New-York tribune., 1870-09-23
INTERNAL CONDITION OF FRANCE.

NO INSTRUCTION AT LYONs-THE WHOLE MALE
POPULATION UNDER ARMs-SUaBERs OF
TROOPS IN DIFFERENT CTTIEs-THE FRENCH
PLAN OF NATIONAL DEFESsE-DEFICIENCY
OF ARMs-No CAVALRY OR ARTILLERY.
10y TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBusE
LONDON Thursday, sept. 22 1870.
A special correspondent Of THE TRIBUNE, arriving
from LYONS and Tours brings an important account
of the internal condition of France. He left Lyons
on Sunday morning, after spending several days
there. The report of an insurrection In Lyons
against the Government in Paris is not true. In the
municipal election held at Lyons the 18th, ma
ioritv of the independent Committee were returned
to the Council-chefy members of the international
Working gnen's Association, who fly the red flag dis
trust Trochu and Favre, but do not reject the Pro
visional Government
The town is quiet, except ineessant cannon prac-
tice. The whole! male population is under arms.
The muskets are generally muzzle-loading smooth
bore. Most battalions carry no lsg but there are
few tri-colors There 5000 men in the Rhone
valley throwing up earthworks. Lyons is resolved
to resist if attacked About 10000 regular troops
are in the city, consisting chiefly of young men re-
Gently enlisted volunteers and old soldiers returned
10 service it will be some weeks before the first
second Of these classes make soldiers.
The Algerian depots are concentrated at Lyons
only and those troops from Algers that left Lyons
were sent to Belfort, place of some Importance. In
Moulins Nevers Bourges, and Tours there are about
10000 men each, of the same quality as those at
Lyons.
The correspondent says: 4" travelled with gen
eral coming from Oran, who assured me that affairs
were serious in Algeria. 4 rising Of Spanish and
Italian colonists in Oran was crushed with little
loss papers found showed that Prussians were con-
eerned in it. The foreign legion containing many
Germans. had mutinied. Arabs, seizing the
approaches to the frontier towns had captured
trains of powder -four, and OATS
The correspondent, describing his journey in
France. SAYS: ave passed train after train of
Northern Garde Mobile going South to join the
army; those from towns wearing red, those from
the country tri-cOlor cockades. There also
numerous trains of locomotives belonging TO
northern and western lines going south for safety.
Mobile of Moulins, ST. Germaine, Les For
ges. land the country between, were under
orders TO leave for Africa this day TO meet
the few regular troops still within the
limits of that colony. At Vierzon, where stopped
four hours in the middle Of the night were halted
every hundred yards by sentinels of the National
Guard. Every hour patrol with ali officer and
lantern in due form went around the town. Men
altogether in plain clothes were armed with muzze
loading muskets; cavalry with earbines.
AT Tours / learned from excellent sources the
French plan of national defense. All the Garde
Mobile and young regular troops scattered
over the southern towns are to be concentrated in
some one of them. No open town is 10 be defended
in the North but the fortified places of Lille, Alb
beville Dunkirk. Calais, Cherbourg, ST. Malo,
and Brest are prepared to stand siege Havre,
which has an exceedingly strong fort upon the bill
is strengthened with lines like those of Lyons but
Ropen ia abandoned 10 the enemy. The Southern
army when concentrated is TO wait until the latest
possible moment TO gain time for drill; hut when
on of the great outer fors of Paris hss been taken
and the bombardment begins the army will march
north against the Prussians
As tomltsry preparations in general-there iseye-
rvwhere abundance Of men but small arms are exceed
i,,lv scarce there is great difficulty in getting
smooth- bore, muzzle-losding guns Further sup
niles are expected within short time from England
,.,..xhsre. Ammunitios IL std more delcient.