ONE DAYS LATER WAR NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 748, 10 December 1870, Page 2

ONE DAYS LATER WAR NEWS.

GREAT FIRE IN PARIS. DESPONDENCY AND DISTRESS IN PARIS. DISSENSIONS AMONG- THE' GARRISON. 100 SIEGE GUNS IN POSITION AGAINST THE CITY. PARIS CANNOT STAND TWO DAYS' BOMBARDMENT. MARCH OF FRESH ARMIES A GAINST THE PRUSSIAN HEAR. (From the Nelson Colonist.') Wanganut, Saturday. The following telegrams were received at Auckland : ' Losrnoif, Nov. 2. The telegrams announce that the Parisians were desponding. Paris has been nearly destroyed by an immense petroleum fire. The losses are enormous.

Great distress exists in Paris, which is invested on all sides.

Urgent entreaties are being made to bring up fresh armies to attack the Prussians in the rear.

The Prussians have 100 siege guns in position, and it is the opinion of good judges that the city will not hold out two days after the general bombardment opens.

Fresh armies have marched from the south of France to attack the Prussians m the rear. There are dissensions amongst the garrison, some of whom clamor for capitulation before the bombardment commences. CEYLON. Galle, November 2. The Australian of 3,600 tons, arrived through the Suez Canal for China. Bv the Suez line £5 reduc-" tion has been made in the Peninsular and Oriental passenger rates, but this does not affect Australia. The French steamers continue running. A proposal has been made by the British India Company to form a mail service via Mauritius and Galle. Heavy guns are being placed in the Galle fortifications. Australian sovereigns are at six per cent, premium in Colombo. An Italian Opera Company of forty performers has arrived at Calcutta. Hayward, the Central Asian traveller, has been stoned to death at Tasseiw. The 13th Madras Infantry proceed to China. October 27. The Cesarewich Stakes were won by Cardinal York; Not-out, second; and Far-away, third. The American General Lee is dead. President Grant has issued a proclamation againstenlistment in military expeditions. The Francs-tireurs are harassing the German rear and their line of communication. The Germans are forming a corps at Paris to prevent the French from taking the field in the neighbouring provinces. The Gardes Mobiles are reported to be becoming excellent soldiers, Provisions are rising in price. The Tours Government are receiving encouraging intelligence relative to the energy of the population in re-organiz-ing the army. The garrison of Montmedy made a sortie on the 14th, and captured the Prussian garrison at Stenay. The municipality of Verdun is raising a corps of artillery and engineers. Neuf Brisace is invested by 5,000 Badeners. A sortie made on the 16th was repulsed. In a successful sortie on the 20th, 200 Germans were killed,

and 2,400 prisoners and 120 guns were taken with Schlestadfc on the 24th. An army corps occupied Epinal on the 10th, and advanced to Vesoul on the 18th. Severe fighting took place on the 22nd, when the French were driven back to Besancon ; eighteen officers and 200 men captured. Lyons is provisioned for a two months' seigo, but the extreme party there is giving trouble. The Prussians prognosticate terrible consequences by famine; Paris and the .country round being destitute of provisions. Several Prussian earthworks were destroyed on the 13th. The French report a brilliant sortie from Basneux on the 13th. The Prussians attacked the outlying positions on the night of the 18th, but were repulsed. The Prussians are resolute. . On the 19th a heavy cannonade and sortie took place towards Chevilly. On the 21st a sortie was repulsed from Mont Valerien in powerful force. For three hours the fighting continued, and hundreds of prisoners and two guns were captured by the Prussians. The bombardment is delayed by negotiations. All tbe Prussian press express peaceful sentiments. October 31. Advices from Versailles state that the French drove the Prussian outposts on the 28th to St. Denis, occupying the position with a considerable force. The Prussians retook it on the 30th, after a brilliant fight, in which they captured thirty officers and 1,200 prisoners. The losses on both sides were heavy. The following additional items are from Greville and Co., (Reuter's agents) : There is constant fighting in the department of the Eure, where even the women and children are rising. Chartres being invested by 20,000 Germans, surrendered on the 23rd. The victors imposed an indemnity of 2,000,000 francs.

A balloon brings a circular from Jules Favre, dated the 18tb, declaring that Prance prefers the present sufferings to yielding to Prussian ambition. It is rumoured that negotiations are taking place for the restoration of the Empress, the object being to conclude peace with a legally formed Government. It is stated that the Empress refuses to become a party to the negotiations.

The Chartered Bank of India, Australia, and China, have resolved not to recommend the paying of a dividend for the half-year ending June Ist.

MONEY MARKET, Money is superabundant. Bank rate 2h per cent. Consols are recovering from their depression, 92|. The stock markets are dull.

Commercial enterprise remains in suspense. Failures continue numerous. Trade returns show that commerce is only slightly affected by the war.