THE WAR IN EUROPE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 16, Issue 898, 21 December 1870, Page 2

THE WAR IN EUROPE.

Tours. Nov. Provisional Government has received reassuring advises from the Southern and Western provinces of France. The people are unanimous for a continuation of the war until a peace is possib'e op some other basis than cession of French territory. The Second Prussian Army Corps remains at Metz, and before Thionville. The greater portion of the army at Metz, under Prince Frederick Charles, will operate in the centre of France. London, Nov. 3.—Thiers was admitted to an audience with the King of Prussia. The conference lasted three hours. A military council was held at Versailles, on Wednesday forenoon, in which Bismarck participated. In the forenoon Thiers was closeted with Bismarck a long time. London, NoV. 3. —It is reported that Thiers has proposed at Versailles an armistice, on the basis suggested by the British Ministry, ami that the proposition will be, if it has not already been, accepted by Prussia, Thiers expressed great satisfaction with the course pursued by England. The last English and American families which will be permitted to leave Paris, take their departure this morning, At last advices Washburne was preparing to come out. Bismarck, replying to Earl Granville's offers of mediation through Count Bernstoff, the Prussian Minister at London, says there will be no obstacle offered by him to the French elections for members of the Legislatif Assembly, but the consent of the French Provisional Government to holding such elections is wanting, he fears that Paris misinterpreting Euglaud's motive in offering to mediate, is thereby encouraged to prolong resistance. He declares that Prussia is willing to receive and earnestly consider any proposition from France which seems to carry with it a genuine desire for peace. It is claimed by the Germans that the supply of meat in Paris is insufficient to meet the actual necessities of those within for another fortnight. The French had only 2,100 prisoners ou their hands at noon on the 7th inst. Brussels, Nov. 3.-r-Tbe Independence Beige says :—" We daily receive visits from escaped officers of Bazaine's army, and their testimony is conclusive as to the treachery of their commander." Berlin, Nov. following royal order of the day is published this morning : —■ " Soldiers of the Confederate Army; When, three months since, we took the field, I said God would be with our just cause. That this confidence has been fully realised, witness Woerth, Saarbrucken, Metz, Sedan, Beaumont, Strasbourg —each a victory for our arms. To you belong the merit and the glory. You have maintained all the virtues which especially distinguish soldiers. With Metz the last army of the enemy is destroyed. I take this opportunity to thank you all, from the General to the ejjldiers. Whatever the future, I |oolc

forward to it calmly, because I know with such soldiers victory cannot fail.—* (Signed) William," It is alleged that Russia is appreben* sive of a revival of Polish nationality under Prussian protection. London, Nov. 3 —The Empress Eugenie has gone to Hanover, No particulars of the interview between Napoleon and Canrobert and Leboeuf are reported. From officer? of high rank, escaped from Metz, it has been learnt that the soldiers insisted on fighting either for Europe or the continuance of the siege. Generals Deligny and Clinch desired to make a sortie, even after the surrender was known, but could not muster sufficient organised forces. Madrid, Nov. 3.—ln the Cortes, Marshal Prim announced his intention to present to the Corps the name of the Duke of Aosta as a candidate for the throne. Torpete said his regret was that Prim had not proposed the Duke of Montpensier, General Corcoras supported Espartero. A bill providing for the elec» tion of a King will be presented. Versailles, Nov, consequence of the terms proposed yesterday by Thiers, and accepted to-day by Bismarck, the latter oifers to the French an armistice of twenty five days, to allow the general elections to be held throughout France, The armistice to be based on the military status in quo existing on the day of signature. Tours, Nov. 3.—The journals publish extracts from the Journal Oificiel of Paris of the Ist, from which it is understood that the Paris Government has decided to accept an armistice, and that Flourens, who waited a pretext, raised a temporary riot.—(Signed) Trocijo, The conditions of the proposed armis* tice are the following;—" The duration will be of twenty-one days; the inhabitants will be at liberty to bring in food during the interval ; free elections will be held in all the departments." London, Nov. 3.—-/The armistice has, been concluded. A Paris correspondent, writing on the 27th ulto,,'says ;—'* Food is becoming scarce and dearer daily. At the Horse Market, yesterday, 700 horses were sold for culiuary purposes, There had been a previous sale. They all passed examination as to fitness for food. Donkeys and mules were also bought for cooking purposes, the former being in flavor equal to veal," London, Nov. 4. —The Cabinet was held in extraordinary to-day in Downing- street. Earl Granville received a despatch announcing the acceptance by Trochu of an armistice on the basis proposed by Bismarck. The protocal of armistice is signed by Trechu, Favre, Arago, Farry, Gamier-Pages, Pelletan, Picard, and Simon, on the part of the Provisional Government, and hy Count Bismarck and General Von Moltke on the part of the Germans. The election of Paris on the question of maintaing the powers of the Government of National Defence resulted in an overwhelming majority in favor of the Government, The National Guards marched in battalions to the polls and deposited their votes, all of which were " Yes." The armistice commences on the 4th Novem* ber, and ends on the 28th. The conditions of the armistice concerning the reviotualing of Paris are not stated in the despatch. Bismarck, on the 30th, told a World correspondent he was certain the armistice would lead to a satisfactory peace. The correspondent asked, " Will any peace be satisfactory without cession of territory ? '* Bismarck replied, '<No." The correspondent then asked, " Will the French people support a Government which consents to a cession of territory ? " Bismarck replied with a smile. The Examiner notices that Bismarck assumes a much more friendly tone toward the Uuited States than Great Britain, and comments with bitterness on the contrast. It is now certain that the armistice has been signed conditionally by Thiers, and Count Bismarck. The Radicals in Paris were discontented with the terms* and hence the disturbance there, but the Committee of Defence supported by the property owners and the National Guard, overwhelmed the faction, and will carry the conditions of the armistice. The Foreign Office is informed that the relations between Austria, and Prussia,

have grown threatening within a few days. When Bismarck's last circular was read to Von Beust he replied in a highly-unfriendly manner, and a rupture appeared imminent. Prussia is now drained of her last division of Landwehr, having at home only 80,000 soldiers, who are doing garrison duty and guarding prisoners. Bazaine's surrender was made known, however, at Vienna, and caused Vu-n Beust to adopt a milder tone. A despatch from Altera to-day says a restoration of the lights and signals has been ordered along the entire German coast. An American who left Paris on the the 29th, reports purchasers of meat are allowed to buy four ounces each per day ; the supply of flour was abundant, but carefully hoarded. The Prussian Gazette says if an armistice is granted, Paris would not have the right to revictual, this being admitted by all parties. That all believe peace will be negotiated during the temporary suspension of arms. London, November 13. —The Russian Minister here read to Lord Granville a letter from Prince Gortschakoff, stating that Russia now demands a modification of the provisions signed in Paris on the 20th March, 1856, of Articles JX and 13 of the treaty of Paris, 27th April, 1856. These provisions forbid the Russian fleet entering the Dardanelles from the Black Sea, and limits the Russian fleet in the Black Sea to ten small steamers. They also prohibit Russia and Turkey maintaining on the Black Sea Coast any military or marine arsenal, and generally neutralise the Black Sea by the interdiction from its waters of any vessel of war belonging to powers possessing its coast, or any other power. This declaration on the part of Russia being simultaneously made in London by the Cabinets at Constantinople, Vienna and Berlin, is believed here to indicate Russia's readiness to insist on the recognition of her claims by force. The official journal at Constantinople says the Sublime Porte is now able to resist any attack; that it has 600,000 men and 12 armored frigates. A careful condensation of the reports received in England by high medical authority in the British army from all the German armies now in France, shows the aggregate of the deaths of the German soldiers average twenty to thirty per day, which is due in a great measure to bad sanitary arrangements and neglect of the sick and wounded. The opinion in the military circles here is unanimous that unless the Germans can end the war before January, their final defeat is inevitable. Excitement to-night in London runs high in political circles respecting the designs of Russia. It is believed that she has a secret understanding with Prussia.