SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 723, 16 September 1870, Page 2

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

Aug. 4. The Prussians gained a battle, and captured Weissenburg. Aug. 5. The Prussians advanced on Hagnenau. Aug. 5 and 6. Great battles occurred, and MacMahon was defeated by the Prussians suddenly advancing through a forest which he had wished to burn as a precautionary measure, having been overruled by Napoleon. He was forced to fall back. Frossard's corps was also defeated, and had to retreat on Metz. Aug. 10, midnight. A great battle is imminent. Strasbourg is surrounded by 50,000 men, chiefly South Germans. . The Prussians are advancing from Saar-Louis, and Treves, and it is expeated that they will make an immediate attack on the French at Metz. The French losses are 30,000. Napoleon is at Metz or Chalons. Paris is in a tumult. The people are calling for arms, and demanding that all soldiers shall be sent to the front, also that Napoleon should resign the command ofthe army, and that, the Assembly should rule.- Napoleon refuses. Republican journals are suppressed. The Ministry is dismissed, and one of a reactionary character has been formed. Paris is declared to be in a state of siege. There are cries for the Emperor to return to Paris. He replies that he will not, unless dead or victorious. The Assembly is in great disorder, and scenes of violence have occurred. The Bill for national defences is adopted, and the payment of all commercial contracts is postponed by decree for one month, "■ to leave all minds free to defend the country." Unless there is a speedy victory a revolution is imminent. The Emperor is reported to be ill. The Empress and Prince are to be sent to a safer refuge. A telegram Btates that the Prince, with the Empress and the Crown jewels, have arrived in London at the French Legation, but the information is not confirmed. The Prussians are said to have 800,000 men in the field, and to have a needle-gun superior to the chassepot. The Assembly is displeased with the new Ministry, and proposes to displace it and put one of their own in, under De Trochu. The English Parliament is prorogued. The Queen's speech refers to a new Treaty, in which France, Prus-

sia, and all the Powers joined to support Belgian neutrality. TKe !i Govfern-: ment did not, therefore, thirifcit neces-j sarytoarm. -' ; France has evacuated Rome. Napoleon's first despatch to the Empress, dated Aug. 2, said-^" General; Frossard with one division defeated three divisions of the enemy. Louis has received his baptism of fire. He was admirably cool and a little impressed. * * * * Louis and I were in front where the bullets fell about us. Louis keeps a bullet he picked up on the field. The soldiers are delighted with his tranquility. We lost one officer and ten men." When reverses came, the Ministry suppressed the news. At last the Emperor's despatches admitted serious defeats, but declared that all was not lost, and called on France to rise as one man and save the country.