WAR SUMMARY,

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 141, 20 October 1870, Page 6

WAR SUMMARY,

(From tlie '* Homo News.") Twice have the French and Prussian armies met, and twioe have the French been defeated, While we write they are expected to make a stand at Met?, but they have been demoralised, and nothing in the campaign is oertain. But what is cei*tain is, that Paris is in a state of siege, that the citizens, are called N upon to arm. for its defence, and that the incapacity which the Emperor is considered to have displayed for war has produced such an effect that it ia impossible to say that a new French Revolution is not imminent,

Such is the condensed ohroniole of events, but they must be explained at more length. When the last despatches were made up, we clung to the hope that war might be avoided, and the efforts of the English Government to prevent it were so strenuous that men might well be excused for thinking that such exertions would not be thrown away. Dis aliter viswn. Prussia, on the 15th. declined to adopt the suggescion made by the English Government his consent to the withdrawal of Prince Leopold's acceptance of the Spanish Crown, if France would waive her demand for an engagement on the part of Prussia respecting the future. But before this the French had demanded a special letter of apology from the aged King for the treatment M. Benedetti had received, and this was impossible. Therefore, M. Ollivier (late Minister of France) announced to the Chamber that which amounted to a declaration of war but this was not formally declared until the 17th. France had also declined Lord Granville's suggestion that the good offices of a kindly Power should be sought, and Prussia in her turn rejected it.

Events then followed in rapid succession. Both Powers assembled their troops in vast masses, and both countries became mei-e fields for military transit. On the 22nd the Emperor proclaimed that a crisis in the life of the French nation had come. But while Europe was awaiting the signal for battle, there was issued, on the 25th July, by the " Times" newspaper, a projected treaty, which it was stated had been offered by France to Prussia. In consideration of France recognising the conquests of Prussia, and a South German Confederation, the former was to have Luxembourg and Belgium, and the two Powers were to enter into an alliance offensive and defensive. This publication, of course, produced the most astounding effects. The journals that had favoured France declared the document to be " a clumsy foi'gery" ; but hard words did not count for much, the " Times" affirming the genuineness of what they had issued, and some light being simultaneously thrown upon it by the piiblication of the details of an interview which the Emperor was alleged to have had with an English gentleman. This personage was not named, but he was known, in the inner circles, to be the Honourable Francis Lawley, formerly Mr. Gladstone's Secretary, and later, as will be remembered where this is read, an Australian Governor who was recalled in special circumstances. He is intimate with the Emperor, and his declaration of what had been said to him was valuable. It may save trouble to complete the story of the treaty, which narrative was made up piecemeal. The document was quite genuine, and in the hand writing of M, Benecletti, who had given it to Count Bismark, in 1866 (the year of the Prussian oonquests), and the Count had managed by an ai-tful device to retain it, to be used as circumstances should dictate. They, after four years, directed its sudden productions to influence the mind of Europe against France, and therefore it was furnished to the " Times" with that view. There is no doubt as to the impression it produced against France, but it went two ways, and Englishmen pointed indignantly to the fact that though the Prussian Minister has, as he said rejected these proposals, probably because he did not see his way to accept them safely, was for months discussing them,

as if they were the basis of a harmless arrangement instead of a plot for a burglary. Count Bismark felt this, and urged that he never intended seriously to entertain the propositions, but that he thought it desirable to keep France amused, an answer which did not much improve his position. However, the graver arbitrament of arms was too near to allow the popular mind to be very long occupied with this revelation. It has enabled all persons to form a just estimate of the private morality of the Governments which were plunging nations into bloodshed. On the 28th the Emperor of the French went off to the army, taking with him his young son, to whom his Imperial mother's last words were, " Go, Louis, and do thy duty." Next day his Majesty issued his proclamation to the army, and declared that the war would be a long and severe one. The King had previously issued his address, throwing all the blame of the war on France, who began it. The Emperor's organs replied that the question was not who began the war, but who made it necessary. Soon after operations, which had previously been confined to skirmishing, began in earnest. The French brought a powerful artillery force to bear upon Saarbruck. The place was but slightly defended, and is commanded by hills, whence the French cannon commanded the town. The fire lasted for some time ; it was maintained in the presence of the Emperor and his son ; and finally, the Prussians withdrew, as they had all along intended to do as soon as the French attack should become formidable, The Emperor sent home a Napoleonic telegram, announcing a victory, and the Prince Imperial had received his baptism of fire. The young Prince's sangfroid was dwelt upon, and it was said that soldiers had wept to behold the display of so much courage. The affair of Saarbruck, however, was felt by all to be a mere sham, and designed more to set France talking than as part of the great campaign. Still, more than enough was made of it in Paris, where it was evident the faith prevailed that the enormous force of the Emperor and the prestige of the French name would give easy triumph to the eagles. From that time almost to the hour at which we write it would seem to have been the business of Fortune to demolish that article of French faith. On the 4th the Crown Prince of Prussia suddenly brought out a tremendous force, which had previously been concealed in the woods, attacked the French at Weissenburg, and after a sharp action drove them to retreat with the loss of their general and of 500 prisoners. But this was as nothing to his feat forty-eight hours later. Marching along the course of the railway, and turning on his right he threw his whole force on the French at Woerth, and the battle of the 6th August lasted all day, and ended iv the utter rout of the French, who lost six in i trail leu rs, thirty cannon, two eagles, and 4000 prisoners. The same day they were attacked by General Steinmetz at Forbach, where they were also defeated, and the whole line was driven in. The telegram announced to us that the French Army was retreating. By some craft, it was contrived to inform Paris that the French army had gained a signal victory, that the Crown Prince was a prisoner, and that Landau was taken. Paris went wild with rejoicing, men embraced one another, and women wept for joy along the Boulevards. Then the matter began to ooze out, and rejoicing was turned to frenzy. The Ministers were summoned to declare the truth, and they allowed that there had been reverses. The Empress issued a proclamation asking the people to be firm and orderly, and the Ministers sent forth another calling on Frenchmen to act with vigonr, and the country might be saved. Saved ! The country that nine days before had applauded the Emperor as he went forth to a glorious war, that was to humble the pride of Prussia, and to inaugurate a new Napoleonic era ! It was necessary to do something, however, for the Prussians were firmly established on the soil of France, and people asked why a third surprise should not be effected, why one portion of the German Army should not be left to amuse, or perhaps defeat the French, while the other under the Crown Prince should not push on — even for the capital. So French patriotism was appealed to, and while the army was declared to be defending the passes of the Vosges, a decree in Paris called upon all " valid " citizens between thirty and forty years of age, to incorporate themselves into the National Guard, and the Garde Mobile was promised all citizens under thirty. But the wrath of Paris was not to be allayed. Patriotism showed itself, but there was something else besides patriotism. The Chambers met, and there was a fiercely stormy meeting, at which M. Jules Favre declared that the Emperor having shown himself so utterly unable to command armies ought to be recalled. M. Granier de Cassagnac, on the other hand, advised that the Left should be at once seized, tried by court-martial, and shot. M Ollivier defended himself as he best might, but the clamour raged against him, and finally the Chamber adopted a hostile vote, in .the presence of which he retired, sought the Empress,

and since has resigned office. A new Cabinet is in formation>p£ a which General Montauban, Duke or Palikao, is the head, but it is thought that this mere shuffle of cards will have no great effect in retarding a catastrophe. It was said that the young Prince, who had received his baptism of fire, has been hurried ingloriously home to the arms of his mother, whose intense concern for him and resolution that he should remain within hearing of danger, will not be remembered against the poor lady. But it appears that he has not yet left Metz. The Emperor has resigned the command of the army, and given it to Marshal Bazaine. The gallant veteran Canrobert, though seventy-seven, has obtained his request to be allowed to serve against the enemies j of France, and a somewhat dangerous I sword-proffer has been made by one of the Princes of the House of Orleans — which has just sent the very welltimed donation of some 100,000 francs to the aid of the sick and wounded. The Emperor's return to Paris having been spoken of,- he is said to have replied — "Death — or Victor," but this may be a canard. Certain it is that of all the monarchs who have, in late years, gone forth gloriously to war, and sustained discomfiture, the Emperor Napoleon has been the most unlucky. Another defeat can hardly fail to prove the end of the Empire. A victory may " repair all," to use his own phrase* But the Germans are tremendously strong, and they have the most skilful leader in Europe, they are flushed with triumph, and they have boundless, resources in store. They declare that the war shall have but one kind of ending. As we close our columns to-day the news from the seat of war is full of disaster for the Imperial power of France. Strasbourgh, the key of the Rhine and the strongest vantage ground of the French on the frontier-,, has been invested, and the troops it, contains are totally inadequate to its defence. Thethree bodies of the German army have effected a junction and form ans unbroken line across the French and Prussian frontier, while the- advanced! guard of King William's army has penetrated nearly forty miles into> French territory. Under these circumstances an important battles imminent, and the world waits the result wit& anxiety. We have to defend the independence of Belgium. This we have promised by treaty to do, and there is no feeling against fulfilling our engagement; on the contrary, the nation is decidedly resolute to protect the small and meritorious kingdom, many of whose sodjJf are very popular here, on account of tn<^^ hospitalities given and taken by the volunteers of both countries. It had been apprehended that a peace might be made between France and Prussia, which might have for its basis some such terms as those of the secret treaty above described. Considerable indignation was felt when our Ministers were questioned in the Houses of Parliament, and Mr. Gladstone was very reticent as to the intentions oTGovern*meut in regard to this matter,, and Lord! Granville was not very miach more explicit, though his tone was better.. But we now find that the Foreign Office was alive to its duty, and thafc negotiations were taking place, which have ended in a treaty by which Fiance andl Prussia bind themselves to England to* respect the independence of Belgium,, and that each shall turn his amis upon the other should there be any violation of this compact. England is not, however, to engage in the "general conduct" of the war — a limitation whicßs it was; very well to introduce, but which is nots worth much. Events, however, make* it improbable that there will; be any onslaught upon Belgium. Tie latterkingdom has expressed itself very grateful for the friendship of Englaud, whose? name has been received in puMic witk loud plaudits — a new thing for us ira these days of non-interference To use an American expression^, everything is "crowded out? of the* columns of the daily journal except* what bears in some way xipon the warWe have, however, really beeifo withoutdomestic interest of any sort. The lawcourts have presented few cases worths; notice here. Some murderers have beer* executed, and in two instances.the sentence of the law was carried out strangely. An Irish murderer was allowed a* drop of fourteen feet, whereby his bodyfell to the ground first, andi shortlyafterwards his decapitated headi dropped from the noose. A murdererin Newgate (he who killed an o-Ifl clergy_ man and his housekeeper) rushed against, a wall, and either was, or pretended to> be so much hurt that he was executed in a chair which descended with himThe brutal Denham assassin, who destroyed an entire family, has been put out of the way, dying savagely, and with a lie in his mouth, and thp world is well rid of such a ruffian.

Hollowuy 's Pills. — New facts. — Within the last few months m?t?iy cure* of surpassing interest and of fclie most marvellous character, have bee» accomplished by this all-potent remedyWe say, on unquestionable authority, that bilious complaints have been among the cases which have yielded most readily to their action They seem to be specially adapte i to the> cure of those disorders of the stomach, liver, and bowels most pre\'sl ea t in this country,