The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-08-29

| ways cut, roads blocked, scouts killed, and the
| Prussians harrassed on their tanks and rear
Should this means of resistance acquire an i'm
portance which can scarcely be counted the
enemy will not be here for fifteen days; other
wise, which is more than probable, they must
reach Paris in week. The latter opinion pre-
vailed in the Corps Legis!atif yesterday.
PRUss-A's FINAL EFFORT.
The Opinion Rationale says the German
journals and those of Belgium asserted that the
landweher are not yet in the field with the ex-
ception of arti,le.y. Nothing can be morefalse
than this statement. Every one acquainted
with the organization of the Prussian forces is
aware that the first ban of landw chr, consist
ing of men from Is to 81 years of age, have
formed a quarter part of the Prussian forces
NJ THEIRS ON THE COMMITTEE OF Defence 3.
In the Corps Legislatif yesterday NJ. Theirs
made an explanation OF his position. He said
he only koew of his appointment as a member
OF the committee of defence rom the columns
Of the Journal Official that morning He &C
| cepted the trust through devotion to the coun-
| try, but said he mast have the support of the
| Chambers. The declaration was received with
! applause. The President thereupon announced
that the entire Chamber accepted the appoint
ment of Theirs.
In the Senate yesterday Loebet, after COM
municaton from the Minister OF War giving
| giving details of the occupation of the country
| by tue Prossians, said that if certain villages
| aud towns which were Invaded Ware surrend-
ed too quickly it was hardly their fault. A
| Government MOI known to the present Cabi-
| net, with a strange lack of forethought, had
| constantly refused to arm the people of Alsa-
| tia, Lorraine and Champagne, thus betraying
| lack of confidence ia the people which had
| cost the country dear, for had these peasants,
who are good marksmen, but been armed the
army of the Prince Royal would not have so
| easily crossed the VOsges, when our men, hid
| den from view, could have inflicted serious loss
| upon them; such loss that France would not
have been compelled to abandon the second
| line of defence.
| Especial to Herald. There flying ru-
mors of battle, but they are not confirmed.
GOSSIP
One hundred and seventy thousand Of the
| Prussian army have been killed and wounded
during the war.
| Belgium is prepared to defend her neutrality
| by force Foreigners are leaving Paris.
| Some spies were shot this morning Ten
| thousand persons are attached to the headquar-
| tiers of the King of Prussia, including so SER
| wants.
Three prizes were brought into Brest yester-
! day. Arrests are made daily of persons with
out occ upation.
The mint is working silver but no gold. A
! revolution at Munich is threatened. Monthef
| Christina Nilsson is dead.
LoNGUY sUyMoNED TO SURRENDER
ARoLU, Aug. 27,,:a Brussels.-[Special to
| Sun The Prussians have summoned Lon
| guy to surrender, but the commanding officer
/ refused.
| MEGIERDEs, Aug. 81 Va Brusss.-The rail-
| way which was destroyed between Carisnan
/. and Montmedy has been repaired The Prus-
| slams are retreatng before the French Tireurs
| and peasants from Stenoy to Dun.
| PARIS, Aug. IS via Brussels. siege of
! StrasboCrg, Toul, Thionvile and Metz has
| made no progress. Capitulation of Bazaine
for want of supplies i, expected.
PRUssIANs NEAR PARIS
| BRUSSELS, Aug. 2I.-Prassan scouting par
ties are at Meaux, one hour from Paris.
| HOW IT AFFECTS TIE FRENCH.
| PARIS, Aug. 23.-La Presse says the official
! Prussians are marching on Paris causes
| neither astonishment or fear in the Capital
| Tue Parisians receive it with quiet resolution
| King William is fatally led to this hazard in
| spite of serious strategic reasons which should
| tnrn him from it.
/ IF it is considered that this obstinate old man
! has raised a million men whom he will never
| take back across the Rhine it will be easily
| seen that he found it necessary to risk bloody
| battle at the foot of our towers. There is not
/ one German in all Prussia, Bavaria, Wurtem-
| bug OF Baden who would not scorn and curse
| King William shyuld he not make supreme.
| effort to come here and dictate peace in Paris.
| How could he return to Germany in the midst
| of the desO.ation of the families and misery
/ and depopulation of the city and country.
| Should he not win bloody success his defeat
/ will be complete. This is decisive reason ;
| a reason that is more political than military,
| which brings the old King under our walls.
| Granier de Cossognac has petitioned the
Chambers at the request of many Inhabitants
| of Paris that all Germans now in Paris and
environs be expelled
| BAzAINE's POSITION AND DESIGN.
LONDON, Aug. 27.-[Special to N. Y. Her.
l
Rheims dated 9th, says it is reported that Ba-
zaine with portion of his army is between
Montmedg and Longuay, on the Belgian from
tier, where he is awaiting the arrival of McMa-
hon. The report is considered doubtful. The
| garrison of Strasbourg recently made sue
cessful sortie and captured a convoy of cattle
| and ammunition.
| TRiBJNE's SPEC Il.
The Tribune's special correspondent at
| Frankfort on Thursday writes private intelli-
gence confirming the statement in the semi
| Official journals that Bismarck will insist on
restitution by France of all territory forcibly
distracted rom Germany, but neither Alsace
| nor Lorraine will be annexed 10 Prussia. The
larger part will go to Baden and west to Ba-
var;a. Russia is already protesting and Eng
land also.
Palaikao's statement that he had bought
10000 rifles in England is but small part of
the truth. Several hundred thousand chasse-
pots have been furnished from the Government
arsenals.
New YoaE, Aug N.-The Herald's special
says that private letter has been received in
this city from Paris, in which the writer ex-
presses his belief that committee of public
| safety Will seize the Government and under.
take the defence of the Capitol and formally
depose the Emperor.
Prussia.
INVESTMENT OF METZ
BERLIN, Aug. q, 6 P. M. The Prussian gen
eral headquarters are temporarily at st. Dizier.
Great quantities of stores for the use of the
Prussian asmy are accumulating at Nancy
AT 8 o'clock this morning Metz was complete
ly invested Marshal Bazaine, who ia in com
mand there, makes no effort to effect passage
Deserters report the extreme decentralization Of
the garrison The Prussians are strongly en-
trenched before that place. OF the three new
armies just organized in Germany, one viii
! march on Ger many with the Prince Royal and
the others will remain to protect the rear.
SUCCESS AT vTRY.
LONDON, Aug. %. The following official dis
patch dated Bar lie Due, Friday night, has beer
received: The garrison Of Vitry was surround
ed on Thursday morning by the Prussians, who
captured sixteen guns, and two battalions o
the French Garde Mobile were annihilated by