GENERAL SUMMARY.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 732, 3 November 1870, Page 2

GENERAL SUMMARY.

September 10. The battle at Metz lasted from August 15 to IS. Vou Moltke's plan to cut off the retreat of the French proved fully successful.

The carnage was fearful on both sides, and the valour of both armies was unsurpassed. The loss in killed and wounded exceeds one hundred thousand men.

The whole country surrounding the scene of battle is covered with dead aud wounded.

The Parisians were deceived by the Government as to the result. The march of the Crown Prince was uninterrupted from "Woerth to Chalons.

M'Mahon's strategic move northward delayed his march on Paris. M'Mahon, contrary to the orders of the Emperor, determined to extricate Bazaine from Metz.

The attempt was impracticable in the face ofthe overwhelming Prussian force, and the sole result was to give Paris an additional ten days to organise her defences.

The latest telegram, received via Galle from Paris, states that tho French attacked the encampmeut of tho sixth Prussian Corps on September 30, which was routed with heavy loss.

The French Government has ordered every man between twenty-one and forty to be organised into a National Guard, from which the Minister of War will draw troops. Russian official journals deny the rumors of military movements. German despatches assert that there was fighting in the streets of Paris on the twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth September.

The Italian troops occupied Rome after a slight resistance. The Pope is at the Vatican. Paris is completely invested. Toal, Capitala, Strasbourg, and Metz are still holding out. Negotiations for peace, between Jules Pavre and Bismarck have been broken off, as Germany insisted on the cession of Alsace and Lorraine.

The Prench Government have ordered a levy en masse. At the meeting of the British Association, held at Liverpool, the Colonial Question was discussed, and a resolution was passed for maintaing and improving good relations. The movement in favor of an Australian federation is warmly supported by the English Press.

Australian debentures are firm; Victorian, 113 ; Sydney, 101|; Consols, 92} ; Bank of England rate of discount three per cent. ; New Zealnd Fives, 189 L, are 98 ; Sixes, 1891, March and September, are 109. The St. Leger was won by Mr Ileslop's Hawthornden, Kingcraft second, and Wheeler third.

Mr Morton has accepted the post of American Minister in London. Victor Emanuel ordered the Italian troops to take possession of the Papal States.

The Pope protested, but ordered no resistance.

General Caborna requested the permission of General Cailey to enter Eome ; the latter refused. The Italian troops were enthusiastically received at Civita Vecchia. The siege ef Eome commenced on the 19th, on the 20th tiie troops entered after some resistance from the Papal troops. The Pope was sent to Civita Vecchia.

A plebiscitum was to be taken on October 2, to show the wishes of the inhabitants in respect to the Papal States.

Victor Emanuel stated to the Pope that his entry of Eome was for the purpose of preventing bloodshed. Negotiations by the Neutral Powers for an armistice continued until the middle of September, exciting a hope that Paris would be spared. Prussia refused to interfere, considering that the position of the Erench Government prevented the guarantee that peace would be of any durability.

Monsieur Thiers undertook a mission to London on September 13, and saw Earl Granville.

He subsequently saw Bernstoff, but fruitlessly. On tbe 19th September he proceeded to St Petersburg!), and was received by Gortschakofi", not by the Czar, On September 19, Jules Favre offered.to Bismarck to make peace on the following terms:—A complete indemnification to Prussia of the cost of the war, the demolition of the fortificatious of Metz and Strasbourg, and the surrender of a portion of the fleet. Bismarck demanded the cession of Alsace and Lorraine as a material guarantee against French attack. Germany says that she does not desire to interfere further with France, and is indifferent as to the form of government.

The negotiations fell through. On the fifteenth, the Prussians established postal arrangements through the conquered Provinces. The United States, Spain, Switzerland, and Belgium have formally recognised the French Bepublic. England awaits the vote of tbe people at the ensuing French elections. Bernstoff has enquired of Earl Granville the nature of England's neutrality, since arms are being furnished to the French.

Earl G-ranville replied that England acted in conformity with international law, and with the conduct of Prussia during the Crimean war. The blockade of the jNorth Sea has closed, and the French fleet has left the Baltic.

Strasbourg surrendered on the 27th September, after a breach of the fortifications, the siege guns being sent to Paris.

The Germans threaten an invasion of Normandy. The Due d'Aumale has accepted the candidature for the Assembly.

The Prussians advanced on Paris by three routes. There were skirmishes in the neighborhood of the city on the 12th and lGth.

Postal communication is stopped with London. The Eailway aud Telegraph lines are cut, and all communication is stopped with the city. Energetic preparations are being made for the siese. The Parisian Government have determined to construct a complete system of barricades in the street. Adelaide, Oct. 2i. The branch mail steamer Rangatira, Captain Paddle, arrived at Glenelg at 8 a.m. with the Adelaide portion of the English mail, the downward passage to the Sound occupied OS hours. The Geelong arrived at the Sound at 11.30 a.m. on October IG, and sailed for Galle at 2 p.m. on October 13. _ The Avoca, Captain Earquhar, arrived at the Sound on October 20, and would probably leave at noon the same day. An attempted revolution at Paris was promptly suppressed. Lieut. Horth, a Prussian spy, has been executed.

There have been several heavy failures in the wool trade. Mutton and tallow are the same price as last. Mixed and beef tallow have declined ninepenco per cwt. Leather is in good demand at full rates ; hides have declined.

Arrivals—Prom Melbourne, Loch Aran; sailed, for Melbourne, Mella Kent, Southern.

The defenders of Paris clamor for a sortie on a grand scale. There is a break in the telegraph cable near Suez.

General M'Mahon has died of his wounds.

English journals urge the impolicy of unduly humiliating Prance, and plead for generous treatment. The English public are doing all they can in mitigation of the distress ; surgeons, nurses, and appliances are being sent to the battle ground. The Americans are also evincing an active philanthrophy. Recruiting is going on in England;

the arsenals are buay; tho sea defences are being seen to ; and new ironclads are in course of construction. The wool Market is unchanged.

ADDITIONAL ITEMS. The late John Abbott, possessing estates in the Australian Colonies, left sixty thousand pounds to charities. The Earl of Aberdeen has met his death by drowning. Miss Glynn left New York on the 27th, on a tour embracing the Australian Colonies. George Dyer, committed for trial for the Guilford murder in 1857, now denies all knowledge of the affair. Dent, the wizard, who robbed counsel on the voyage home, has been convict 3d. Jefferson Davia has arrived in England. Mazzini has been arrested, and Caprera is closely watched. There has been an attempted revolution in Roumania. The Russian Government is averse to the dismemberment of France.

A coal strike in Pennsylvania has terminated in a compromise.

There have been great fires in Chicago and Ottawa, with loss of life and much damage to property. The City Ragusa, model steamer, arrived safely at New York.

VERY LATEST. Galle Oct. 4. Captain Gilinore will wait until next month.

The likelihood of England being involved in the war is considered remote.

The David and Jessie, of Melbourne, has been wrecked at Columbo.

The Japanese Lave declared war against the Coreans. The Japanese Government forbade an engagement between a French and German frigate in their waters.

Lonuox, Oct 2. M'Mahon is still alive, and is a prisoner at Wiesbaden. Fort Ivry was summoned to surrender, but refused. The elections for tho Constituent Assembly are fixed for October I(J, to which date England delays the reeogtion of the French Republic. Order has been re-established at Lyons. It is stated that the Tours Government has given the American General Bearegarde a commission to raise an army of troops in the South of France.

The exports for the past month to New Zealand showed a decrease in value of £12,000. New Zealand flax isvery little sought after, and common qualities are quite neglected. Of 1356 bales offered only 300 were sold.

Arrivals. Warrior Queen, from Dunediu ; Ann Main, from Auckland ; Christian M'Ausland, from Lyttelton.