ARRIVAL OF THE 'CITY OF MELBOURNE' WITH THE ENGLISH MAIL.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 342, 13 February 1871, Page 2

ARRIVAL OF THE 'CITY OF MELBOURNE' WITH THE ENGLISH MAIL.

DATES FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO JANUARY 15th AND FROM LONDON TO JANUARY 13th.

BOMBARDMENT OP PARIS PROGRESSING. THE GERMANS SAINING GROUND. SEVERAL FORTS TAKEN. SHELLS THROWN INTO EVERY PART OF THE CITY. THE INHABITANTS REFCSE 10 SURRENDER. BATTLE Oi* THE 11th UNDER THE

WALLS OF LE MANS. GENERAL CHAUZY DEFEATED. REINFORCEMENTS ON THE WAY SWELL THE GERMAN ARMY TO 1,000,000. GENERAL WERDER FOLLOWING UP HIS VICTORIES IN THE EAST. FIRES SEEN IN PARIS. THE TROOPS REVIEWED BY VINOY CLAMOR FOR PEACE. AUSTRIA TO INITIATE THE MOVEMENT FOR PEACE. FRANCE TO SURRENDER 20 SHIPS, 1,000,000,000 THALERS, A STRIP OF LAND FOUR MILES WIDE, AND DESTROY THE FORTS WITHIn 20 MILES OF THE RHINE.

London, January 7. —The Olobe mentions heavy shipments of arms to the French.

The French, under General Eo3T, have retreated. They were beaten by the Prussians in two encounters on the 4th instant.

Count yon Bismurck has expressed bis reluctance to accept Eurl Qranville's denial of violation of neutrality.

The British Government has assured the Sublime Porte of its fidelity to the treaty of 1856.

It is proposed to increase the British army as follows :—Artillery, 5000 ; Cavalry, 2800; Engineers, 300 ; Infantry, 1200. '

O'Donovan Rosso and other Fenians were released at Chatham to-day. They proceeded to Liverpool to leave the country.

The London Conference is postponed, probably till the fall of Paris.

Madrid, December 31.—General Prim died this morning at one o'clock. All those engaged in his assassination, six in number, have escaped.

Dates from Paris to the 3rd inst. have been received to-day. The damage from the bombardment had been slight. The French losses thus fur had been 20 killed and 200 wounded. The citizens and the army were clamorous for offensive action.

Lili/e, January 7.—The French, head-quar-ters are at Berleaux.

The approximate losses in the battle at Bapaumo are 9,000 Germans and 4,000 French. The Germans evacuated Bapaume yesterday. It is said that 100,000 French have arrived at Cherbourg to equip for active service. Versailles, January S.—The bombardment of the Paris fortifications is kept up with vigor and effect. The barracks of Fort Montevideo have been set on fire and destroyed. It is reported that some shells have fallen in the Gardens of Luxembourg. Bordeaux, January^9.—Details of Friday's fighting near Vendome are received. At 11 o'clock in the morning the Germans attacked General Curtin Cyrville, at Pareher, Ville Thauve. The French were driven back to Naviel. The French commander then brought up his supports, recapturing the positions, and repulsing the Prussians beyond Sainte Komaine, which the French re-entered at night. The German loss is considerable, that of the French trifling. London, January 9. — Count Bernstorff, Prussian Ambassador in London, has received the following telegram from Bismarck :— " Versailles, January 9.—The report of the German Commander at Eouen, respecting the sinking of the English colliers, has Hot arrived, but the facts are known. Tell Gran ville we regret that our troops, to avert imminent danger, were obliged to seize the British ships. We admit the claim for indemnity ; if unjustifiable acts were a so committed, we will call the guilty to account. (Signed) Bismarck."

There i 9 an immense meeting to night at Greenwich, demanding Q-ladstone's resignation. There wus a great disturbance and some fighting.

Versailles, Janurry 10.—The army of General Ohauzey is rotreating at all points. The Germans are in pursuit, and have already taken 1000 prisoners. We have good news from the eastern departments. In an engagement on the 8tl), with G-aribaldians, at Montbard, in the Department of Cote dOr, our troops were victorious.

Yon Werder advanced yesterday on Villersexel, and took the place by storm. The 20th French Corps was engaged, and lost two staff officers, 14 ofcher officers, 600 men, and two eagles. The French attempted to retake the position, but failed.

The Prussians shells on the sth are said to have fired parts of the city. An early capitulation is predicted.

Loxdon, January 11.—The bombardment of the fortifications of Paris on the northeast and south sides is vigorously kept up. All day Tuesday the French returned a feeble fire. Bbblin, January 11.—The Queen has received the following despatch from Royal Headquarters. " Versailles, January 10.—Owing to the snow storm the heavy fire of the bombardment is slower to day. " Peronne has capitulated with 3000 prisoners. " G-eneral Werder defeated Bourbaki on the 9th south of Vesoult; he took 800 prisoners." Ve:saii,i,es, January 10.—The French work at Billancourfc is reported devastated. Fort Nbgent has recommenced firing. In Fort d'lssy 14 guns have been dismounted. Some shells have been thrown into the Paris and Lyons railway station, and it is reported thnt the Hospital Invalides ha« been hie Nor.c of the forts have yet been reached; their capture involves an advance in open field. Paris will fall by hunger and weariness : never by an artillery fire, even such as has been witnessed. London, January 11.—A balloon from Paris, on the evening-of the 10th, brings the following : — Thousands of balls fell within the outskirts of Paris in all directions during the night, killing some women and children, striking ambulances, churches, museums, and schools. The population are more than ever resolute. Trochu will not capitulate. January 12. —The Grand Duke of Mecklenburg telegrnphs to the Duchess as follows : " After crossing the Rivulet of ffoune on Tuesday, we fought on the next day a hot but victorious battle at Lomben and Chapelle, taking nearly 10,000 prinoners. Our loss whs inconsiderable. We are advancing ou Le Mnns." BoBr>EATTX, January 13th. —A general battre was fought on the 11th, Under the walls of Le Mans. The Germans attacked the French Army of the Loire along the whole line. G-eneral Jaurezibury, (?) who commanded the right wing of the French, held his position on the right bank of the Sarthe, and General Coralos on the left and centre. They fought desperately for six hours. The French maintained their position. The Prussian losses are estimated at 18,001 killed and wounded. The French losses are unknown, but serious. [A. later dispatch say 9 "make this read : Prussian forces engaged estimated at 18,000 instead of Prussian losses estimated at 18,000," but as Chausy is said to have an army of 300,000, and the attack was along the whole line, the correction seems absurd.—Ed Alt a; ] Versailles, January 12.—There was fighting near La Mans on Wednesday. The Ger; mans captured the suburbs of Champagne and Chateau Arche, with seven pieces of artillery. The number of prisoners taken, on the day before, has swellfd to 5000. London, January 15 — The army under General Chauzy was completely defeated near Le Mans by the Second German Army, commanded by Prince Frederick Charles and the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg. The Germans occupied Le Mans, capturiug large quantities of supplies and war material. The French aiv being pursued. Berlin, January 12.—The reinforcements now on their way to join the German armies in France, and those in readiness to go, number 200,000, thus raising the German force to one million. Versailles, January 12. —In the East Yon Werder is following up the victory after the battle of Villersexel, by a continued movement on the loft flank of the French, meeting with no opposition. Manteufl'til passed through Versailles on his way to his command in the East. London, January 13.—The Times, to-day, has the following special despatch : — "Versailles, January 12—Evening.—The bombardment was heavy this afternoon. " Several fires were seen within the French lines. " Tho Prussians are crowding in front of Clamarte and Mcudon. " A picket was surprisod near Clamarte by a sortie. " Tho French have erected new batteries." Versailles, January 10.—The supply of ammunition will last for eighteen days "from to-day, and the surrender of Paris is believed to be certain before then. General Vinoy lately reviewed the troops outside the walls. The soldiei-3 cried, a pah:! Au contraire ;je choisir vous condare, an feu. London. January 13. —A despatch from Brussels to-day, says that peace negotiations now pending at Versailles are to be discussed at the London Conference. General Chauzy, in the battles of the IOLh and 11th, had two corps engaged, and 60,000 men reserved. A great battle is reported to have taken place yesterday. ■ London, January 13.—A Vienna dispatch of the 12th says Austria will initiate peace, and proposals for a Conference are welcomed by Bernstoff. The preliminaries are that France shall surrender twenty war ships, one thousand million thalers, and a strip of land four miles broad on the left bank of the Rhine, and destroy all the forts within twenty miles of the .Rhine Prussia is to guarantee two million rations to Paris daily. London, January 12.—The very Rev. Henry Alford, D.D., Dean of Canterbury, died suddenly to-day, aged 61. Another terrible explosion occurred in a colliery at Newcastle, Staffordshire; twenty persons were killed and injured. The British Foreign office has received telegram despatches from the legation at Pekin, to December 31st. There have been not further troubles, and advices from the Chinese ports are satisfactory.