EUROPE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 16, Issue 856, 2 November 1870, Page 2

EUROPE.

The Prussians are still victorious in all quarters. They are within three days' march of Paris, and are advancing rapidly. England preserves her neutrality, and no further complications have arisen. [The above was telegraphed by signal from the vessel. As soon as she was tendered the following fuller particulars were telegraphed.] The Suez mail arrived at Adelaide on the morning of the 24th. The latest telegrams are to the 3rd October. The Prussians arrived at Meaux on the 11th September, and at Joinville and Melun on the 16th. Railway communication from Paris to the South was suspended on the 17th, when the Prussians crossed the Seine at Meaux, occupying Wautouse and Ernay. The Havre railway was cut at Connans, and communication with Paris entirely suspended on the 28th September, when the the investment of Paris was completed. The head quarters of the Crown Prince of Prussia are now at Versailles, and the Prussians are posted from Versailles to Vincennes (?).

On the approach of the Prussian!* large bodies of French troops went out to harass them. Eis?ht thousand occu pied the woods at Meaux on the 28th September, when three divisions of French were driven back on Paris, with a loss of 2,300 killed, and 300 prisoners. The Parisians are resolute, and declare themselves capable of holding out through the winter. ■■- •. : u The Prussians are occupying' Pithiviers and threaten Orleans. The seat of Government has been removed to Tours, and will, if necessary, be removed again to Bordeaux. The United States Government expressed their willingness to offer their services as mediators if requested; but subsequently refused, because Bismarck declined mediation. Thiers went to London on the 30th September, and saw Lord Granville in reference to mediation. No offer having been made sufficient to induce the Prussians to retire, nothing was done. Thiers then went to Yienna and St. Petersburg. Jules Favre afterwards had an interview with Bismarck, having issued a circular repelling as calumny a statement that war was demanded bv public opinion. He declares that France asked for peace, but would prefer the worst disasters to dishonor. Favre was well received, but military operations were continued. Favre offered Prussia complete indemnification for the cost of the war, demolition of the fortifications of Metz and Strasbourg, and the surrender of a poiiiion of the fleet, but his negotiation* utterly failed. Bismarck demanded the reduction of France to a second rate power, with Annexation of Alsace and Lorraine as far as Metz by right of conquest; also, the surrender of Zonal and Strasbourg.

The Government declined these conditions, as the inhabitants of Paris declared they would rather bury them* selves in the ruins of their city than accept such conditions. The war will be prosecuted to the bitter end. Two thousand of the Garde Mobile were captured at the Versailles railway. The Standard says the new army forming on the Loire are both numerous and undismayed. The blockade of the Baltic by the French fleet has been i-aised. The troops in Metz are healthy, and provisions plentiful. Barricades have been erected in the streets of Paris. Toul surrendered on the same terms* as Sedan. The Italian troops entered Rome on the 28th September, after a slight resistance made by the Pontificial troops contraiy to the Pope's wishes. Strasbourg has surrended with seventeen thousand soldiers and fifty officers. The guns of the city were sent to Paris. It is reported that fighting occurred in the streets of Paris on the 24th and 25th September. General M'Mahon is not dead as reported, but a prisoner at Wiesbaden. French accounts state that Bazaiue had several successful engagements against the Prussians outside Metz between the 23rd and 29th September, on which days several splendid sorties were made. It is stated that the Tours government have given the American General Beauregard a commission to accompany an army corps to the south of France. National Bank dividend rate five per cent. The Prussians before Soissons repulsed several sorties. Special Telegram for New Zealand. There are about 200,000 bales of wool for the next sales, 4Arrivals from New Zealand, 29,000 bales wool on the 30th September. In wool and flax there is little doing. Wheat, 2s lower. Tallow, less active, but steady.