The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-10-25
The Situation In France-The Latest War
and Peace Reports.


ing concerning either important military ope-
rations or definite arran gements for an armls-
tice or peace. The prolongation Of the war
has seriously unsettled the whole OF Europe.
and every day the progress of events is tend
ing toward not only an unsatisfactory condition
of affairs in France, but to general European
complications We have not yet received any
special confirmation of the rumors published
Yesterday of desperate fighting on Fri
day last in the vicinity of Paris, although
additional dispatches from the beeaguered
capital to the 18th instant distinctly state that
the French forces within the walls were pre-
pairing for formidable offensive movements.
Abiding confidence was reposed In the ability
of General Trochu not only to defend the city
but eventually to compel the Prussians to raise
the siege. The alternative to which the
French have been reduced-nam ely, of sub
hitting to humiliation and ACKNOWLEDGMENT or
fighting to the last-seems to have driven the
people to despair and to use all their energies
to avert the threatened fate of France.
Military movements on both sides were con-
tinued in the provinces. Most of the news
comes to US from Tours, and it, not unnatu-
rally, is favorable to the French. The Prus-
slams in the Vosges renewed the attack at
Chatillon lie Due on the day after their defeat,
but they were again rerulsed with considers
BILE loss, and retreated during the night, leav-
ing the French in possession of the field. The
bombardment of Schlestadt by the Prussians
had commenced on Tuesday last, but we are
not informed of the result. 1t is said
they were defeated with heavy loss
in the vicinity Of La Ferte ST. Aubin
while making preparations for siege. At
lvry the whole inhabitants rose against the
invaders, and in the desperate struggle which
ensued many lives were lost. The French
garrison of Verdun, by brilliant sortie, drove
the enemy from some Of his positions and
captured two mortars and twenty-five cannon.
ST. Quentin was evacuated on Sunday, the
siege of Lafere was abandoned and the corps
under the Duke Of Mecklenburg was
returning to the vicinity of Paris
The French Army of the Loire was
in motion, but secrecy was main
tanned concerning its intended operations.
A reported mutiny among the French prisoners
at Scissors probably gave rise to the extra
ordinary rumor which comes to us from Tours
that the four thousand Mobiles taken by the
Prussians at scissors were butchered in cold
blood four days after their surrender. A special
telegram from London states that new French
loan Of ten million pounds sterling would be
issued there to-day. The question Of peace
was attracting the particular attention of the
European Powers. Our special cable tele-
grams announce that it was rumored in Lon
don that peace had already been arranged be-
tween Bazaine and King William, and that the
Empress would 60 to Versailles to sign the
treaty, as the representative Of the only gov
of France recognized by Prussia. But
this report lacks confirmation. All eyes, how
ever, were turned toward Versailles, and
it is evident that there is strong effort
being made by the principal European
Powers to bring about speedy sus-
pension and final termination of hostilities
The Gear Alexander had despatched an at
tache Of the Prussian Legation in st. Peters,
burg with special message from the Russian
ruler to King William, and Saxony is moving
in the same direction. The anxiety of England
for an armistice is attributed to feeling of
apprehension of Interior designs on the
part Of Russia and Prussia in the East.
1t is said that England now perceives
that in the utter prostration Of France she
would lose the only ally on which she could
depend to Illustrate the Muscovite designs
against the Ottoman Empire. The French,
however, were doubtful Of England's sincerity
in having SO suddenly assumed the character
Of mediator, after she had refused to further
the peaceful missions of NM Theirs and
Jules Favre. Both at Paris aud Tours, as
well as in the provinces, the French are now
in favor of peace, but they desire to secure
the most favorable terms.
GOVERNMENT IN THE AIR.-The incidents
of war, ancient and modern, have been very
cnr;ous Ometimps very eytravaoanf oIwava