THE WAR

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 242, 18 October 1870, Page 2

THE WAR

LATEST EUROPEA.N TELEGRAMS.

LATEST DATE, 12th SEPTEMBER

PROGRESS OF THE WAR

After a series of desperate encounters, the Prussians succeeded in dividing the French"'..under." i McMahon from those under Bazaine. Bazaine's army was driven, baclc upon the fortifications of Metz, : , where it ,was, completely, surrounded, and -despite several battles fought in the attempt to extricate'himself, Bazaiue still remains shut up in Melz. His surrender with, his ■whole army is hourly expected. McMahon made great exertions, to relieve Bazaine. Several severe encounters took place. Nothing in modern times exceeds the slaughter which occurred in the.battles: fought by Bazaine and McMahouv 'The Prussian loss is ;estimntecl at 200,000: i The battlo of Sedan, destined to become memorable, was fought on Ist September, McMahon was completely surrounded ; the battlo was fought with most determined courage ; 20,000 French and at least as many Prussians lay killed on the battle field. 'I lie Prussian victory was complete. McMahon: with his whole army surrendered. Prisbners amounted to 120,000. The Emperor was present and is now a prisoner of? war. 'I lie despatch "of-ELing William, to his Queen announced, "A capitulation whereby the whole French, army at Sedan are prisoners of war has ', just been concluded with General Wimpffen, commanding instead of McMahon, who is wounded. The Emperor surrendered; himself to me. As he had no command he. left everything to the Regency at Paris. I shall appoint his residence after jan-intensiew with,him at a rendezvous to -bo" nxed^ immediately. What a course events, with God's assistance, have taken. (Signed)" WiLdiAM.'' News of Me gallon's defeat and. the Emperor's surrender was not. made public in Paris until two days subsequi nt to those events. Eugenic enjuihed -'Prin"c§ i'"JSt a*poie"o*ri* to return' from Italy to Paris. He refused, and was by decree.«at~once. stripped of .liis^auk^and of; his position as Senator and his right to< succession to the throne The rejoicing in tierHn baffleSjdescripTion. The whole popuktioVruslied'infra if)e streets, arid crowded around-the palace of the Queen, iv a fe t w minutes.the.Qu>jeu was. oiit on tHie balconjr/ dressed iu < & /plaid moruing wrapper, weeping with joy as she received the deafening cheers of the multitude. -The Retails of the,,battle of Siedan are briefly these : The'fis*h't lasted two days; ;tke results offfeotii daysAeinafavourable to tiio. Prussians. /JhursdJiJ showed the French reinforced,'and "occupy, ing a strong position from Barzeiiles; extending ,down the, railrpad to l)ou!5j, and thteiv "tb: MSiihg on the' liiie' <6& Ille Meuse.- -On the railroad at fiv.o r o'clo3c, tile Prussians commenced battle; malahg1 sifmultaneous attacks<iii the French front and left flaulc. : Fightitig,at first was conn'ued to artillery ;, both armies firing hicessautly, the.French evidently haying afweaker force of guns than the Prussian!). vt noon a fierce attack»W:as made.by fiA\e Prussian infantry at Douzy with the object of breaking the French centre/but after tremendous fighting the Piussiaus fell back. A pause seemed to take place at one o'clock,, fii'ing being less ihoessftnt. but it was only'the prelude of' a yet fiercer assault; At two o'clock: a simul^ tnueous movement .was. made along the whole Prussian line, the infantry charging the French guns.- : At three O'clock .the French line,, which previously stood firm, havered, and immediately afterwards

broke. The battle then became a rout, Me Mah on was seriously wounded. TJmjPrussians pressed forward, resoluteftr bent upon cutting off their retreat toward Helftium. The Prussian troops used the^ bayonet with terrible effect. Night closed on the rout and pursuit, leaving the Prussians gathering in large numbers aKpund Sedan. The Prussians did not kiidw that,.the Emperor was present at Sedan dutirig-thel battle. At half-past two a message was sent to him to fly to Belgium, but he was. too ill to undertake the journey.. JS'ext morning the Prussians prepared to attack Sedan. At twelve o'clock General Wimpffen appeared with -a party of officers bearing a flag of-truce. It was rjeceivfd.by the Prussian advance guard, and~-cdhducted to the Prussian headquarters, where the General formally surrendered the . French army and the fortress to King William. The Generaf* also bore a letter from' Napoleon, stating? his desire to surrender to King William; he .not imving -an,\u^command.—Genera] l | Failly was killed. It is said, but deniedT* that he was executed by his own soldiers. The Emperor is now, ; a.prisoner in the fortress of Wilhelmshbe. The Empress being assured that she would not be coa« s-idei;ed ia'prisoher, at once joined henhus-i;, band. Tlie Prince Imperial, with Eugenie's valuables, is now in London.

The following dispatch is from Eirijj William to the Queen.:—"What a. thrilkfj injj moment was that of my meeting with | Napoleon. He was cast down, but dignified and resigned in his bearing. I gir^i .him Wilheltushoe as the place of his future residence. Our meeting tdokpiace; in a small fort upon the western glacis. From there I rode through the ranks of the army around Sedan. The reception ;on the part of the troops thou mayest imagine: it was indescribable. May God give us further aid.—'(Signed) William." On Sunday, the 4th, the disastrous news was first officially announced in Paris, through an address to the citizens,- signed-, by every member of the Cabinet. The scene that followed beggars description. One hundred thousand people marched to the Corps Legislatif. A Republic was; proclaimed, and is now the established Government of France, at the head of' which is Jules Farre, Gambetta. and; -others. The crowd at once released Rochefort from prison, and bore him in triumph through the streets, and pro* ckimed him a member of the Provisional: Government, in which capacity he has. ever since acted. The signs of Imperialism on the shop-fronts and public buildings were indignariily torn down. The President of the United States at once sent a telegram to Washburne torecognise and express bis sympafclvj^ witli the Republic of France. King VViiliani re--fuses to.recognise it, and says ne will, tr&qt with none but the Cabinet of Napoleon/the^1' members of which had to fly from Franc'li 5''1 Favre and the Parisians have determined to defend Paris to the last extremity... Gigantic preparations. : It is estimated tlsat there are one million men armed within its walls. The Prussians will arrive at Paris to-morrow, 13thiSeptem-; ber. It is not thought that they can many days be successfully resisted. .■_,TJijg^t forests around Paris are -all;,being; des«J[ troyed. j The siege of Strasbourg,' :f v<WAi :b:eing carried on, has become one-.of:etl)o.ii (most memorable in'the history .'ofjfwatfs;' Its braye1 people still successfully resist' all attacks. The'city and the^fiimSd' cathedral hare ; suffered partial destruction. Bazaine still shut up in Metz. A sufficient number of troops* are left to keep him there.