ARRIVAL OF THE ENGLISH MAIL VIA SUEZ.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 95, 9 December 1870, Page 3

ARRIVAL OF THE ENGLISH MAIL VIA SUEZ.

The Rangitoto, with the Suez mails, arrived at Hokitika on Monday last. The. following is a summary of the news brought by the mail:— The' Prussian forces in France are nstimated at six hundred and fifty thousand mien. Half of the German army are round Paris. The big guns opened fire' on the Ist Nov. The Parisians continue an unavailing-resis-tance, unconscious, of reverses outside. Earl Granville states there is no prospect of England being involved, but should it be, the Colonies may, rest assured that no effort will be spared to give warning and assistance. On the 29th of October Metz surrendered unconditionally, with one hundred and seventythree thousand prisoners. :-; . Forty millions of francs were found in the military chest. Two thousand guns captured. Generals Bazaine, Canrobert, and. Lebaeuf are among the prisoners. Bazaine has gone ta Wilhelmshoe. ' . Gam betta. denounces capitulation as a crime, and accuses Bazaine of treachery. Whatever happens the Parisians will not permit themselves to be- overcome. The Government expresses determination to resist, while an inch of French soil remains. When the capitulation of Metz became known, the inhabitants were furious. The National Guards at first refused to deliver up their ai'ms. The populace hooted Bazaine, and attacked his carriage. •The French have determined not to cede any territory. St. Quentin has capitulated; In tlie North- West the Prussians are extending their forces. « ■ ' Amiens has been captured. The Prussians intend taking Rouen, so as to d*. aw supplies from the coast. Montdiyier was captured on the 18th, and Chalondier on the 21st.

Thionville is besieged. The siege of Vedron iFasJcoxmnenced on thV loth. '■"..-, On the 26th the commandant declared he would fight to the last. Kussia is making great warlike preparatic-a?, and is massing troops on the frontier. Turkey is tlireatened. . Garibaldi is inactive. The Germans have captured 325,000 priso* ners, 66 Generals, 3000 guus, and 4CyJUO,OuQ francs. Tlie latest date is Ist November. The bombardment of Paris was to commenceon that day. . * The Vrmsians continue victorious, and the nppivt of I iie war is litth: fines the-~ a'.ivkv s tV<uii California avre received. London, Oct. 15. !!ie .* Times * urges peace on the basis of the" dismantling of the fortresses oi Alsace and Lorraine, and a.treaty with England. A circular from the Tours Government states that Bismarck wishes to reduce France to a second-rate Power, and that lie is reported t.» insist on the following conditions:—Th..c France shall pay an indemnity of ei«htv miilions sterling ; that Alsace and Lorraine" shall be neutral, with a plebiscite in ten years; and that the signatures of peace be raaiie in Paris. The rejection of these terni3 is reported. The French mission to Madrid asking for assistance failed. . " - - London (?), Oct. 22- > Prussia is reported to be favorable to an •armistice, provided that the principle of the cession* of territory is admitted. "'-*' - The Tours Government arc favorable to .this,. but the Paris officials are opposed to the cession < of territory. ■, .. Tiie Berlin journals consider that the armistice negotiations will fall through, and that the territorial. demands abound not be abandoned. . j Tlie preparation* for attacking the fortifications have been completed. Sieg? guns and mortara are in position. _, ' . Oct/27; ' Ijie Prussians prognosiicata terrible consequences by famine in Paris, while the French say they are provisioned for fix months. . Several sorties have been repulsed. - :: '..--n- ---■ The Parisians art; maintaining the defensive till the bombardment * i,, The French shelled and destroyed the Palace •of St.. Cloud. At noon the big guns opened fire. Provisions are becoming scarce. V '■■"•;• -■■> An unsuccessful sortie was made from Mont Yalerien. : Tlie Parisians themselves expect Paris wilL A not be able to hold out long. : "[.'* The Germans held a grand religious cere» f '* mouy prior to the bombardment eoaimencing. 17«J,000 prisoners gave up ; their, arms, and 12,000 officers were released oa.paroie. The Prussians obtained much booty, including two millions sterling in the military cheats of the garrison. ..'._■ k ; ft - The Berlin press insist on retaining Mefcz as? * a' security, of peace, in the future. 6000 Prussians-left: Metz to besiege Loaguy. Mazzini was taken in. Metz, but was re. ... I leased/ - ; " '■.'.. J. 'lt Everywhere else the Prussians are obtaining a firm'footing in France, where they 'intend wintering; and the German Parliament was to be convoked to vote supplies.; 7 ■ Ij. .Orleans was stormed alter nine hours' '* r iiag, and the French were driven across-*W «: Loire. A requisition otMialf-a- milhon francs : . was levied on Orleans. Soissons, St. Scheliestadt have capitulated.. Tue Garde Mobile repulsed 1,200 Prussians while attempting to cut the Amiens and Uouen ' railway. , . Aifiying column -of VVurtemburgers captured 600 Fi-ano-Tireursand Mobiles between Maugis and Monterien. ."„• Fighting is-proceeding frith varying success. The Prussians are extending themselves in '2formandy and Southern France. - •- . Tiie Prussians burned the village of Abli» for treachery. Soissons capitidatp-d on the loth, after four days' obstinate resistance.: - 4000 prisoners and 132 guns were taken. Mont Didier was captured on tht> ISfch. Chateau l>iem Chartre* and St. Quentin were taken .on the 2Jst October. The Baden troops routed the Franc-Tiraan ,• in the Vosges, and captured (ju oilicers and ' 600-meu. Mezieres was to be bombarded. Bitscho was invested by 50,0(J0 Germans. ".;■''■■■ liATEBJWAB 2CEW3. /The following telegrams, dated London, Nov. 2, were received in Auckland on the Ist insfc.:— The Parisians are desponding. Paris haa been nearly destroyed by an immense petroleum fire. The losses are enormous. Great distress prevails, in Paris. ..,..„ F>esh armies have marched from the south * of. France to attack the Prussians in the rear. 5 There are diseentionß among the garrison in Paris. Some of them clamor for a capitulation before the bombardment commences. Ardent entreaties are mad* to bring up fresh armies to attack the Prussians in the rear.,* -'* f, j The Prussians have 100 siege guns; in' position, and it is the opinion of good, judge* that the city will not hold out two dayif after the general bombardment opens. '*/&,