DIARY OF THE WAR.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 145, 17 November 1870, Page 4

DIARY OF THE WAR.

July 14. — The French Government calls out the army reserves.

15. M. Ollivier announces in the Legislative Body, amidst great cheering, that France has resolved to make war. Great excitemeut in Paris, and crowds throng the Boulevards, singing the " Marseillaise," and shouting " Vive la Guerre." The King of Prussia arrives at Berlin from Ems, and is received by upwards of 100,000 persons, who cheered him, and sang the National Anthem. 16. The Emperor receives the members of the Senate at St. Cloud, and M. Kouher, in an address, says, '• Tour Majesty has occupied the List four years in perfecting the armament and the organisation of the army." 18. The Legislative Body grant war credits of 515,000,000 francs. 21. The North German Parliament votes supplies. The King of Prussia sends a hearty message to the King of Bavaria, the latter having declared against France. The first shot of the war is fired in a skirmish near Saarbruck. 22. The Emperor receives an address from members of the Legislative Body, and declares that war is right when it is waged with the assent of the country. Six Prussian army corps are ordered to be placed on a war footing. The Prussians blow up the abutment on the Baden shore of the bridge of Kehl. 23. A. French envoy notifies to the Prussian Government a declaration of •war. The Emperor issues a proclamation, throwing the whole responsibility of the war upon Prussia. 2-1. Slight skirmishes at Gersweiler and near Saarlouis. Prussian Lancers blow up the viaduct of the French railway between Sarreguemines and -Hagiienau. Admiral Bouet-Willaumez hoists his flag at Cherbourg,' and the Empress visits the fleet. *. . 27. A decree is published appointing the Empress-Regent during the absence of the Emperor,

23. The Emperor loaves - St. Cloud for the seat of war, and at seven p.m. enters Metz. Fourteen French cities are proclaimed in a state of siej>e. The French fleet is seen off Copenhagen. 30. The first detachment of the French army of Roino arrives at Marseilles. 31. The King of Prussia issues a short address "To my People," amnesties all political offences in consideration of the general uprising, and departs for the scat of war. August 2. The French attack and carry the heights commanding Saarbruck in presence of the Emperor and the Prince Imperial. The French mitrailleuse is used in this engagement for the first time. The Official Journal declares that the war has been undertaken from a desire to free the South German States and Denmark from the persecutions of Prussia. 4. A council of war is held at Metz, attended by Marshals MacMahon and Bazaine, at which a plan of operations is agreed upon. While it is sitting, the Crown Prince of Prussia falls upon a portion of MacMahon's army corps at Weissenburg, and all but annihilates it. General Abel Douay is killed, and 800 prisoners are taken. 5. The victory at Saarbruck causes great rejoicings at Paris. In the evening the reverse at Weissenburg becomes known, and angry crowds break the windows of MM. Leon and Daeher, money-changers, and M. Hirsch, a banker and broker. 6. The Crown Prince attacks MacMiihon in a strong position on the hills above Woerth, and after six hours of hard fighting, totally defeats him with I the loss of 6JOO men, thirty pieces of artillery, six mitrailleuses, and two eagles. At the same, time General Frossard's army corps, which holds the heights above Saarbruck, is attacked, and after a hard tight which lasts all day, driven back in confusion with great loss uj)on Metz, leaving his encampment behind him. De Failly, occupying a position between those of MacMahon. and Frossard, hastily retreats without having been attacked, and is lost to view for nearly a fortnight. In Paris a false report of a grand victory of MacMahon, who was said to have captured the Crown Prince of Prussia and his army, causes unbounded enthusiastic excitement. Suddenly it is found that the report is fal.->e, and the reaction is terrible. 7. A telegram from the Emperor Napoleon announces the disa- .ers of the i) "f]r J may yet okfts the d arms ; declared k. -i <" . ■ M' 1 •■>\ . rmanent I Coi.ns'il oi tbe IvLr.islrv , jablished 1 .-a Uu- 'I ni!-' > - v - '" ■ tic; . ..tin.Mr.! ,-,n ' 'Uzaine's 17 'a <• '"'» ps, with concen9. The Chambers meet, and the Ollivier Ministry resigns. Strasbourgis invested. 10. General Palikao forms a new Government. 14. The Prussians attack the French late in the afternoon, near Pange and Courcelles ; the fight is arrested by darkness under the walls of Metz, both sides claim the victory. The Emperor issues a farewell address at Metz, and leaves the fortress. 15. Bazaine having been appointed commander-in-chief, a movement of retreat begins from Metz to Verdun, and is embarrassed by Prussians near Gravelotte. 16. Tue march is resumed, and the van of Prince Frederick Charles's army, 30,000 strong, attacks Bazaiue's whole army at Marsla-Tour, under the apprehension that ifc is rearsruarclerl. A sanguinary conflict is sustained by the Prussains against superior numbers for seven hours, until tho Hanoverian , corps and some Rhenish regiments turn the tide of battle, and the French are driven back. 18. The attempt to cut off Bazaine's retreat is resumed, and the bloody battle of Gravelotte is fought, lasting all day, and resulting in the retiring of Bazaine into Metz. 20. The camp of Chalons is broken up, and the tents burned. Count Palikao denies in the Chamber that the Prussians won the battle of the 18th. 21. MacMahon enters Rheims. 22. MacMahon leaves for Bethel. The Crown Prince of Saxony assumes ; the command of 100,000 troops to operate in the Ardennes. 25. MacMahon leaves Tlethel, directing his army upon" Montinedy by Mezieres and Vouziers. 26. Bazaine makes an attempt to break out of Metz on the Courcells road, but is repulsed. 29* MacMahon encamps with 100,000 men at Vaux, between Mouzon and Carignan, and De Failly between Beaumont and Stonne. 30. De Failly, on the left bank of the Meuse, and MacMahon on the ri^lrfc, are attacked, and lose 7000 . prisoners, with twenty gnus and camp equipage. The Emperor narrowly escapes to Sedan. 31. A long and severe engagement between the plain of Douzy and Bazeilles. The French fall back on Sedan. Sept. 1. A great and decisive action fought before ..and. arouud Sedan. Thousands of French escape to the Belgian frontier. 2. Marshall MacMahon, who is wounded, tiansfers his crmmand to General Wimpffen, who signs a

capitulation surren lering the whole army prisoners of war. An immense quantity of military stores, cannons, including mitrailleuses, and horses, fall into the victors' bands. The Emperor sends his sword to the King of Prussia, who appoints him a residence as a prisoner of war.

3. Proclamation of the Republic in Paris. Flight of the Empress and the Prince Imperial.