for the Prussians. We learn that
1,500 Prussians were on the 19th constructing a bridge
across the Seine at Villeneuve St. George, and that tho
Prussians have crossed the Seine at Choisy le Roi. Ville-
neuve is about seven miles from the enceinte, and Choisy is
about two miles lower down the river. Several skirmishesin
addition to those we have mentioned are stated to
have taken place, but the accounts are so meagre
and the results so unimportant that we do nu
more than allude to them. It is stated that there
were strong Prussian detachments at Creteil and
Clamart, but these must have been, we think,
mere scouting parties, which were no doubt cleared ont
by General Vinoy before the action at Monthlery. We
learn that all the troops—the regular troops—are outside
Paris, so we may expect, especially after the success of
the 19th, to hear of man, sharp affairs of advanced posts
—Standard.

MR. GEORGE HUDSON.—A year ago the trustees
appointed by the subscibers to the Hudson Annuity Fuse
invested a sum of £4OOO, which purchased a life annuit3,
for the ex-Railway King of £520. It is now announced
that a further sum of £B5O, has been placed making th
annuity .2635 per annum. This is strictly reserved for
Mr. Hudson's personal benefit, and is amply secure°
against any claims of litigants. Mr. Hudson is in excel
lent health and resides in London.