THE WAR.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 206, 6 September 1870, Page 2

THE WAR.

The French Minister announced tbo declaration of War against Psussia on the 15th of July. King William of Prussia disclaims all responsibility for the effects of the War. He says it was impossible to accept the demands of Prance, and in reply to a deputation of the Berlin municipality he pointed out the serious nature of the coming struggle, and the sacrifice it would involve.

At the opening of the German Parliament, on the 29th of July, the King declared that Germany was quite unconcerned in the candidature of Prince Hohenzollern for the Spanish Crown ; he compared the French Emperor's disregard for peace to that of the first Napoleon's conduct, which was that of gratifying a personal passion for exciting the national sentiment. Germany, on the other hand, was desirous of a durable peace ; and as it was no longer divided, the empire would be able to repel aggression. On the 23rd July, the Emperor Napoleon addressed a stirring proclamation to the Frehoh people, recalling his conciliatory disposition towards Prussia, which had disregarded it, aud tiius become the aggressor, and was the cause of the gonei\il arming of Kurope. He does not want to go to war with Germany, as France desires peace based on the true interests of the people, and so terminate the precarious state under Which nations have to employ their recourses for the purposes of arming.

The French circular affirms that Count Bismarck proposed the candidature of Prince Hohenzollern, secretly thinking that France would accept the mr.iter as an accomplished fact, although an assurance had been given by fche Count previously that the candidature of a Prussian Prince for the Snunirh throne was an impoesibiLt.v.

Tho London Tin.es and the Dotty News blame France for precipitating the war.

Tne utterances of statesmen on both sides ghow that war was long pertncdiate^.

Count Bismarck denies the truth of the French circular. The Emperor, in receiving the Legislative Council, said that war was j ustified when waged with the country's approval j ho confined the regency to the Empress, and would take his son with him to the war, that he might learn how to s, we Fro nr-e. He was resolvod energetically to pursue the great mission, and was confined to success. On the 25th July, the Times published the draft of a treaty between France and Prussia drawn up in 1860 and rejected by Prussia' and again offered lately, the basis of which was to bo an offensive and defensive alliance between the two nations, the unity of (W many under Pru.-sia, France w*s to have Luxembourg by indemnifying Holland, and to bo actively supported by Prussia iv the mik". tary occupation of Belgium. The Engliah ministries of the time were en irely ignorant that th c draft of such a treaty was in existence The Berlin ambassador confirm > the Tinte* and Count Bismarck aver 3 that it is in the handwriting of Viscount Bencditti, the French ambassador. ; The French Ministry attribute the origin of the treaty to Bismark, who it is asserted diotated it to Beneditti, and that the contract never had a serious basis, and was rejected by both parb'es. Mr. Ollivier earnestly disavows this secret policy, and attaches the greatest value to the friendship of England; he declared that the only negotiations with Prussia since January were through Lord Clarendon. Count Bismarck details the French overtures that have been repeatedly made for mutual aggrandisement, France having offered to attack Austria with 300,000 men in 1866, pro. vided the Rhine territory was ceded to her. Ihe Duke de QifSwmont aver 3 that the secret treaties was taken cy Prussia, who suggested the aggrandisement by France of all the French-speaking countries. These several proposals were made to the Emperor only, but 1 were rejected by him. The Paris Journal Official says that the ob- ' ject of the war is only to stop the encroaohments of Prussia on the sout,n, and to save Denmark from ruin in the north. Earl Granville has given the details of the negotiations that took place previous to tb* declaration of the war. England proposed. that the King of Prussia should declare a reI nunciation of the candidature of Hohenzollern, refering the question to England as a mediator, i Both belligerents rejected this. A conference was then proposed, Avhich met a similar fate. England, therefore, would preserve a dignified neutrality ; though the Government were fully cognisant of the obligations of the country to Belgium, they declined to make unnecessary declarations, and relied upon the support of Par iaraent and the country in calmly maintaining the honor and the interests of the nation. Mr. Disraeli advocates an armed neutrality j to which Mr. Q-ladstone objected, and said that England would act perfectly impartial. The Government were taking precautionary military and naval measures. Mr. Cardw 11 said that the military position of England was never so good since the days of Waterloo. A supplementary war estimate of £2,000,000 has been submitted, and 20,000 men are to be added to the army. j , The chartering of coal ships to the bellige rents fleets has been declared illegal. The Army Enlistment Bill has passed. .. , The Foreign Elistmenfc Bill, providing against building and ebuipping war Teasels has been read a second time. The Government asks for power to convoke Parliament at a week's notice. Both Franco aud Prussia reproach England in favoring the opposite side, thus prmng that fairness is preserved. The English Press unanimously urge an armed neutrality A monster meeting was held in Dublin in favour of France and Fenianisin. Holland and Belgium have decided pp. maintaining a strict neutrality, which Framje and Prussia have promised to respect. . : \ The Hungarian journals are in favour of neutrality, but express the hope that France • will be successful. Austria and Italy havo both armed, agreeing to take common action with regard to neutrality aud future mediation; England has declined to join them. Russia has officially announced thut «he will preserve neutrality so long as the irir terests of the Empire are not compromised. Between Spain and France no differenos is said to exist. Mr. Gladstone said that he disbelieved the statement that a treaty exists between France and Denmark. The South German States, Saxony and Hesse, have joined Prussia. The Crown Prince has assumed the command of the South German army. The greatest enthusiasm prevails in Germany, and large subscriptions have been, raised. Newspaper corresj)ondents have been forbidden to accompany the French and Prussian armies. The English Government forbids officers from becoming correspondents. French merchant vessel* are declared not subject to capture by the German fleet. The French Government announce that they will act in conformity with the international rules of the Congress of 1866. 3 Prussian vessels are allowed thirty idays.-to clear out to French p >rts. All with French cargoes will be allowed to enter and discharge, with safe conduct for their' return if laden before the war. Prussian vessels with central cargoes are, refused the privilege granted by s the enemy to French cargoes. The French Chamber voted 490,000,000 fiancs for the army and navy. A bill has passed the Corps Legislatif calling out the Garde Mobile and enrolling volunteers. The army contingent has been in* crer.seu lo 140.000 men. M. Lavalette, in the Senate, said that France would need the aid of her children. The whole North German forces have been mobilised, aud 14,000,000 thalers were granted by Parliament for the war. The Southern States have voted the supplies. The Prussian official Pre. s declare that the army is now ready, fearing no preliminauf reverses. 1| The coinmnndors of the army intend prfif venting Germany from becoming the field OV. j operations. I Both French and German Parliaments are . closed. ■ i Tlio Pruskus entered France ou the 17tn July, neai1 Longwy, tearing up the railway to | Luxembourg oi the frontier. Twenty two , Prussians blew up the railway bilge across the hine at Kehl.

The Prussian troops are massed between Luxembourg and the Palatinate, and are prepared tj retreat on Coblentz or Mayence if necessary. 350,000 French troops are assembling on thr frontier. The Emperor assumes the comity % with the Prince Imperinl. Marshals Mafomahon, Bazaine, and j,Canrobert are his subordinates, with General Lebaeuf as Major General of the Army of the Rhine. The head-quarters of Napoleon will be at Nancy. On the 23rd and 26th July skirmishes took place on the frontier near Sarrebruck. The Prussians destroyed the railways and penetrated to Canling, but were repulsed at Neiderbroun on the 27th July. Tha French base of operations extends from Strasbourg to Thionville. The Emperor left Paris on the 28fch July; indisposition prevented his earlier departure. On the 29th he arrived at Metz and issued a proclamation to the army, in which-it was stated that the war would be long and severe because the scene of it was studded with fortresses. He relies on the bravery of the troops and their faith in liberty and civilization, and on that ho depends for the success of the French arms. A hundred French soldiers violated the Luxembourg territory, singirg the Marseillaise to the Villagers. . Holland bus called out her levies to maintain the neutrality promised by the belligerents _ . , The fortifications ot Paris are been strengthened. . On the 31st July, a Prussian official account states that the French were repulsed at Sarrebruck. The French troops at Metz assumed the offensive and crossed the frontier, and, after a severe engagement, dislodged the Prussians at Serrebruck; the Emperor and the Prince Imperial were present. The Prussian force numbered 10,000. The French loss was only 11 men. It is said the effect of Metralleur's new cannon wa3 murderous. The Prussian account stutes that a small detachment at Sarrebruck was attacked by five divisions of the French fom\ v. i'h 23 guns, so that they evacuated the towu with small loss, and withdrew to the new line of defences. The Prussians are withdrawing from Triola. The King ol Prussia arrived at Mayence on the 23rd July. _ The Belgian army of occupation has taken up a position on the road from Liege to Archeu. The latest advices give a Prussian account of a brilliant but bloody victory on their side. The army of the Crown Prince crossed the Rhine and stormed Wassenbourg, where they repulsed and dispersed the French, killed General Douay, and took 500 un•wounded prisoners. The Prussian loss was also severe. The Russian journals repudiate the idea of an invasion of Koumanin. Eussia is concentrating her troops and has called out the Turkish Contingent. The Prussian squadron of four ironclads left Plymouth on 19th July, followed by a French despatch boat. A French fleet of seven-ironclads passed Vy Dover northwards on the 25th July, arrived off Copenhagen on the 27th, and off I .-ederickhaven, steenng boutli, on the 3rd August. The Pope of Rome was advised of a Bpeedy withdrawal of the French troops, as they would be required at home. They began to leave on the 22nd July. The Italian Government pledges itself to respect tho September Convention, and to guard the Papal frontier. On tho 20th July a large sum was withdrawn from the Bank of England for th? Continent. The Austrian Government has notified to Rome the abrogation of the Concordat in consequence of tho promulgation of the dogma of infallibility. War duties have been re-imposed on tea and coffee in France