The Sun.
London, England, 1870-11-24 00:00:00

THE WAR.

THE CAMPAIGN AROUND PARIS.

IN SEARCiI OF AN ARMY.

The whereabouts of the Loire army is " one of the most
open questions of modern times." No English correspon-
dent can get near it ; the French are not allowed to say
anything, if they know anything, about it. The Germans
themselves profess that it is extremely difficult to find
this force, which, however, everybody agrees in repre-
senting as strong in numbers, well equipped, and admir-
ably disciplined. Herr Wachenhusen, of the Cologne
Gazette. says the Army of the Loire has marched
northwards, in the direction of Rouen. This,
he observes, shews that it has a skilful gene-
ral, who probably designs to co-operate with Mont Valdrien
somewhere in the direction of St. Germain. Rapidity of
movement seems to be their great object. The Germans
had not succeeded south of Paris even in getting a skir-
mish. The small town of Anneau, near Chartres, which
had been occupied by the Germans, had been punished
with a fine for its connection with the surprise at Ablis.
The Francs-tirenrs, according to the hotel-keeper,
entered the town at two o'clock one morning
with sixty captured Prussian cavalry soldiers,
and wished to establish themselves there ; but,
being refused any countenance by the inhabitants, who
were fearful of the consequences, they retired, just as the
Prussians entered. The latter searched every house, but
only found and shot five of the band. The recapture of
Orleans is held by the French as a splendid victory, and
in the villages all capable of bearing arms have hastenedto
join the army. Only graybeards, women, and children are
now to be found in the wretched villages of the Loiret,
and these are so destitute that they only live on what
the German soldiers give them out of their rations
of meat and bread. Even the bitter-off families in the
towns and the country have for weeks been glad to have
officers quartered upon them, for the officers are obliged
to feed the inmates as well as themselves, and do so as
soon as the ox is slaughtered and the carcase divided.
Writing on the 16th from Epernon, the same correspon-
dent refers to the incessant marches which the Grand
Duke of Mecklenburg's division has executed in order to
frustrate the-enemy's plans. These movements, if they
have not ensnared the enemy, have at least blocked his
way to Versailles.
The Versailles correspondent of the Independance Beige
writes thus on this great question t " The Army of the
Loire seems to have moved directly from Coulmiers, by
Chateaudun, northwards, in. order to join the army
of Bourbaki, and make with these united forces
an attack upon Versailles or Paris. Cautious
people had already packed up for any chance, without
considering that between ourselves and the enemy we
have an army of 100,000 men—more than sufficient
to bar the road to Paris. The advanced guard
of the Army of the Loire was near Dreux yesterday, and
on his side the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg had already
pushed forward his outposts towards the same position.
The Army of the North; under tFe command of Bourbaki,
could not form a junction with that of the Loire by any
open road, because the corps of General Manteuffel sepa-
rates them, and he has announced that he has perceived
the approach of the enemy near Gisors. Admitting the
very improbable case that the Army of the Loire should
succeed in cutting its way through the army of the Grand
Duke, and in advancing in the direction of Paris, the
cordon would at once close round it; it would be sur-
rounded on all sides, and we should have a repetition of
the disaster of Sedan."