Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1871-01-20
Great Battle in France.
THE PRussIANs vIoToRIoUs--FRRNcH
Loss 10000.


The greatest battle since Sedan, was
fought last week and was very decisive
defeat of the French, reported by tele'
graph Sunday as follows:
New York, January 10.
A cable special, dated lie Mans, 10th,
midnight, says: The army of the Loire,
the nope of France, has been defeated in
bloody battle within seven miles of
this city. The report Of the cannon was
heard in the city all day. The entire pop
ulation of lie Mans crowded the house
tops and the suburbs of the city and all
the thoroughiares, and the progress of
the fight was anxiously watched. Al
though the people are accustomed TO the
roar of cannon, there never was such in
tense excitement. Ats O'Clock in the
morning, the right wing Of the French
army, which was ON the east of lie Mans,
was suddenly attacted by the vanguard
of Prussians, which emerged from
wood ON the extreme right Of the French.
Upon the alarm beinggiven, the advance
of the French army wheeled into line Of
battle, the artillery pushing forward
through intervals made in several ranks.
The cavalry took positions upon theright
and left wings.
A more perfect line of battle could
not have been formed by the finest army.
The artillery were well supplied with
ammunition, and the infantry with one
hundred rounds per man. Supply trains
were conveniently posted and the real
fighting begun. The battlefield was
valley. The two armies occupied the
heights opposite each other. The French
line was semi.circuar and extended II
miles, overlooking the valley which was
covered with II inches of snow. On the
opposite heights the Prussians held au
almost similar position. Shortly after
o'clock the Prussians began furious
cannonade from the woods near the ex-
IRENE left, fanken by an immense force
of cavalry, the woods concealing their
position, where troops were massed with
the evident intention of turning Chauzy's
right. Artillery fire continued on both
sides until the ammunition of the Prus-
sian artillery was almost exhausted, when
the Prussians became furious, and the
order was given for an infantry advance.
The French advanced with equal ra pidi-
ty along the whole line to meet the Ger
mans in fair hand-to-hand musketry
fight. The Germans were cool and col
iected; the French impetuous and be-
having bravely; but near noon the Mo-
biles began to waver and the French, no
longer able to hold their position, began
to retreat Meanwhile the dead and
wounded strewed the ground, the fields
were red with blood, and the carnage
was simply fearful. Fifteen thousand
French had fallen before 5 o'clock when
the whole French army was in full re.
treat. 1t is estimated that the number
of troops, French and German, actually
engaged numbered 10000 on each side.
Gen. Chauzy is reported sick, but he is
still in command, and it is expected that
another battle will occur tomorrow.
CHAUzY's DEFEAT COMPLETE.
BRUSSELS, Jan. IA.
Chauzy's defeat iscomplete, the French
losses during the ten days fight being
sixteen thousand, and those of the Ger
mans very heavy.
COMMANDMENT OF PARIS.
The commandment of Paris yesterday
was terrible, the whole district south of
line drawn through Champe de Mars,
Hotel de Invalides, Luxembourg and
Fort de Bicetre is reached with a rain of
shells. The other portion of the city is
perfectly safe. The forts outside of the
city show signs of distress.
LATER
Via London we have laterdates from
Paris. The Paris newspapers of Tues
day of last week unite in saying that
rain of proiectiles, some of them weigh
ing over 200 pounds, unparalleled in the
previous history of the seige, was pour
ing into that portion of Paris lying be-
tween the Hotel de Invalides and the
Odeon. The bombardment continues
without interruption throughout the day
and night, and was so violent on the
night of the 8th, between the church of
St. Sulpice and the Museum, that shells
fell every two minutes. Hospitals, am
balances, schools, the public libraries, the
churches of St. Sulpice, the Sorbonne
and Val de Grace, and many private
houses have been struck. Women were
killed both in the streets and their homes
and infants in their mothers arms. One
projectile which fell in the Rue Vangir.
ard, killed four children and wounded