THE SUEZ MAILS.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 48, 12 October 1870, Page 6

THE SUEZ MAILS.

Dunedin, 7th October, 11.4G a.ni. u The a, s Tararua arrived ai the Bluff yesterday (Thursday) morning, after a passage of four " days fourteen hours from Melbourne. She brings t a large English mail. The subjoined telegrams 1 were received through Reuter’s Australian Ex 1 proas : g [By Reuter’s Australian Express). London, August 12. j; After their defeat at Worth and Spiehern, the s entire French line commenced to retreat from the frontier, followed by the victorious Prus- t sians, who advanced from all points into the s country. The Crown Prince had his quarters at Saverne a last Monday, and the army of Prince Frederick Charles and General Steinmetz was also ad- a vancing. Great dissatisfaction prevails in France at the ] recent defeats. ] The Empress issued a proclamation calling on Frenchmen to be firm and orderly. f The Chambers mot on Tuesday, and a fierce and stormy sitting ensued. Jules Favre declared j that the Emperor, having shown himself incapable, should be recalled, and finally a hostile , vote against the Ministry was adopted, and thsy resigned. General Montauban, better known as Count a Palikao, then termed a Ministry. The Emperor resigned the command of the ( army to Marshal Bazaine, though he remained at Metz. Another defeat will probably smash the Emperor. Thu latest news states that the Germans have invested Strasbourg. The garrison is totally nadequate to defend it. 1 The three bodies of the Prussians have effected : a junction, and now form an unbroken line across the French frontiers, while the advance i guard of the Prussian army has penetrated 40 j miles into French territory. Various rumours are as current to the whereabouts of the Prince Imperial, but the general 1 belief is that he is in Paris. i In the House of Lords on July 28th, Earl \ Granville explained that England had done ( everything to avert the war, but without avail, , On August Ist, a debate took place in the House of Commons on the naval and military defences cf the Kingdom, when Ministers assured the 1 House that everything was in a satisfactory con- ( dition. Latest from Galle. GREAT BATTLE BEFORE METZ. THE PRUSSIANS VICTORIOUS. FIFTY THOUSAND FRENCHMEN j KILLED, WOUNDED, AND PRISONERS. [ GERMAN LOSS FORTY THOUSAND. London, September 5. The King of Prussia has addressed aprnelamai tion to the French people, stating that the Germans desired to live in peace with the I reneh • | that they were waging war against the soldiers and not against the citizens ; that it no brutish attacks were made against the German troops, the inhabitants would be protected. _ A further proclamation has been issued, abolishing conscriptions. The Prussians occupied French territory on fie loth. . . . , The King telegraphed a victorious battle before Metz. The first, and seventh army corps ere attacked by the French outside Metz. The French, after a bloodv tight were driven into the town, with a loss, it is estimated, of 4000. The Garrison at Strasbourg made a sortie on the 15th. but were driven back with the loss of three guns. Nancy was occupied by a detachment of I rusaim cavalry on the 4th. 1400 German families, who wore expelled from Paris, have arrived at Cologne. The Official Gazette at Berlin says Government will not expel peaceful subjects. The King Ins unpointed a Governor-General to each of the provinces of Lorraine and Alsace, j The Gernv'n official accounts, which are dated the 17th. state that after a bloody fight, and notwithstanding the great superioritv of the enemv in numbers, thev drove the French back into Metz. The fight lasted 12 hours, and the loss on both sides was very heavv. Two Prussian Generals were killed. Hie Prussians took 25 captains, 2000 men, 2 Lagles, and seven cannon. The Prussians attacked Strasbourg on the 18th, but were repulsed with a loss of 4300 men, leaving the town in the hands of the French. On the. 19th, the King telegraphed that the French a"m" was entirely defeated, and driven back to Metz. The battle lasted nine hours. The Prussians attacked the French at night, and stormed and captured all the heights, and took 4000 prisoners. According to Prussian accounts, the French last 2'i.000 men. The French lost battles on the 7th, 14th, and 18th. Their losses in these reverses were ah mt 50.000, killed, wounded, and prisoners. The German losses wore. 40,000. The Prussians began to homhard Strasbourg on the 19th, from the right bank of the Rhine, near Kehl. The bombardment lasted all the dav'and night of ’I uesday. Much damage has bean d me to Strasbourg. The Prussians succeeded in entrenching themselves within a thousand yards of Strasbourg, and took possession of the railway station outside | the town. \ large Prussian force surrounds Verdrm. The Prussians resolutely commenced their march on Paris. The Rnpnel newspaper lias been suppressed. A French squadron lies before Kiel, where important events are expected, The north-west, coast of Germany is blockaded, Algeria has'been declared in a state of siege. There’ is a French rumour that the King has dismissed' General Steiijmetz, whoso army has joined the Grown Prince's. ■ The Prussians continue their onward movement in great force. A great battle is imminent. The following is from the French source Lobccuf resigns the generalship of the army of the Rhine. Bazaine is nominated chief of th

second, third, and fourth corps of the Rhine army. The French s pwdron is before Kiel, where important events were expected. The north-western coast of Germany is declared blockaded. A fresh army is being prepared, with Bazaine as commander-in-chief. Bazaine telegraphed that a battle had been fought on the 17th with the Prussians, who were repulsed. The French passed the night on the position gained, and have since achieved another victory. Official details of battle on the 17th say that the Prussians were repulsed along the whole line, with considerable loss. French loss also serious. French energetically protested against violation of neutrality in the conveyance of the Prussian wounded through Belgium and Luxembourg. 150.000 old soldiers are assembling at Lyons, and 80,000 at Paris. Measures are being taken to fortify Paris against siege. The statement made by the Times that the Empress Eugenie asked the Queen to mediate has been contradicted. Rumour says Emperor is mentally ill and infirm. President Grant has issued a proclamation enjoining strict neutrality. The Emperor surrendered to King William, who sent him as prisoner to Wilhelmhoe. The Empress is in Belgium. Parisians are in a state of great excitement, and are determined to defend Paris to the last. 90.000 French prisoners have been sent to Germany.