ARRIVAL OF THE AIREDALE WITH THE ENGLISH MAIL BY SAN FRANCISCO. FIVE DAYS' LATER NEWS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 219, 16 September 1870, Page 2

ARRIVAL OF THE AIREDALE WITH THE ENGLISH MAIL BY SAN FRANCISCO. FIVE DAYS' LATER NEWS.

THE PRUSSIANS VICTOEIOUS. THE PRINCE IMPERIAL SENT TO LONDON TOGETHER WITH THE CROWN JEWELS. REVOLT IN PARIS. PARIS PREPARING FOR A SIEGE. We take the following from the New Zealand Herald : — On the second of August the first fighting took place. The accounts of the results at Saarbrucken ■were contradictory. The French claimed the advantage, and Napoleon sent the following dispatch to the Empress -.— " General Frossard, with one division, defeated three divisons of the enemy. Louis has received his baptism of fire; he was admirably cool and a little impressed. A division of Frossard's command carried the heights overlooking Saar. Louis and I were in front, where the bullets iell about us. Louis keeps a bullet he picked up on the field. The soldiers are delighted at his tranquility. We lost one offi er and ten men.— Signed Napoleon." A large wager was thereafter offered by M. Thomas that the French would be in Berlin by the 17th August. Enthusiasm was intense throughout France. On the 4th of August there was hard fighting, the French losses being hsavy. The Prussians took many prisoners at Wiessenburg. The French were driven off the field, and the Prussians occupied the .French camps. From thenceforward the Prussians met with a succession of unparalleled successes. The Crown Prince commanded, and attacked General McMahon's division, which was composed of the flower of the French array. He was entirely successful. The losses on both sides were great. McMahon's loss was set down at 30,000. He was cut off from communication with the Emperor. Other reverses followed. Frossard's division was defeated, and almost annihilated. The Emperor took ill. The Prince Imperial was sent to Paris. The news of the reverses was suppressed in Paris, and the greatest consternation prevailed. The city was in a tumult and demanded to know the worst. The Ministry vacillated. At last came despatches from the Emperor, admitting serious defeats, but declaring that all was not lost, and calling upon France to rise as one man to save the country. Paris was declajad in a state of siege by the Empress, and the Ministry — the Corps Legislatif— was assembled to take into consideration the emergency that had arisen. The news soon became known that defeats had been sustained greater than had been admitted. Ju!e3 Favre, in a speech of great force and brilliancy, said the Legislature must take the matter into their own hands and save the nation. The French, at last accounts, were concentrated at Metz. A battle was hourly expected, which, if lost, would seal the fate of Napoleon. Retreat to Paris was impossible. The superiority of the Needle Gun over the Chassepot has been placed beyond all question during the present war. Wheat rose in Liverpool market to 12s per bushel ; it is now firm at 11s 3d. The markets in California have been very much disturbed in consequence. Wool has an upward tendency ;an advance of Id to 2d per lb. being maintained. New Zealand flax and gum remain firm at last quotations. Paris, August 7.— The Journal Official publishes the following proclamation ; — Frenchman : — Up to this hour we have always, given without reserve, all certain news which we have received, and we continue to do so. Last night we received the following despatch : — , Metz, August 5. — Midnight. — Marshal

McMahon has lost a battle. General Frossard, \ on the Saar, has been obliged to retreat. His retreat was effected in good order. All can be retrieved. Napoleon. Metz, August 7 — 3.30 a.m. — My communications have been interrupted with Marshal Me Mahon. lam going to place myself in the centre of the position. NArOLKON. Metz, August 7 — 4.30 a.m. — Major-General of the Army, to the Minister of the Interior : After a series of engagements, in which the enemy brought a heavy force into the field, Marshal McMahon was forced to fall back from his first line. The corps of General Frossard had to fight yester.lay from two p.m.. with an entire army of the enemy. Having held his position until six p.m., he ordered a retreat, which was made in good order. Le Bceuf. Details of our losses are wanting. Our troops are full of elan. The situation is not compromised in our territory, and a serious effort is necessary. A battle appears imminent. la the presence of this grave news our duty is plain. We appeal to the patriotism of all. The Chambers have been convoked. We are placing Paris with all possible haste in a state of defence. In order to facilitate the execution of military preparations, we declare the Capital in a state of seigo. There must be no faint-heartedness, no divisions. Our resources are immense. Let us pursue the struggle without flinching, and the country will be saved. By order of the Empress, llegent, and signed by each of the Ministers. s Metz, August 7th. — 5.20 a.m., During the fight yesterday, the Prussians fired upon the ambulances at Forbach, and set fire to the town. Ihe third corps was engaged at Forbach, supported by only two divisions from other corps. The corps of Generals l'Admirault and Faiiley were not in the fight. The combat commenced at ten o'clock, and at first appeared of little importance, but soon lnrge masses of troops hidden in the woods attempted to turn our position. At 5 o'clock the Prussians acted as if they had been repulsed and had given up the attack, but a fresh corps arrived to the assistance of the Prussians. General Frossard was obliged to retire. To-day the troops which got separated yesterday are concentrating around Metz. In the battle, near Frieleehweller, Marshal McMahon had the support of five Divisions of General Faiiley 's corps. After the battle, these divisions were unable to join their corps. The details of the battle are still very vague. It is said that many cavalry charges were made. Metz, August 7th, 8 a.m. — The moj'ale of our troops is excellent. It is impossible to give the exact figure of our losses. Gen. Coffirners is organizing the defences. We have official confirmation of the evacuation of Thionville, and the capture of Sierck and Haguenau, and the advance of the Prussians across the Rhine from South Baden. We know, however, that large Prussian armies are gathered at Saar Louis and in the Southern part of Baden. Paris, August 7. — The Empress has issued the following proclamation : — Frenchmen : The opening of the war has not been favorable to us. We have suffered a check. Let us be firm under this reverse and let us hasten to repair it. Let there be but one party on the land — that of France ; a single flag — that of the national honor. I come among you faithful to my mission and my duty. You will see me the first in danger to defend the flag of France ; I conjure all good citizens to maintain order. To agitate would be to conspire with our enemies. The Palace of Tuileries, the 7th day of August, 1870, 1 a.m. Empress Eugenie. Paris, August 7, evening. — Official advices from Metz to the 6th say McMahon has not had time to send a repo.t from his headquarters ; he simply writes that he is in a good position, and has been joined by another corp3 of the army from Metz. Paris, August 7. — Journal Official contains the following despatches : — Metz, August 7, 6.35 p.m. — No further news has been received from Marshal McMahon on the Saar. General Frossard's corps alone has been engaged. The result is still uneertain. Berlin, August 7. — King William sends the following dispatch to the Queen : — " Good news ! A great victory has been won by oar Fritz. God be praised for his mercy. We have captured 4000 prisoners, 30 guns, 2 standards, and 6 mitrailleurs. McMahon, during the fight, was heavily reinforced from the main army. The contest was very severe, and lasted from eleven in the morning till nine at night, when the French retreated, leaving the field to us. Our losses are heavy." Mayence, August 7, 4 a.m. — The Prince Eoyal Royal reports : — " August 6, Evening. — In the battle in which we defeated McMahon, whose corps had been reinforced by divisions from the corps of Faiiley and Canrobert, we have taken 2 eagles, 6 mitrailleurs, and at least 4000 prisoners. General de Bose was wounded. The loss is great on both sides." " Berlin, August 7 (via London), 1.30 p.nr— The French Emperor has withdrawn his entire force, and is concentrating his troops for the defence of Paris. His losses have been enormous. The Prussians overtook the retreating French forces early on Saturday morning, west of Saarbrucken, near Spluchen Hills. General Earners commanded the force3, supported by Generals de Barnekow, and de Stulpagnel. General de Goeben ultimately assumed command. The action was severe. A position at which the French endeavoured to make a stand during the retreat was carried by the Prussians at the point of the bayonet. The battle is known as that of Haguenau. Sulz, August 7, Morning.— lt is reported that McMahon was wounded in the battle yesterday. We have taken over 4000 prisoners. Berlin, August 7. — General Steinmetz telegraphs to General Henemfelt, chief of staff at Berlin, as follows :— "The conflict between Saarbucken and Forbach was a bloody one, and closed only with nightfall. It was opened by the Fourteenth Division, which was reinforced by six battalions,

three batteries, and some cavalry. We took] by assault the heights of Spluchen and fiung the enemy back upon Forbach. At the same time the Thirteenth division advanced on Verkliner, took Forson, and with its advance reached Forbach towards evening. We received another despatch, dated Saar-brucken, to-day, at noon. It says : — The result of the fight exceeded our expectations ; we have occupied Forbach, where we have surprised the baggage and camp equipage of two divisions. The Liberte bids the people of France to rise en masse aad repel the invaders. A despatch from the Emperor, dated 3.30 a.m., Sunday, says : — " Communication with McMahon having been cut off, nothing has been received from him since last evening. General Sligle has been wounded. MuMahon's loss was great in the battle, but his retirement was effected in good order. On the left the action began at about one o'clock a.m., but was not serious till several masses of the enemy had concentrated, before which the Second Corps momentarily held its ground. Between six and seven a.m., the masses of the enemy became more compact, and the Second Corps retired on the right. To-night all is quiet. I go to the centre of the position." Paris, August 7. — The following dispatch was received : — " General Head-quarters, Metz, August 7. — That we may hold our position here, it is necessary th <t Paris and France should consent to great efforts of patriotism. Here, we lose neither our coolness nor our confidence, but the trial is hard. McMahon, after the battle of Kirschoffen, retreated, at the same time covering the road to Nancy, and the corps of General Frossard, which suffered severely. He is taking energetic measures for defence." Paris, August 7. — via London. — The Seriate and Legislatif have been summoned to meet on Thursday, the 25th instant. The despatch from the Emperor, announcing McMahon' s defeat and his separation from the main army, caused the utmost cons ternation. According to the Emperor , however, ail may yet be retrieved. The Prussians are over the frontier, and advancing on Paris. The French speak of a great battle as imminent. New York, August 7. — The Herald's special from London says : — Serious apprehensions of disturbances are entertained in Paris, and the strictest surveilance is exercised over telegrams sent from thera. Paris, August 7. — The Journal Officiel says the defense of Paris is assured. It wouM require an army of half a million to invest its fortifications, while 30,000 would suffice to defend them, and there are troops enough in and around the city to furnish the necessary garrison. These, with sailors from the fleet, which could be procured, the Garde Nationale, the Garde Municipale, and firemen, would make up a solid army of 100,000. Paris is free from, danger The following is the Prussian account of the battle between Von Goeben and the French forces under Frcsard: — The fight was opened on our side by the 14th division, which was subsequently reinforced, and a bloody struggle raged along the line between Saarbrucken and Forbach, lasting until night. The heights of Spleichen were carried at the point of the bayonet, and the enemy thrown back on Forbaoh. Meanwhile our 15th division had advanced from Vereklingen, taken Cassel, and reached Forbach at nightfall, when the Aboken division of the French army were being driven upon that point. Here the baggage and camp-equipage of two divisions aad many prisoners were taken. London, August 8.-14,000,000 francs were seized by the police in Paris last week. It belonged to Rothschild, Hirsch, Kaphael, Bischoffscheny, and other Jewish bankers, and it is asserted the seizure was suggeste 1 by the authorities of the Bank of France. Financial circles in Europe are very much incensed at what are deemed great outrages upon some of their members. The Prussians assert that within a week they will have 800,000 on the theatre of war, and it is believed at Antwerp that the war will end in a week. Paris ?s in a fearfully excitei state, and the people are demanding that every soldier shall be sent to the front. The French losses in tha battle when M'Mahon was defeated are stated at 30,000 men 6 mitrailleurs, several cannon, and 2 eagles. Newspaper correspondents testify to the wonderful bravery of the French troops, and particularly the African corps, who fought for eight hours incessantly against overpowering odds. It is said that before leaving Berlin, Bismarck was asked whether, if successful, Germany ought not to insist on Napoleon's abdication. He replied : — "No, Germany can onl7 fight for German subjects, not for French." The Prince Imperial, and all the Empress' jewels and valuables have been sent to London; although the French are led to believe that he is still at Metz. Letters from Metz speak undisguisedly of the calamitous and fatal incapacity of the Emperor. Marshal Lebceuf and all the military leaders comprising- the Imperial staff, have utterly lost the confiience of the army, and a change in command was an absolute necessity to prevent mutiny. Lafrene, editor of the Soir, which ha3 hitherto been a Government paper, says he witnessed the entire destruction of Frossard's corps, and he claims to speak for 30,000 French soldiers who were cut to pieces by the fault of their leaders, and who lamented with their last cry that they fell uselessly . The universal cry of tha army is " Give us generals we can trust." Paris is in a state of tumult, and Napoleon has been asked to resign the command of the army. This, he refuses to do, stating that he will only return " dead or victorious." Ollivier's Ministry has been dismissed and Paris placed in a state of seige. The populace is mad to have the whole of the troops sent to the seat of war, and whenever a soldier appears in the streets he is greeted with cries of " To the frontier." The latest telegram received iu San Francisco was on the 11th Augmt just before the Ajax sailed with the mail. It was to the following effect :— > " Metz is surrounded by the Prussians, an 1 the capture of the entire French army is expected,"

when it is remembered that the French army comprizes 250,000 to 300,000 men, this enterprise has the appearance of a very serious one. "f; Preparations for the defence of Paris. — The report of the Minister of War says : — Existing circumstances oblige us to provide for the defences of the city and to garrison with French troops, allowing all those that the Empress keeps under her orders to contend in open country against the enemy, which, emboldened by his success, no doubt intends to march on Paris. But Paris will not be taken unawares. The men in the exterior forts received arms sometime ago. They form an army around the city ; a state seige has been declared, and the execution of defensive works will be finished to-morrow. Thus the exfctrior forts are in a condition to sustain a seige, and in a few days the entire circuit of the walls will be found in a similar condition. Neither strong arms nor the devotion ot the inhabitants are wanting for the task. The National Guards are to defend the ramparts, which they will have helped to render unassailable. Eorty thousand men have been taken from its ranks and added to the present garrison, more than enough to make an active defence against any enemy occupying an extended front. The defence of Paris will be assured ; but there is a point not less essential. It is the necessity of filling up the void in our army with troops from the regiments still at t^ur disposal in Erance and Algeria. There with the 4th battalion, including those members who belong to the Garde Mobile, and with the position of the gens de arms, will enable us easily to put into the field 15,000 men Besides, the class of 1869 will give us 60,000 men who, in a month, will become soldiery. The Ministers have issued the following proclamation : — "Frenchmen — We have told you the whole truth. It is for you to do your duty. Let one shout come from one end of France to the other. Let the people vie with each other in sustaining the great cause. Some of our regiments have fallen before overwhelming numbers ; but the army has never been defeated. Sustain it to the fortunate end. Let us oppose tenacity to our enemies. Let, then, all the inhabitants of France, not subject to the burden of war, rush to the assistance of the brethren of the East. Let France be united, and Heaven will bless your arms." Advices from Rome state that the French disaster causes a profoud terror, and that the Pope has asked Eugenie for just one ship to defend him from Italy's new organization for an attack on the Papal dominion and authority.

ENGLAND. London, August 19. The Queen delivered her speech to Parliament frern the throne, as follows, to-day : — " My Lords and Gentlemen, we continue to receive the good will and fellowship ot the Foreign Powers. We have used our best exertions to avert the war between France and Prussia, and we shall now direct our attention to the strict observance of neutrality, and endeavour to check the operation of the causes which might tend to enlarge the area of the conflict. We will contribute, if the opportunity occurs, to restore an early and honorable peace. "We have tendered the belligerents treaties calculated to give security to Belgium. The belligerents have since signed the treaties, and the other powers have been invited to accede to the arrangement."

The Queen promises a searching enquiry into the Greek massacre. August 10. — French diplomacy is striving to retrieve the disasters of the French army, and strenuous efforts are being made for the English and other intervention in the Emperor's favor, to arrest the Prussian march, and secure their allies. The Moniteur says, important answers are immediately expected ; but there is no reason to believe Napoleon will be successful. The English Ministry are* capable of almost anything for the sake of peace, but English opinion will not tolerate diplomatic intervention at such a moment. Extreme impatience is already manifested at the unsatisfactory character of the arrangement for Belgium neutrality, under which England might suddenly be called on to fight against Prussia, with whom she sympathises, and for the Emperor, who has forfeited utterly the foolish confidence formerly given him. The favorable impression made by Gladstone's statement has already disapp eared. The new treaty is retarded as a device to get rid of all liability for Belgium at the end of 12 months after the war, and it is asked: Suppose France or l'rnssia had refused assent, what was the English Government prepared to do ? So far as known, nothing until voev. cd by public indignation. It is tlie dread of being forced to do something which has led the Government to hurry up the adjournment of Parliament, suspending the rales to get the Appropriation Bill through. It shrinks from questions, and what the public fc-ars is, that during the recess their deferential diplomacy may be renewed. A debate broke out again to-day, alarming the Cabinet, and it could only be stifled by promise of a last opportunity for discussion to-morrow. With the Government in such a mood, an argument is a calamity, but cannot be successfully resisted. The Belgian neutrality treaty was signed here last night by Granville and Bernstoff. La Vallete awaits authority to sign for France. The substance of the whole of the telegraphic news received by this mail may be summed up as follows : — The French army is badly beaten, with heavy loss , and is in full retreat ; its centre is driven in, and its right wing turned and cut off. The Prussians have taken many prisoners, cannon, and small arms, and flushed with success, they are eagerly following up their victory. Napoleon is calling upon France to rise and save the country, and is himself preparing for a desperate defence.

New South Wales (says the Melbourne Age) is in the enjoyment of a great many advantages from the full development of her wealth in coal. Tins makes Sydney the natural terminus of all the ocean lines of steam communication. About three months ago an individual arrived in Melbourne from New Zealand, and introduced himself to the criminal class and others as " Flash Bob, the New Zealand defective." On the strength of • his pretensions he obtained board and lodging on credit, but afterwards, throwing off his disguise } he took openly to living on the money earned by a number of womeu of the town. On Friday however, he began a irore daDgerous game, and forged and passed a cheque for a small sura ; but the fraud was discovered and on Saturday, Detectives Mackay and Daly arrested him on a charge of false pretence?. — Argus The s.s. Albion, formerly belonging to the Otago Steam Shipping Company, has arrived at Brisbane, from Japan, and is likely to be agan employed in the inter Colonial trade. Iu Yokohama (Japan) Harbor, on the 13th of June, there were IS merchant steamers, the lowest tonnage being 100, and the largest 2500 tons ; and 62 sailing vessels, the lowest tonnage being 171, and the largest 1049 tous. Besides these there were five men-of- war, and nine receiving and coal hulks, making ilie total tonnage iu port, exclusive of coasters, 66,250 tons. A correspondent of the Thames, Advertiser, writing from the Upper Thames, says: — I have heard on good authority that the Maoris here have an inkling of the large loan that we expect from home, -and that those very tribes who were opposed to one another at a previous sitting of the Native Lands Court have now determined to act in conjunction with one another, and by doing so, and sticking out till this money arrives, they will be able to get their own price for the land. This might be one very good l'eason why they ordered the immediate return of the Court from here this week. The Maoris are pretty wide awake here. The Greymouth Star thus consoles itself on the lapsing of the Annexation Sill: — "We do not regret that the annexation has been shelved. It is not likely NelsoD, who has opposed annexation, would have benefitted e district which wa3 thrust upon it nolens volens. The Government would, there is little doubt, have pocketed our revenue and liave given us nothing in return. The County system is not in itself a bad system. It is capable, if intelligently and honestly worked, of effecting much good. It is our representatives we have had to complain of."; .c^ ;

The event of the day yesterday (August 23) in the departure of vessels from Hobsoti's Bay was unmistakably the sailiug of the screw steamship Alhambra from Sandridge for Fiji, with upwards of 100 saloon and second cabin passengers. The Alhambra, after her recent extensive overhaul and refit, was placed on the berth for Fiji, and filled up rapidly, and so well has the veuturc thus far succeeded that it is intended to despatch her again in October next. In her extensive list of passengers will be found several names well known in commercial aud other circles in Melbourne, and not a few of these intend settling in Fiji; at all events, for the present. A number of those proceeding by her howeaer, have only gone for an excursion trip on the score of health, and others, as they themselves flippantly phrase if, "for the fun of the thing." We understand from Messrs. B. R. Mathews & Son, of the Fiji Laud and Shipping Office, that most of the passengers booked by them are shareholders in the Polynesia Company, and are going down to settle on the lands they have become entitled to by the Company's charter, for which they hold laud warrants for country and town lots to select from on their arrival in the islands. — Argus. The Prussian Amir and Na.vy. — According to the latest return, the strength of the Prussian army upon a peace footing was 312,628 men. On the war footing the strength could be at once raised to 700,000 men. In peace the army is distributed over 309 garrison towns, and 29 fortresses, five of which are ot the first rank. The navy, at the end of June, 1869, consisted of six first-class ironclads, nine ironclad frigates aud two guuboats, two paddle steamers, and three corvettes. Besides these there are some sailing vessels, including three frigates. The largest ships are the Konig Wilhelm, 5938 tons, 1,150 horse-power, carrying 23 rifled 96-pouudars ; the Priuz Frederich Karl, 4,044 tons, 950 horse-power; the Kremprinz, about the same size, carries 14 steel breech-loading guns of 7 tons each, and two pivot guns. Prussia has four ports of war, Kiel, Danzig, and Stratsund, on the Baltic, and Wilhelmshaven in the Bay of Jude, in the North Sea. The latter is a vast artificial construction of granite, and comprises five separate haabors, with canals, dry docks, &c. At the back of the principal harbor there are ship yards for the construction of ironcased frigates of the largest size. The Frencii Army and ]Savi\ — In June, 1869, the effective force of the French army amounted to 448,721 men. The army of reserve, 198,546 meD ; and the National Guard Mobile, 381,723 men. Probably, exclusive of the army in Algiers, France can bring into the field 800,000 men. The navy at the end of last year consisted of 62 ironclads, 20 being of the first class, and 27 of them floating batteries, and 7 coast-guard vessels; 264 screw steamers, of which 30 are ships of the line, 3 paddle steamer?, and 113 sailing vessels. The most remarkable of the ironclads are the Magenta, Solferino, Courouve, Normandie, Invincible, and the cupola ship Taurean. The Magenta and Solferiuo are twin ships — two deckers; their armament consists of rifled breech-loading guns, of a size corresponding to the Armstrong 100-pounder. Their distinguish ing feature is that they have a ram or spur which projects under water, it is of steel, and of great size and weight. The Taurean is a steam ram of peculiar construction, of a veij light draught, and rising only a few feet above water. Her prow terminates in a point, and this is armed with a massive bronze cone. She has two screws, and carries but a single gun, which weighs twenty tons, and she has but one deck, and that is plated with iron from one end to the other. The largest ironclad in the French navy is the Rochambeau, 5090 tons, 14 guns of large calibre; a ram built for the United States and, purchased by* the French Government for £400,000. Distressing Kindness. — A sheriff's officer is a man who never leaves another in distress. An Irishman tells of a fight in which there was but one nose left in the crowd, " and that belonged to the tay-kettle." The following is rather neat in insolvencies : — Max Marckwald, of East Melbourne, gentleman. Causes of insolvency: Want of employment, and insufficient remittances from insolvent's relations in Germany to support insolvent. Liabilities, £38 J9s ; assets, £2 j deficiency, £37 19s, Mr. Shaw, official assignee. I