The Sun.
London, England, 1870-10-01 00:00:00

PRUSSIAN OPERATIONS.

The correspondent of the Standard, writing from Bonen
on the 29th, says :—" lam starting for the south, and
my communications with you are not likely to be so easy,
but my chances to sind you accurate news will be in-
creased by my excursions in the field. I shall make
for Orleans and as near Paris as possible, and I
shall also pay a visit to the head-quarters of the army of
the Loire, the existence of which seems to be a problem
to be solved. Orleans has been evacuated by the
French General in command, retreating before the
superior forces of the enemy, and it is inferred
that a Prussian army Is directly marching on Tours.
The same movement was also feared in the
direction of Rouen, but up to the present moment the re-
sistance on the borders of the western departments by

the Franc-tireurs and Gardes Mobiles has checked the

advance of the German eclaireurs. This very fact is a
proof that no corps d'arm4e has been advancing up to
now towards Normandy, and that those advances of
troops have been only partial excursions, having for
object the destruction of, the different lines of railways,
the occupation of the road, and the levying of requisitions
in the villages and small towns. The movement
on Tours, although more strategic than the inva-
sion of Normandy, might be of the same nature ; it is
what I shall soon see for myself. In the department of the

Oise the resistance is now well organised and the new
prefect, M. Jeannerod, the late correspondent of a
French newspaper on the battle fields, has just issued
a remarkable proclamation to the people, cautioning
them to be calm and firm, to continue resistance,
to obey their chiefs, and follow the example given them
by the inhabitants of the villages of Crany, Chambly,
Puiseaux, and Belle-Eglise, who have stopped
the advance of the Prussian. Uhlans, and
inflicted heavy losses on their ranks. One
of the causes of the successes of the Prussian generals
during the campaign amongst many others, has
been the strict secrecy they have always kept
of their intended movements of attacks, and the great
care they have displayed in masking their forces and
their operations. Nothing is yet known about their real
operations on Paris, and General Von Molkte is perhaps
feigning such and such an advance in order to conceal the
deep plan he has certainly conceived and resolved to
act on. It is said that the attack will commence on the
line of the Seine, extending from Mount Valerien to the
Fort de la Briche ; and that at the same time Versailles
will be the centre of an attack combined to take place
simultaneously, the enemy advancing in two armies, one of
them concentrating in the Forest of St. Germain, crossing
the Seine at Maisons and at Bezons, making for Cam-
beroie, by way of Cherbourg, to avoid Mont Valerein,
and thence right on the fortifications, taking their posi-
tions at Courcelles, Villiers, and Levallois. In the
meantime the other army, concentrated in
the woods of Versailles, Chaville, Ville d'Avray,
Vaucresson, and Meudon, would cross the Seine
in the woods of Sevres, between Bellevue
and Billancourt, at an equal distance from the fort of Issy
and of Mont Valerien, and then make for the Bois de
Boulogne. The serious defences on that side of Paris
have not been neglected by General Trochu, and in
view, perhaps, of that hypothesis of attack, the Seine
is well defended with cannonieres. Strong works, armed
with mitrailleuses, command all the roads, and the woods,
so useful to the system of advancing of the Prussians in
keeping them under cover; have been partially destroyed•
Obstacles of all kinds have been thrown in their way."

A public meeting of the citizens of Glasgow, to
express an opinion on the present European conflict, was
held in the City Hall on Thursday evening. Resolutions
were passed unanimously, thanking the government for
its efforts to avert the war and for its subsequent neu-
trality, congratulating the French people on their having
achieved a bloodless revolution, expressing a hope that
the Republic will be promptly recognised by England,
and declaring in favour of the prohibition of traffic in
weapons of war and ammunition during hostilities.

The Manchester Courier says that Sir John Iles Man-
tell (stipendiary magistrate at Salford) is determined, as
far as possible, to stop the pollution of the River Irwell.
A labouring man brought before him on Thursday, and
convicted of casting rubbish into the river, was fined £5
and costs, Sir John remarking that he should not be
doing his duty in so serious a matter if he did not impose
a heavy penalty.

" THE SMALLEST CITY IN ENGLAND."—As We
some time since announced in our columns, the intention
of the Corporation of Rochester to purchase Rochester
Castle and grounds for the use of the people of the little
city, it may be well now to add that the negotiations have
been completed with the Earl of Jersey, and that the
castle is now in possession of the guardians of the
town. The cost of laying out the gardens as
a place of recreation some £2,000 will be
met by public subscription. A new Corn Exchange
is in course of erection, to cost £5,000, to be paid for by
the corporation. The dedication of the castle grounds to
the public and the laying of the corner stone of the o)ria
Exchange are to be celebrated with much festivity on the
13th of October, when there will be a banquet in the old
Corn Exchange. We may state also that it is contem-
plated to erect a statue to the memory of the late Charles
Dickens within the Castle precincts.