The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-10-18
Contradictory Reports from the Army
Of the Loire.
OFFER OF BAZAINE TO SURRENDER.
Heavy Cann0nading in the Direc
ton Of ThiOnville.
Jules Eavre Said to be I9cgotiat.
ing . Peace.
An American Plan of Peace Under
Consideration.
WAR NEWS FROM TOURS.

WAR NEWS FROM TOURS.
~~~-~~---~-~~~-~-----~-
TELEGRAM TO THE NEW YORK HERALD
cify Rxcisemenss by Reports from tho Field
What Was Said Of the Situation ut Orleans
and on the Loirc-Prussian Advance and
Pr"ssian Defeats Alleged Acknowledgment
in she Streets and Mt the Railroad Depot
The Cafes Filled-Generul Bourbaki's Pre-.
ssnce-Arms Purchased In England.
LONDON, Oct. II, 1870
special letter from Tours, addressed to the NEW
yOEK HARALD, under date Of the l4tn inst, reports
O foalows:--
Within the past forty-eight honrs the peculiar
character Of the French people has been brought
into unusual prominence. Yesterday all was gloom
and despair among them on account Of the circu-
lati0n Of rst report Of the capture and partial de-
structon Of the city Of Orleans by Hre by the Prus
SIAN troops, and sti later OF another to the effect
that the Franc tireurs mad sustained signal defeat
owing in the main TO the men being supplied with
worthless or defective arms. The Mayor Of Orleans
had ned from the city, 1t was said, IN . cowardly
nAaAer ana the Prussians, having crossed the
Loire. were marching IN force on the place.
m Tours proper the government departmental
e6Bcials were filled with CONSERVATION and vastly
excited by this latter news. Books, State papers
and all the records Of the executive were hastily
packed up ana made ready for transport to some
place Of greater security.
Detachmcnts Of tireurs were marched on hur.
rledly In the direction Of orleans supported in the
by strong body Of the Cnasseurs de vinoennes
The railroad depot situated on the south side OF
Che city was literally besleged with the members Of
families who were eager to escape from the place,
and extra" trains were made ready and announced
for departure. Quite number Of people actually
left the cars taking nothing with them only Just
what they could carry on their persons.
JOYOUS CHANGE.
To-day, says the HERALD writer by telegram from
Tours everything has experienced magical, as It
were change. At an early hour In the morning re-
ports were spread in the city which asserted that
the French arms had been suddenly crowned with
saceess. In the afternoon an orcisl executive no
tice was posted over the city, announcing to the
people that the soldiers OF the garrison OF Paris had
made brilant sortie from that city on the beseg-
Ing army, repulsed the Prussans at oil points and
captured the different positions which the Germans
had held during the past three weeks"
Within hour after the publication OF these ON.
cia statements came report TO the effect that the
Prussian army was In full retreat nom Orleans,
The excitement and joyous enthusiasm which
was produced among the citizens Of Tours by such
intelligence Just extreme In their intensity of
delight as had been the recently prevailing depres-
sion IN It's gloom. The Rue Royale was immediately
nlled with dense crowd. made mp cnieny Of the
military. Cavalrymen, lnfantrymen, artillerynen
rreurs and Gardes Rationale all ran about BRAN
disning their In the air. and shouting and sing
ing "vvas'' and songs OF Joy. They were most ter
rble In their declarations OF what they intended to
do In the ed and Of the feats which they were de-
termined 10 perform against the Prussians. Non.
combatant civilians mingled with the soldiers in
great numbers. Old men, women and little children
turned out en- tadsse, and thus sweed up q street
thr0ng which appeared to be increasing momenta.
rily. Indeed it appeared AZ II Tours had "gone
Mhu" WIN oenknt over tue government war news.
IN TIE CAFES.
At the approach Of nightfall the number OF people
in the streets commenced to diminish but the cares
became filled to overnow1ng In front OF each such
house group Of people would congregate hear the
news again and again repeated, cheer and disperse.
Then would come another crowd, and still another,
each congregation being engaged In an eager dis
cussi0n OF each fresh rumor 70 which the quantities
of wines and ltQue'rs which the people imbibed did
NOT fail to impart very high coloring.
OFFICIAL STATEMENT
In the evening Minister Gambetta issued an ad.
dress OF congratuation to the inhabttants The pa
per was Of . very hopeful character mentioning the
names Of the positions which were recaptured from
the Prussans, and calling on the French people In
Tours to show increased energy and activity In con.
sequence OF the victories and thus emulate the grand
example Of the heroic defenders Of Paris.
The Issue OF government proclamation suspend.
ing the present system Of rule Of promotions in the
French army during the war, so that men may rise
70 the very highest command by the exhibition OF
personal bravery and merit, as soldiers did in the
precautionary war OF The First Napoeon added