Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1870-10-15
EUROPEAN WAR NEWS.
r.nn DE Rnltimors Sun Of Octoler l2a,

from Me bdtttHoTe sun " OetoOtF A-iH.
London kilograms assume that the besieg-
ing army opened fire on the Paris Notifications
Yesterday, postponing the bombardment of
the city itself until the resistance Of the people
shall render it inevitable.
A ROuen dispatch says the provisional gov
ernment is more active 10 effect the relief of
Metz than even of Paris, on account Of the
immense quantity of arms, ammunition and
other stores known TO he there An official
dispatch from Orleans acknowledge The defeat
Of a French brigade and several companies of
chasseurS at Artenay, thirteen miles north of
Orleans, GU Monday, by superior force of
| PruSsans. The French were afterwards rein
| forced with FIVE regiments, four battalions and
a battery of eight guns, but were again over
/ powered ard compelled TO fall back \ Lon
don telegram states that the Prussian forces
consisted Of a detachment of the army Of the
| Crown Prince under General Won der Toun,
I aud they captured one thousand prisoners and
three pieces Of artillery, the French making a
di>orderly retreat.
The formation Of companies Of Franc-tir-
eurs, carrying the black flag, has been noted
/ several times recently in French and English
dispatches, aud one reason given forit is that
/ the PruSSians shoot all the Franc-tireurs they
capture. This practice, however, is not in
/ dulgcd in by large bodies of Prussians. On
/ the arrival of a number Of prisoners at Tours
| yesterday it required strong efforts of the au-
| thorties to prevent retaliation by the people
! for these and similar atrocities. The PruSslan
! commander who threatened to shoot the town
officers of Abls, for alleged treaChery, has been
notified that an equal number Of prisoners in
| the hands of the French will be shot if that
purpose is persisted in. The town OF Cherry
/ and several villages in the plains Of Benice
/ have been burned by the invading troops in
return, doubtless for individual acts Of hos
] tility.
The Tours newspapers announce the death
Of Prince Frederick Charles at Terriers, but
/ the statement is unconirmed.
The Danish ministry has declined to make
any reduction in army estimates until the re-
suit of the war between France and Prussia is
better known. In Portugal things are going
on badly. The King is becoming daily
more unpopular and the republicans hope to
precipitate a crisis and dethrone him. Re-
ports from Italy represent that notwithstaud-
/ ing the friendly assurances of Victor Emmau-
uel, there is a subtle influence at work to in
/ duce the Pope to leave Rome. He at present
refuses, but it is believed that pecuniary EN-
barassment will ultimately compel him to
change his purpose.
From, Baltimore Sun of Thursday.
The French claim an important victory on
the Eth, between Fort Dumont Valerian and
| St. Cloud, on the west side of Paris. Tie
troops under Gen Ducrot made Sorties in
force, compelling the Prussians to retreat to
| Versailles, Surrendering position from which
they might have shelled the western part Of
| the city.
The forces operating south Of Paris contin-
ued the fight beyond the town of Artenay,
| Tuesday, having on the previous day routed
the French and driven them back upon Or
| leans \ dispatch from Orleans states that
/ durpg the caunonading balls aud shell from
I the enemy fell on the outskirts of the city
/ The depot and several other b ildiugs were
/ burned and great CONSERVATION existed in the
| city, causing the inhabitants to fly in various
directions. Later intelligence from Tours an
nouuces that the Prussians entered Orleans
| Tuesday night.
In view Of the urgency Of the situation Gar
ibaldi, whose health was considered too feeble
for immediate service, has proceeded to the
field French reiniorcements have been hur-
riel forward, and also q number Of heavy
guns.
Reports Of PrusSian crueltes continue from
| Tours. At Berlin they are considered in the
| light of legitimate vengeance. \ dispatch
| from the latter place announces that the Prus-
slams had burned twenty villages in the neigh
borhood of Metz, and executed one hundred
and fifty peasants for carrying on Illicit war
| fare
The movements Of the French fleet have
thrown the German seaports into excitement
again. The removal of buoys and lights has
again been ordered, to prevent surprise The
dreaded Frenchmen were sighted yesterday of
! IIeligoland.