THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.

Southland Times, Issue 1350, 20 December 1870, Page 3

THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.

SPECI4L fEIERRASL — ♦> »- Nelson, Dec. 19. The City of Melbourne arrived at Auckland yesterday. London', Nov. 24 A proposed armistice of twenty-fire; days failed on account of Prussia refusing to allow tne re victualling of Paris during that time. - - English demonstrations have been made in favor of France. . -. '■ \ Russia has notified that she requires a modification of the Treaty of 1856. It is believed that she intends joining Prussia with the view of occupying Turkey. There is a rumored alliance between England, Austria, £and Italy against Prussia. : Battles took place at Orleans on the Bfch, 9th, and 10th November, resulting in a victory gained by the French, and the reoccupation of Orleans. The Prussian loss was 500 men, and the French loss was slight. The French are exultant, and eager for fresh attacks. Paris has not been bombarded. The Prussians rely on starving out the defenders. The delay in the bombardment is said to be owing to entreaties made by Queen Victoria. Riots have taken place in Paris, but they were quelled by martial law. A plebiscituin taken resulted in favor of the Government of National Defence. Commercial. — London, Nov. 14th : — Colonial securities are heavy, in consequence of the rumors about Russia. New Zealand, 6 per cent., 1890, £109 ; Queensland, 6 per cent., £109 ; South Australian, 1881 and 1891, £107 to £110 ; Victorian, 1891, £115 ; New South "Wales, 1871 to 1876, £102. The prices of wool are nearly the same as at last dates. There is~sunicleHfrsaltpetre in Paris to supply powder for six months. Napoleon has published a pamphlet endeavoring to exonerate-btmselft — -He-says that his- plan was to place 120,000 men in Metz, 100,000 in Strasbourg, 50,000 in Chalons, ~and to cross the Rhine , near Hagenau, so as to separate Southern Germany. He hoped to have won the first great battle, and so secure Austria. He ascribes his defeats to defects in the military system, and delay in bringing up troops. Riots have taken place in Paris, and the Hotel de Ville has been invaded. Favres, Gamier Pages, Simon, and others were held prisoners. Reports from the south of France state that the departments have succeeded in organising a separate Government in conjunction with Algiers. Meat in Paris is very scarce, the poor: having been reduced to eating dogs. A despatch, dated; November 10th, reports that Von dv Tann, who occupied Orleans with 25,000 men, fearing that he would be- hemmed in, prepared for a defensive retreat towards Paris, and engaged the sixteenth corps under Lussac, when a severe engagement took place, Orleans being evacuated j the French los 3 wa» 5000,- ancL the Prussians still larger. The French captured 1000 prisoners, and a large quantity of cannon and ammunition. Bang "William reports Von dv Tann to be overpowered, but that he will soon be reinforced. Russia's attitude is causing great un easiness. Turkey has raised 600,000 troops, and equipped 12 armed frigates. The riots in Paris were owing to the unpopularity of the proposed armistice. The city is provi ded with two months' food. The long range guns are destroying the Prussian approaches. There are six armies outside Paris, numbering 530,000 troops. The army "of the Loire, under General Paladine, 120,000; Kebratry and Bourbaki, in the north, 65,000; Tripont, in the centre, 90,000 ; on. the Rhine, under Michael, 110,000 ; and the Vosges, under Gam. briel, 45,000. The artillery is deficient. Clothing, money, and ammunition, are plentiful. England is in a very excited state. Mr Gladstone says that France and Prussia, when calmed, will apologise for i their unjust conduct towards England. Earl Granville says that the Government wishes to see Germany united, and France saved a humiliation. There is no longer any danger to foreigners in China. Greville's latest, dated 14th November, states that the whole feeling in England is in favor of France. - ■ j

The Times bas changed its tone, and counsels Prussia to withdraw from Prance while she can do so safely. Chief Baron Kelly says that England must be Mistress of the Sea ; that Austria will soon be compelled to prostrate herself before G-ermany ; and Russia compelled to barter the Baltic ports for Constantinople. The French fleet is bombarding Hamburg. . ..The Prussians captured Briessach, with 5000 prisoners. ■ A report that Garibaldi had surrendered is disbelieved. The Gardes Mobille and the FrancTireurs repulsed the Prussians. St. Petersburg has sent special messengers with serious despatches to European courts. Russian fleets enter the Dardanelles j next week. Extraordinary activity is going on both in the army and navy. Prussia again complains that England's mediation, as proposed, was with the object of helping France. The Prussians have been defeated near I Coulmiers. j Internal troubles in Paris have subsided. A grand sortie from Mont Valerian was imminent. It ia' reported that Gambetta is conspiring to return the Orleans dynasty; ~M.v Russell, Under Secretary, has gone on a visit to Bismarck to ascertain Prussia's views with respect to the attitude of Russia. He has been instructed to inform BismavJL^that England, Austria, and Italy will resist any violation of the Paris Treaty. If Eussia renunciates the Paris Treaty the English ambassador will demand his passport The total German loss at Orleans was 10,000: Yon dv Tann was surrounded before the arrival of reinforcements, his fear being cut off. The Prussians have been defeated at Becon and Artenay. Thionville has been bombarded, and the entire town was on fire. The Germans have been defeated near Tournay. The Times correspondent says that the moral effect of the victory at Orleans is incalculable.