The Sun.
London, England, 1870-12-20 00:00:00

ENCOUNTER NEAR HAVRE.

Intelligence comes from Bordeaux that on the
19th the Francs:tireurs of Elbosuf attacked a party
of sixty mounted Germans near Havre, of whom ten
were killed and a great many wounded.

STORMING OF NUITS BY THE

GERMANS.

A telegram from Bordeaux of the 18th, states
that Nuits, 14 miles south of Dijon, has been re-
occupied by the French ; and a telegram from
Baden reports the recapture of the place by the
Germans. General Glumer, commanding two
brigades of Badish troops, marched yesterday
(Monday, December 19) aga!nst the town,
and found it occupied with considerable hostile
forces. A serious engagement ensued, and in
the end the military station and town of Nuits
were stormed. Very few details are given. No
prisoners or guns are mentioned, and the French are
said to have withdrawn at nightfall. The fact that
Prince William of Baden, brother of the Grand
Duke, took a prominent part in the fight, as
attested by his wound, shows that importance was
attached to the possession of the place. It is
by no means improbable that the force opposed to
General Glumer, was partly composed of Gari-
baldians, Nuits being only five and twenty miles
from Autun.

The following official despatch has been re-
ceived :

" General Glumer marched to-day with the Ist
and 2nd Brigades against Nuits, where he encoun-
tered considerable hostile forces. A. serious engage-.
ment ensued, terminating by the storming of the
railway station and the town of Nuits. The enemy
withdrew at nightfall. Our losses are about 300 men
killed and wounded. Prince William of Baden was
slightly wounded in the cheek."

THE SIEGE OF PARIS.

HEADQUARTERS OF THE CROWN PRINCE OF
PRUSSIA, VERSAILLES, December 19.

The arrival at Versailles of a deputation of the
North German Parliament to congratulate King
William on the change of style from Confederation
to Empire is regarded as a good omen for the mili-
tary events which may soon be expected. The
destruction of the Army of tho Loire is thought cer-
tain ; and though Paris may resist, it is not believed
that France can struggle on much after the end of
the old year. _ _

This, at least, is the Garman opinion. There is,
of course, a chance that fighting may be indefinitely
prolonged. The obstinate endurance of the French
may hold out until April.

BRUSSELS, December 19.

Late accounts from Versailles state that the
suddenness and largeness of the new call upon
German manhood is considered to indicate most
clearly the fact that Moltke has found the besieging
army far too weak to invest Paris. Thoughtful
men at headquarters say that one or two sorties
like the last, with better plans and more men,
might almost force the German commanders to raise
the siege. It is for the defensive, not the offensive,
that the huge levies of Landwehr are coming up—
to strengthen the German' lines, and not to attack
Paris. The conviction gains ground that the besieged
force is more than three times as numerous as the
besiegers, and that this fact constitutes an element
of great danger.

The New Prussian (Cross) Gazette of the 19th
says that all-the causes which rumour has recently
assigned for the delays in the bombardment of Paris
are totally incorrect. The excessive difficulties ex-
perienced in the transport of war material will
shortly have been overcome, and then further action
will be solely guided by supreme military considera-
tions.

The Kreuz Zeitung reports that all difficulties of
transport to the bombardment of Paris will speedily
be removed, and that military considerations will
decide the question when the bombardment will take
place.

The constant escape of youths from Lorraine to
join the French armies is reported here.

KING WILLIAM AND THE GERMAN
EMPIRE.

BERLIN, December 19, (8 p.m.)

On the reception of the address of the North G-er-
nun Parliament at the Royal Headquarters, Ver-
sailles, his Maje* having thanked the deputies by
Whom it was presented, said :
"The request addressed to me by the King of
Bavaria, to re-establish the dignity of Emperor
of the old German 'Reich' has filled
me with deep emotion; but you know
that, in this question, which affects such highly-
esteemed interests, and memories so greatly
Cherished by the German nation, my own feelings
or my own judgment cannot influence my decision.
Only in the unanimous voice of the German Princes
and Free Towns—only in the united wish of the
German nation and its representatives—shall I recog-
nise a call from Providence to which, relying. upon
God's blessing, I could conform."