Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-01-19
The situation in France.

Events in France within the last few days,
have done much TO crush the feeble hopes of
those who trusted that some way of escape would
be found for the French, short of submitting to
the terms offered by the conquerors. The army
of the Loire, on which so many hopes had been
built, and which, after a brilliant, but unimpor-
tant success at FIRST has struggled with creditable
persistence against an almost unbroken series of
defeats and discouragements, seems at last to
have been finally crushed. The battles near LIE
Mans, during the latter part of last week, were
stubbornly contested, but the French army was
forced back slowly. "A successful night attack
by the Germans put an end to the struggle and
turned it into pursuit Gen. Chanzy's army
was rouled, and its broken columns retreated in
three different directions. Twenty thousand
prisoners, with large amount of arms and
ammunition, were captured. The French dis
patches by way of Bordeaux, though filled as
usual with misrepresentation, evasons and
apologies, substantially concede all that the
Germans claim as the result of these battles.
The latest intelligence from that quarter, says
that Prince Frederick Charles was still follow
ing up the retreating French forces, occupying
each day the camps which the French had just
left, and capturing great numbers of prisoners
and vast quantities of ammunition
In the east, thel French, under Bourbaki,
have held their own rather better, and even had
some minor successes. General Won Werder
who commanded the German armies in that
quarter, was engaged in the siege of Belfort, and
in looking after the comparatively insignificant,
ht1fu nd afC
He was undoubtedly surprised by the arrival of
Bourbaki in his front with considerable force,
and while he was concentrating his scattered
troops his enemy gained some temporary adj
vantages, and apparently threatened to raise
the siege of Belfort. But the most recent in
formation from that quarter is that an attack
by the French last Sunday was defeated, with
heavy loss to the assaiIants. General
Manteuffel has been assigned to the command
of the German army in Alsace, heretofore COM
manded by General Won Werder, and is proba-
bly, by this time on the spot with large REIN
forcements. There is DO reason to suppose that
General Bourbaki will be able, successfully, to
make head against these increased forces. 1t is
much more likely that his army will have the
same fate that has befallen that of Chanzy-
that it will be defeated and scattered by the en-
ergetie generalship of Manteuffel and the obsti-
nate and tireless valor of his army.
In the north Faidherbe keeps up desultory
warfare, but nothing of importance has trans
pired in that quarter of late. The French are
evidently unable to meet the German armies in
the field with any hope of success. Paris is
suffering under a furious bombardment. The
positive statements Of correspondents that the
Germans had no guns with which they could
reach the city, and that the bombardment was
delayed from necessity and not from choice,
have proved as ill-founded as many other reports
of some OF these professedly omniscient wise
acres. The same newspapers which contained a
reprint of DR.. Russells letter to the London
Times, proving to his satisfaction that even the
outer wall of Paris could hardly be reached by
shells thrown from the German positions, con-
tanned also the announcement that the FIRE of
the German batteries was making sad havoc
in the beleagured city The damage to splendid
buildings and works Of art is considerable, and
the destruction of lives, including those of
women and children, and the sick and wounded
in the hospitals, presents one of the most fright
fourth of the thickly populated portion of the
city is said to be under the Prussian fire. Upon
the French forts the fire has been still more con-
centrated and effective. Fort Issy is reported
destroyed, and Fort Montrouge, aIcorrespondent
writes, has been so completely preached that he
had clear view through its ruined works to the
CRY walls beyond. Fort Vanyres also is said to
have been silenced. The garrison, since the
bombardment began, have made several sorties,
but they were easily repulsed.
We bear less than usual Of late from the pro-
visional government. The London conference is
said to be delayed to await the arrival of Jules
Fayre, who is detained in Paris, notwithstaud.
ing the offer Of a safe conduct, while the BON.
bardment continues. The population of Paris
are said to be furious with rage, and clamol
against General Trochu for his inability to re
lieve them from the terrors of the situation
All hope of relief from without has faded away
and, OF course, there can be no possibility o
raising the siege by sorties. The end cannot nov
be very far distant. Correspondents are speeu
lating as to the course which VIII be pursued b.
General Iroehu and the other members Of th
provisional government who are in Paris. On
authority says that Troebu will withdraw hi
army into the fortress of Mont Valerien, wher
he has been storing ammunition and supplies
and leave Paris to its fate, when il can no longe
bedelended, This is apparently practicable sine
the bill On which the fort stands rises to heigh
Of five hundred feet, and is naturally strong an
well fortified by art, but this step would give tb
Germans the great advantage Of occupyin
much narrower investing lines, which could b