NEWS BY THE MAIL.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 779, 21 February 1871, Page 3

NEWS BY THE MAIL.

A telegram received, January 13, from Versailles, brings the important j) eW 3 that the mines and countermines around Mont Yalerien are in such close j roxinnty thp,t u collision is momentarily expected, . _ • A correal undent at Paris writes that the city has been bombarded for three days, the shells on the 9th January falling throughout the district of Antinel, and through the Hotel d'lnvalidesand the Pantheon. The damage is slight. A few civilians were killed. Its moral effect is encouraging. A telegram, dated Brussels January 11th, says:—The result of ten days' bombard men ti on the nine forts r.nd the seven French batteries between the forts is that no serious damage lias been done, and not a single gun has yet been dismounted. 820 Germans have been killed and wounded. Mont Avron was swept by the French fire, and the Germans have evacuated the position. The guns at Clarmont reach the lnvalides and Champs do Mars. Paris advices up to the Bth instant say shells are falling on Montmart re, aud persons have been killed in the church at St. Sulpiee.

The " Moniteur" publishes the following despatch, dated Bougeinont, January 9th :—A battle was fought north of this place to-day, ending at seven in the evening, with victory for our army. Night prevents us from ascertaining the full extent of our successes. The General commanding bivouacs on the centre of the battlefield, and all the positions are occupied by our troops. We carried Viliers, which was the key of the evening's position, with shouts of " long live France and the Republic."

It is said that 100,000 French have arrived at Cherbourg to recruit for ■active service.

A telegram dated London, January 11, says: —The columns operating •against Cfaanzy drove him within a mile of Le Mans, after a scries of engagements, capturing one cannon, •a mitrailleur, and 200 prisoners. Werder's loss at Villers was 200. A large German army is forming east under a special command, including the corps of Werder, Zastrovv, ajlcl ■others.

Another, dated January 13, states that the army of the Loire, under De '■Cliauzy, was completely defeated near Le Mans, by the Second German Army, commanded by Prince Frederick Charles -and the Grand Duke Mecklenburg. The Germans occupied Le Mmis, capturing large quantities of supplies and war material. The French are being pursued. General Clianzy, in the battles of the 10th and 11th had two corps engaged, and 6U,000 men of the reserves. A gnat battle is reported to Lave taken place .yesterday. The following is the French version : —Bordeaux, January loth-—A general battle was fought on the 11 th instant, under the walls ot Le Mans The Germans attacked the French army of the Loire along the whole line. The General who commanded the right wing of the French army held his position on the right bank of the iluisne, and the General who commanded on the left and centre fough: desperately for six hours. The French maintained all their positions. TinPrussian forces engaged were estimated at 180,000. The extent of the French losses are unknown, but serious.

The German account is that there was fighting near Le Mans on Wednesday, January lltli. The Germans captured the suburbs of Champagne and the Chateau Arche, with seven pieces of artillery. The number of prisoners taken, with those on the day before, has swelled the numher to 5000. In the east General Von Werder is following up the victory, after the battle of Villersexel, and continuing the movement on the left flank of the French. He is meeting with no opposition. General Manteuffel has passed through Versailles on hia way to his command in the East.