LATEST FROM GALLE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 140, 13 October 1870, Page 6

LATEST FROM GALLE.

Tho Bank of England has reduced the rate of discount to 3| per cent.

The following items are given in the order of date :—: —

The King of Prussia addressed a proclamation to the French people, stating that the G-ermans desired to live in peace with the French. , They were waging war against the soldiers, not the citizens, of France, and if no hostile attempts were made against the German troops, 'the inhabitants Avould be protected. He further issued a proclamation abolishing the conscription in the occupied territory.

On the 15th August the King telegi'aphed that the Prussians were victorious in a battle before Metz. The First and Seventh Army Corps vigorously attacked the French outside Metz, and after a bloody fight drove them into the town. The French loss was estimated at 4000.

The garrison of Strasburg made a sortie on the 15th, but was repulsed with the loss of three guns.

Nancy was occupied by a detachment of Prussian cavalry on the 14th.

Fourteen hundred German families, expelled from Paris, have arrived at Cologne. The Official G-azette of Berlin says the Prussian G-overnment will not expel peaceable French subjects.

The King has appointed Counts Bonin, Bismarck, and Bohlen G-o-vernors-General of Lorraine and Alsace respectively. German official accounts, dated 17th, state that, notwithstanding the great superiority of the enemy, the Prussians drove the French back into Metz, after a hot fight, which lasted for 12 hours. The loss on both sides was heavy. Two Prussian generals were killed. The Prussians captured 2000 prisoners, two eagles, and seven cannon.

The Prussians attacked Phalsbourg on the 18th, but were repulsed with the loss of 1300 men. Phalsbourg stili holds out.

The King telegraphed on the 19th that the French army was completely defeated on the 18th, near Beauville, and driven back on Metz, being cut off from Paris. The battle lasted nine hours. Tho French army occupied a position equal in strength to a fortress. The Prussians attacked them, and by nightfall had stormed and captured all the heights. 4000 prisoners were taken. The Prussians calculated the French loss at 23,000. The French losses in the battles of the 14th, 16th, and 18th are estimated at 50,000 killed, wounded, and prisoners, and the German losses at 40,000. The Prussians began to bombard Strasburg on the 19th from the right bank of the Bhine, near Kehl. The bombardment lasted until Tuesday night. Much damage was done to the town. The Prussians succeeded in entrenching themselves within 10,000 (?1000) yards of Strasbourg, and captured the railway station outside the town.

The Prussians have resolutely commenced to march on Paris. A large Prussian force is round Verdun. Their vanguard is between Chalons and Epernay.

A fourth German army under the Crown Prince of Saxony is being formed,

Thionville is invested,

Prince Frederick Charles has been reinforced by two divisions of Landwehr.

A new fourth army covers the flank of the Crown Prince. Three German armies are in reserve, forming the Prussian head quarters at St. Dizier.

The Prussians have arrived before Bheims. The other forces in the departments of the Aube and Marne will proceed North towards Rethel and Vouziers. They will not continue to march on Paris until after a battle with M'Mahon.

A French rumour asserts that the Prussian King has dismissed General Steinmetz, whose army will join that of the Crown Prince.

Vitry has capitulated.

The Prussians deny that Marshal Bazaine escaped from Metz, and say he is still there.

The following is from the French sources : — Marshal Leboeuf has resigned the Major- Generalship of the Army of the Bhine. Marshal Bazaine has been nominated Commander-in-Chief of the second, third, and fourth corps of the Bluno xVrmy ; and General Trochu commander of the 18th Corps at Chalons.

The French squadron before Kiel, where important events are expected, has declared tho north-western coast of Germany to be blockaded.

The Corps Legislatif and the Senate have voted an increase in the war credit of 10,000,000,000fr., and forced currency bank notes have been issued to the amount of 2400 millions.

Aleria has been declared in a state of siege. Toul refuse to surrender, and maintains a gallaut defence.

A French army is being prepared with Marshal Bazaine commander-in-chief.

Bazaine telegraphed on the 17th that he fought a battle on the 16th. all clay, between Bedcourt aud Thionville, that the enemy were repulsed, and that the French passed the night on the position gained, Also, that the French won a battle near G-ravellote.

Official details of the battle of the 16th say that the Prussians were repulsed along the whole line. Their loss was considerable, and that of the French was also serious.

The new loan of 750,000,000fr., issued on 21st July, is fully covered. The subscriptions exceed 800,000,000fr.

The Prince de la Tour d'Auvergne has notified to the neutral powers that France declines mediation whilst a single Prussian is in France. The French energetically protested against the violation of the neuti'ality in the conveyance of the Prussian wounded through Belgium and Lux-

embourg. 150,000 old soldiers are assembling at Lyons, and 80,000 of a similar class are assembling at Paris.

The Corps Legislatif has passed a Bill calling out all the soldiers between the ages of 20 and 35, officers up to 60, and generals up to 70 years of age.

Measures are being taken for fortifying Paris against a siege. General Trochu has ordered the expulsion from Paris of all individuals having no ostensible means of living. He also ordered all persons belonging to the nationalities at war with France to leave the department while it was in a state of seige, and said they had better quit France or live beyond the Loire.

The Committee for Defence has decided to burn the crop produced in tho Departments of the Marne and Seine on the advance of the Prussians.

The French say their loss in the battle on 16th was 15,000.

Fighting was reported to be going on the 28th at Stenay near Belgium ; and the Belgian troops to be under orders to proceed to the frontier.

It is rumoured that the Emperor is mentally ill and infirm.

The Emperor surrendered to King William, who sent him as a prisoner to Wilhelmshoe, near Cassel. The Empress is in Belgium, and the Prince Imperial is ill at Nainur.