The Sun.
London, England, 1870-12-13 00:00:00

THE WAR.

TIE LATE SORTIES.

; LETTER FROM THE • CAPITAL.

PARIS, December Ist.

This is the morrow of a victory, for this time there is no
doubt on the matter. The French troops remained
on the positions they had conquered. The struggle
was a severe one. The 106th Regiment of the
tine suffered severely, and narrowly escaped a wholesale
capture. During the day matters improved materially,
but the French were unable to hold Montmesly. On the
chief Position, however, between Champigny and Brie-
sur-Marne, they had the advantage, and a last offensive
movement of the Prussians, towards five in the afternoon,
was received by a formidable cannonade, which decided
the fortunes of the day. Great praise is given to the
artillery, and the Mobiles and National Guards behaved
very well indeed. Bismarck said that the French
had no army, but the fact appears to be that they had no
army Until now, The generals displayed great bravery,
which probably influenced the fortunes of the day. At
one moment the whole left gave way, but General Trochu
with his staff dashed forwards, and every one followed
him. General d'Exea himself took the command of an
offensive movement he ordered, while General Ducrot's
courage amounted to rashness. At a pause in the
action he went forward alone to a spot from whence he
could command a view of the enemy's operations.
His horse was shot under him, and it was
at first thought he was killed, but he sprung up again and
marched on sword in hand. The general's hardihood was
all the more noticeable as he will be executed should he
fall into the hands of the Prussians, the King refusing to
accept any explanation of his evasion .of his parole.
The losses were heavy on both sides ; the French being
estimated at 2,000 men, and the Germans at 4,000. It is
certain they abandoned their dead and wounded on the
field, and this morning It was necessary to remove them.
General Trochu remained on the field all night. Several
French Generals have suffered severely. De Revel& is
I killed. De Revault, who is 74 years of age, will have to
undergo amputation at the knee. Among the prizes were
two pieces of artillery of a new design.
Ministers were sitting in council all night, and another
meeting was to take place at two o'clock to-day. They
I are said to be sanguine of success. The reappearance of
the Lanterne has been forbidden—a prudent measure. The‘
publication of a very indiscreet note in the Gau/ois has made
them suspicious of •the journals in general. A despatch
was received to-day announcing that fighting had recom-
menced on yesterday's ground but wag not made public. The
Bavarian prisoners are said to express a very bitter feeling
against the Prussians, who, they say, take care to leave
them always the brunt of the battle.

PARIS, December 4th.

The French forces gained a decided victory in the
battle of the 2nd when they were vigorously attacked
by fresh troops who were determined to revenge the first
Prussian repulse before Paris. The'French wavered for
a moment, but speedily recovered themselves,
and not only held their own positions but
gained others. Even M. Schmitz, the head of
Trochu's staff, who is generally blamed for his coldness,
declares the day to have been, one of the brightest in the
military annals of France. The fighting went on for nine
hours, during which time the artillery proved most effi-
cient, and even General Guyot, who has hitherto been a
resolute upholder of the old system, is converted to the
breechloaders. The German losses were on this occasion
undoubtedly much heavier than the French, though it is
difficult to accept the estimate of the Internationale,
which gives five French killed or wounded to fifty Ger-
mans. However, they are believed to have had 20,000
men disabled.

The French losses are not yet estimated, but there is
no question they were very great. Appeals are being
made to private charity on behalf of the numbers of
wounded whom the military ambulances cannot accommo-
date. The proportion of killed and wounded among the
officers is very high, owing, no doubt, to
the spirit with which they put themselves
at the head of every for ward movement. In some
battalions of Mobiles every one of the officers was struck
down. General Trochu has received a letter of thanks
and congratulation from the Government. His coolness,
courage, and firmness have been beyond praise, and,
what is more remarkable is that he has made some
severe examples of recusant soldiers, though he
has hitherto been noticed for leniency. There
has been some excitement to-day, arising from a
paragraph in the Official Journal stating that Ducrot had
moved on Vincennes instead of remaining on the newly
acquired positions. These points were, however, strongly
defended, and there is hope that the advance on Vincennes
is part of a scheme for effecting a junction with the pro-
vineial armies. There has been no official report of the
affair of December 2nd, and there will be none, for fear
of compromising the success of Trochu's plan. For the
same reason, the departure of balloons haslaeon forbidden,
and the last that V 79.9 sent carried no despatch whatever,
on the plea that it was intended for a scientific expedition,
and the Prussians must have no exerts() for detaining the
aeronaut if captured.
The absorbing interest of military matters has for the
time being superseded the anxiety about supplies. There
were some disturbances among the crowds round the
butchers' shops, but nothing serious. There is now plenty
to eat, at least without risk of too great hunger, for two
months to come. There is some incredulity here on this
matter, but there is nothing to justify it. A letter was
found on a Prussian soldier, saying that Paris would be
starved out in ten days. There is not the slightest chance
of such a result. The Government, to control the resources
better, has made a requisition of salt meat.

PARIS, December sth.

General Ducrot has issued a proclamation, announcing
that his troops were not to attaok positions which could
not be carried without great loss, and other operations
were in view. The head of General Trochu's staff has
announced that the Prussian army, enfeebled by its great
losses, has not endeavoured to prevent the French from
passing the Marne. The Parisians exult in the fact that
their young troops have repulsed the best soldiers in Europe.
It is said that only 45,000 men were engaged in the grand
sortie, and that the attack was only meant to cover a
much more serious movement in another direction. In
any case allowing that the opening of the sluices of the
Marne disarranged Trochu's plans, the advantage gained
was very great, and has impressed both Parisians and
Prussians in different ways. There is great reioleig at
the news that the provincial armies are advanoing, and
there is a good understanding between the commanders.
A despatch from Bourbaki to Troohu, "I will follow
thy instructions," gave especial pleasure from the use of the
familar to. Bourbaki, Troohu, and Ducrot, are on the
best of terms, mid in fact it is Bourbaki's regard for
Troohu that has induced him to support the Republican
Government, for which otherwise he has no great affec-
tion. However, the days of Imperialism are numbered.
Everything is possible but that. If we are to judge by
Paris, the Republic is secure ; but in ally ease it must be
Constitutional Monarchs oz Republic. It cannot be a
.Bonapartist Testaxatioa.

THE REMOVAL OF THE GOVERNMENT
FROM TOURS.

The Moniteur of Dec. 9 says that, in consaquence of the
recent military events on the Loire and the evacuation of
Orleans, the Government has decided on the formation
of two distinct armies to operate in the two regions,
separated by the course of the river, thus.preserving
means of effecting a junction with Paris, which is, the
immediate and supreme object in view. Under present cir-
cumstances the most important point is to prevent the
freedom of the two armies from being impeded in any way
whatever, by political ar administrative considerations.
Therefore, ia the proximity of the seat of Govern-
ment at Tours might hinder the operations of the two
armies, it has been decided that the whole of the Govern-
ment offices should be transferred to Bordeaux, which,
owing to the facilities of communications which it offers
both by land and sea with the rest of France, affords pre-
cious resources for the organisation of our forces, and the
continuance of the work of the national defence. With
regard to the Minister of the Interior and War, he
will to-morrow proceed to the armies, where is now
his proper place. in order to be present at the efforts made
by the soldiers of France towards Paris.

'GERMAN OPINION OF THE LOIRE ARMY.
One of the correspondents of the Cologne Gazette pays a
high tribute to the fighting of the Loire Army. The de-
fence of Artenay on the third was most obstinate. Almost
all the prisoners, comprising Zouavos, infantry, and
Mobiles, were of a better stamp than those previously
taken. The Mobiles were partly armed with elegant
American revolvers. He is more and more convinced
that the 'French Army of the Loire under a skilful
General would do a good deal. " Their military temper
and their equipment (with chassepots especially) are
faultless, and had they been formed a month earlier they
might have been dangerous foe. Yesterday's fight
(that of the 2nd) was condneted at many paints with the
bayonet, and the Mecklenburgers, as also the Hanse men,
distinguished themselves with this, though the French
always boasted of being masters with the erme blanche. It
is certain that the Army of the Loire includes many