THE WAR IN EUROPE.

Cromwell Argus, Volume 1, Issue 49, 19 October 1870, Page 6

THE WAR IN EUROPE.

ADDITIONAL TELEGRAPHIC NEWS [Duili/ Times, October 4.]

The following items, ranging from August 12, the tinie of the departure of the mail, up to Septembor C, are froin the Ceylon Observer. Ihey supplement the telegraphic accounts we have already published, and place all the movements of the armies hi a connected form : The Prussian official account of the battle of August 14, 'states that the first and seventh Army Corps Were vigorously attacked by the French outndc Mecz. The Prussian troops drove the-*nsmy back into the town after a 'The French loss is estimated at 4000 meu. "file King of Prussia reconnoitred for several hotirß, Xmopposed, between the French and Prussian outposts. Ol&taal iirfelftgehde by telegram from Marshal Bazaine says that a 'battle was fought all day, August 16, with the Prussians, between Koucout and Thiouville :—The enemy was repulsed. We passed the night on the position gained. We halted a few hours for fresh ammunition. We were engaged in battles with the armies of Prince Frederick Charles and General Steiumetz. The French official details of the battle state that the Prussians were repulsed along their whole line, with considerable loss. The French loss was serious. General Battaille was wounded. A German official account, dated Pont-a-Mou33on, 17th, states that yesterday General Alvenschen advanced with three corps d'armee 1 westward from Metz, on the road of the enemy's retreat towards Verdun. A bloody tight occurred between the Prussian Tenth Corps and the divisions of the French army under Generals Uecaen, Ladmirault, Frossard, and Canrobert, as also the Garde Imperial. The Prussians were successively supported by the Eighth and Ninth Army Corps under Prince Frederick Charles. Notwithstanding the great majority of the French, they were driven back on Metz, after a hot right of 12 hours. The loss on both sides was very considerable. The Prussian loss includes two generals killed and two wounded. The Prussian success was complete, and 2001) prisoners, two eagles, and seven cannon were captured. French official intelligence in reference to the same engagement states that the French repulsed the Prussian attacks, and continue movements of troops concentrating on Chalons. Marshal M'Mahon had joined Marshal Bazaine. In the serious affair of Gravelotte, on the Ifith, the French were victorious, hut suffered a heavy loss. The Viim-s correspondent telegraphed that the French armies vere separated by the victory of the Prussians. The main army was forced back to Metz, and brought to bay by the German first and second armies. The Crown Prince of Prussia, with the third army, was free to operate against the French troops at Chalons. The French were completely defeated on August IS, near Kezanville, and driven back to Metz, where they are now cut off from Paris. The French main army withdrew after the battle inside the fortificat on of Metz. The Prussian loss was very grea f . The Crown Prince of Prussia pushed forward to Vitry, and a battle was, on August 20. hourly expected between him and the army at Chalons under Marshal M 'Mahon. The Emperor Napoleon and the Prince Imperial were at Chalons. The camp at Chalons was raised on the 20th, and the troops took possession along the River Marne. The Crown Prince's army was 150,000 strong, and extended to near Saint Dizier. He appeared to intend an advauce on Paris by the valley of the Aube.

Letters from Verdun, dvted 19th, stated that the Prussian advance guard was closing <.n Verdun.

On August 24, Marshal M'Mahonleftßheims. Prussian scouts appeared in the departments of Marne and Aube, One Prussian reronnaisance, advancing in the Department of Marne, reached Chalons and occupied the district of Vassy. Orders were given to arrest the advance by every possible means. Chalons was evacuated by the French the sane day. The Prussian Royal head quarters on the 2Gth advanced to Bar le Due ; a portion of the army was statione 1 to watch Marshal Hazaine ; the remainder resolutely commenced its march on Paris. Detachments advanced on Varennes. The 25th found the Prussian scouts within 10 miles of Ilheims. Verdun was surrounded. The Crown Prince was steadily pushing; towards Paris A new army was covering his flank. Defence preparations were urged on at Paris. On the 27th, the Prussian vanguard was between Chalons and Epernay. The Emperor Napdeon followed Mars'.ial M'Malum, who took the direction of Vouziers.

Pha'sburg, wh'ch had been invested, still held out on the 28th, and had repulsed two Prussian assauPs.

The German troops arrived before Rheims on the 23th. Thionville was invested the same day The Prussian advance in the department of seemed to be arrested, and the troops fell back on St. Dizier, where the headquarters of the army had been established, Next news stated that the Prussian force in this region was directed northwards in the direction of Reithel and Vouziers. It was supposed that the march to Paris would not be continued till the pending battle with Marshal M'Mahon had been decided.

On the 28th, it was officially announced that the total subscriptions for the new French loan had amounted to 80G,000,009 francs. Municipal notices invited the inhabitants of Paris to make provision for a siege. Twenty-four thousand Prussians occupied the heirhts near Rheims. where preparations were made for avi rorous defence. 1(10,000 Prussians were at tin; same time gathered between Epern iv and Rheims.

On An'list 3), 32 squadrois of Prussian hussars stormed the vill i ,'o of O.iz.-. between Vouziers and Attigny. The defen. lers were all takon prisoners. The of Str.ißb.mrg was at the sain'i time bein ? vigorously prosecuted. The l>arallels were within 500 paces of the fortress. The bombardment by 100 guns was doing great damage, hut the commandant resolved to hold it to th • last.

The 31st found Marshal M'Mahon's heid•jnirteraat Sedan, where the Rnipernr anil Prince "i npcrial hj 11 a'so arrive 1. 'I he news of the exj.) -el luttle be wmb Marshal M'Milton and .*!': I'rjM Prince of Prussia reached London tn

September 1. The battle occurred on August 2). The following is the telegram sent on the 30th by the King of Prussia, at Varenness, to the Queen : —" Yesterday we had a victorious engagement with the French, in which the Fourth and Seventh Army Corps and one Bavarian corps took part. Marshal M'Mahon was beaten, and driven back from Beaumont across the Meu.se to Mouzon. Twelve guns, several thousand prisoners, and also much materiel were taken." Later details stated that the Prussians attacked Marshal M'Mahon near Beaumont. They defeated and pursued him towards the Belgian frontier till nightfall. Fighting was resumed at 5 o'clock the next morning against the French, who were retiring to Sedan. The carnage was terrible. On September 1, a great battle raged around Sedan. The French were driven back with great slaughter. The Prussian Royal Guard and five ,army corps were engaged. The French were almost all driven inside the fortress.

On the 29th, while the Crown Prince and M'Mahon were engaged at Sedan, a great battle occurred at Metz, where Marshal Bazaine was in command of the French forees. The whole of Bazaine's army was engaged against the Prussian first army corps, General Reumer's division, and the fourth Landwehr division, Prince Frederick Charles commanding. The battle lasted all the 29th and 30th, when Marshal Bazaine was driven back at all points. The French were admitted by the Prussians to have shown great bravery. The battle of August 30-31 and September 1, between M'Mahon and the Crown Prince, effectually prevented M'.Mahon's intended attempt to relieve Metz. The Prussians on the 30th captured 30 guns and 7000 prisoners. On the 2nd September, the King of Prussia telegraphed to his Queen from before Sedan, as follows :—" A capitulation, whereby the whole army at Sedan are prisoners of war, has just been concluded with General Wimpfred, who is in command, vice M'Mahon, who is wounded. The Emperor only surrendered himself to me since he has no command, and has left everything to the Regency in Paris. His place of residence I shall appoint immediately after an interview, which will take place shortly." On the 3rd September, M. Jerome David announced in the French Senate that Marshal Bazaine had failed in his attempts to break through the Prussian lines round Metz. Marshal M'Mahon, he said, after vainly endeavoring to join Marshal Bazaine, had been driven to Sedan. Several days' fighting had taken place, with alternate successes and reverses.

On the following day (Sept. 4) a proclamation of the ministers to the French people was issued, stating that after three days' struggle sustained by Marshal M'Mahon against the enemy's forces, numbering 300,000 men, 4000 French troops had been taken prisoners. General Wimpfred, who had replaced Marshal M'Mahon, who was dangerously wounded, had signed a capitulation. The Emperor was taken prisoner during the conflict. The proclamation went on to say that these reverses did not shake the courage of France. Paris was in a state of defence, and in a few days a new armv would be under the walls of Paris. Another armv was forming on the banks of the Loire, and the Government; in .accord with its powers, was taking such measures as were required bv the gravity of events It is reported that Metz had surrendered. The Provisional Government is constituted as follows :—Trochu, President of the Government, with full military* powers for the national defence ; Jules Favre, Minister of Foreign affairs ; Gambetta, Minister of the Interior ; l)e Flo, Minister for War ; Fournlebon, Minister for Marine; Cremieux. Minister of .Justice ; Picard, Minister of Finance ; Jules Simon, Public Instruction ; Dorian, Public "Works ; Magnin, Commerce. The appointment of President of Council of State has been suppressed. Ktienne Piazo has been nominated Mayor of Paris ; De Keratry, Prefect of Police The manufacture and trade sale of arms is declared free. The deputies of Paris, including M. Rochefort, constitute a Commission for the national defence, with General Trochu as' president. Perfect order is maintained in Paris.

The Republic has been proclaimed at Lyons, Bordeaux. Grenoble, and other great cities. The following, dated London, September 6, comes by way of Knrrachee (Sept. 7, two a.m.), by Tndo-European Telegraph :—The Berlin official journal states that the number of prisoners taken includes 50 generals. The Prussian armies are still advancing on Paris. It is stated from Madrid that in consequence of the events in France, the Government is increasing the forces. The Republican deputies in the Cortes have sent congratulatory telegrams to the Provisional Government at Paris, and have held a demonstration in favor of abrogating the article of the constitution that established monarchical government in Spain. The Correspond ance Havas received, in .Cherbourg, on the 12th August, news of a naval combat between the French ironclad-corvette Thetis and a Prussian monitor, in the Great Belt (Danish Straits). The French vessel, under the command of Captain Paul Serurr, sunk the monitor, after a fight of short duration.