The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1870-08-11

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The defenccs of Paris arc officially
reported as nearly ready to resist the
heaviest assault, and it is said that
100000 men arc ready to fill the
works, besides tho army in tho fold,
and that the arming Of all the adults
is contemplated.
Paris, Aug. 8.
The Journal Official contains the
following dispatches:
Metz, Aug. 7-9:3O a. m.
In the battle of Saturday near
Reichschoffen, McMahon's chief of
staff, Gen. Colson, was shot by the
Marshal's side. Gen. Rault is among
tho missing. Our artillery suffered
heavily. Mcmahon is now in COM
munication with Gen. DoFailley.
Metz is preparing for q vigorous
defense. The Gen. commanding the
fortress has ordered Germans and
strangers to provide themselves with
permission Of residence.
The Imperial decree has appeared
convoking the Senate and Corps Leg
islatif tomorrow. The reports Of
the Minister were approved by tho
Empress and published in the official
Journal. The Minister says that ex-
listing circumstances oblige us to pro-
vide for the defense Of the capital,
and to garrison it with frosh troops,
allowing all those which the Emper-
or keeps under his orders to contend
in the open country against the ene-
my, emboldened by his first success,
to the point of marching on Paris,
but Paris will not be unprepared.
The extra forts received their arma.
ments some time ago, and already we
have commenced to arm the walls
around the city. A State decree is
declared to facilitate tho execution OF
the work, which will be commenced
tomorrow. Tho exterior forts are
in a condition to Sustain regular
seige, and in few days the entire
circle of walls will DO found in sim
lar condition. The Ministers refer
to othor forces that can be called up
On, and sums up by stating that
Franco has over two million defend
ers, Their arms are ready, and a
million are still held in reserve. A
decree has been issued ordering the
Garde Rationale of Paris to be de.
tailed for the defense Of the Capital,
and that Notifications be placed in
condition to resist an attack.
Now York, Aug. 8.
The Tribuno's spec ial cable dis
patch dated London, Aug. 9Th, says:
The news from Paris grows hourly
moro serious. None but official ao.
counts can come by telegraph. It is
from letters and Paris journals that
all intelligence must be gathered
The declaration of state of siege
does not repress popular demonstra
tons and it is very doubtful whether
the Cover ment has tho torco to keep
order Or to put down any considera.
bic demonstrations. The Republi.
cans believe the hour approaches, and
Paris at this moment is rs likely tc
rise against Napoleon as to arm
against Prussia. One ofour cores.
pondents writes on Sunday evening
That the rage, the fury and the dis.
appointment Of the Partisan populs
ton at finding their armies de.
feated on the Rhine instead of an
easy military promenade, which they
expected, are beyond description. ]
expect to see frightful catastrophe
from the temper Of the people. The
population is furious on reading the
proclamation Of the Empress and
Ministry, saying that the country
may yet be saved if all will be uni.
ted.
Other correspondents write to the
same effect. The people are fairly
raving at being deprived of news OF
deceived.
Seventeen Deputies have signed
and issued a manifesto demanding
the immediate arming of the citizens
of Paris. The Republican papers en-,
dorse this and also demand the i'm.
mediate arming ofthe people.
The news Of tho recent battles was
received in London and New York
several hours before it was acknowl.
edged in Paris.
New York, Aug. 8.
A Tribune special dated London 8,
says: Ono correspondent writes from
Maycnce throwing additional details
of the battle at Weissenberg, 1t APP.
pears that q forward movement by
the Prussians was made in accordance
with the opinion ofthe King ofPrus,
STA at tho council of war. Orders
telegraphed to attack the French
and their forts in the neighborhood
ofLauter and Wcissenberg. A Prus.
sian forco composed of two limo regi
ments and the rest Bavarian troops
and some artillery, together about O..
600 strong, drove the French before
them into Weissenberg. The artil
lery was then brought up and opened
on the Publications of the town. The
town soon caught fire. Seeing this
and someconfusion among the French
troops, the Prussians could not longer
be restrained by the officers, who
were anxious to reduce tho town by
cannonading. The soldiers rushed
forward with the bayonet and sur.
prised tho French, who, not expect.
ing an infantry attack for hours to
come were barricading and intrench.
ing, The Prussians loss is heavy, but
they took some 800 prisondrs and the
town.
Our special correspondent sends
from Nancy, Friday morning, the
following account of the battle of
Weissonberg, from the French side.
While General Dounay's division,
composed OF the 74th and 50th rogi.
ments Of the line, the 10th battalion
Of Cbasseurs, and, in fact, one regi-
ment Of Tuors and one regiment of
mounted Chasseurs, who wore busy
yesterday in tho neighborhood Of
Weissenburg, were actually startled
by the tremendous discharge Of artil-
lery, as the patrols which had been
posted all along the frontier had not
signalled the presence of any Of the
Prussian troops. The men believed
for moment that they were sur
rounded by the enemy. This was
not the case, but the Prussians in