GENERAL SUMMARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1003, 18 February 1871, Page 14

GENERAL SUMMARY.

Tho bombardment of the forts of Paris began on the 28t-h December. The French evacuated Avron and other posts- on the north-east of Paris, but have- since recaptured Avron. By the Bth tha Prussian batteries had advanced nearer to Paris, and had bean firing incessantly for_ ten days, chiefly on the forts and batteries to the south and south-east of Paris.^ The fire was effective at four milea dietanfc. Shells, fell in the Champ de Mars, the Palace of Luxembourg, Montmartre, and the Pantheon, killing several men, women, and children. The Lyons railway station, the Hotel dcs Invalides, and many other buildings, have been struck, while the barracks and foitinoatiens have been fired by shells, but no guns have been dis« moun'ed, nor any seriouß damage done by the bombardment. The Beds are active, and plotting a revolution. They denounce the Government as incompetent, but the people support the Government, and tear down the Red proclamations. The Parisians, generally, are resolute, and demand that offensive operations should be undertaken. The stock of provisions will laat till the end of February ; coal is gone, and wood is •carce,

The army of Prince Frederick Charles baa joined the besiegers. The Germans are to be reinforced by 200,000 men, making the army in France one million strong. The army of the Loire, under Generals Chaucey and Tailherbe, gained important vio oriea from the Slst December to the 6th January at Baupame, La Ohartre, and Vendotne. At Baupame the French loot 6000 men, the Germans, 900(3. After the sth, the Germanß gathered new Btrength, and defeated the armies of Chau* ceyandTailherbein every direction, taking 10,000 prisoners at Chapelle The army of the Loire, reported to oe 300,000 Btrong, endeavoured to join Bourbaki in the North, *ut was overwhelmingly defeated on the 10th and 11th near Le Mans. The Germans occupied that place, and another battle waa raging when the mail left.