THE WAR IN EUROPE.

West Coast Times, Issue 1662, 27 January 1871, Page 3

THE WAR IN EUROPE.

TELEGRAPHIC SUMMARY.

The following, compiled from the San Francisco News of the World, gives the important items of the last few days before the departiue of the mail for Australasia :—: —

December 11.

A Tribune correspondent telegraphs from Champs, headquarters of the Saxon army, that the whole number of Germans engaged in the ncent operations in that vicinity was only 22.000. This force, it seems, had been detailed for an offensive movement, and the programme was greatly complicated by an unexpected counter offensive movement of the French, projected against Villiers, and with the hope of ultimately? breaking through the cordon &urroundiug them. It thus happened that as the Germaus were pressing in to drive the French from Brie and Champigny, the French were simultaneously pouring out to take Villiers.

After noting the details of the battles — the desperate valor of the Saxons, the stubborn struggle of the French and their final defeat — the correspondent thus speaks of the result and losses : — "Not much have the Saxons gained, for there was not much to gain. The Wurtemburgers hold one end of Champigny. Brie stands empty and desolate. There were French in this morning but later there were Saxons, and that is all. But look at the bloody part of the picture : — The number of dead I cannot ascertain, but the German wounded were over 1000. The French, if they lost fewer killed and Avoundcd, lost 1 000 priHoners. Had it been possible for the Saxons to hold Brie, the French advance would have been impossible. Its flanking fire would have been prohibi'ed breasting the slope towards Villiers. The French had mitrailleuses somewhere in the plain. At any rate the day's work was a final failure of French hopes ; the German line stood everywhere unbroken, and Paris was no mi re free than before."

The Prussians arc advancing on Havre. There was an engagement at Bolbec ; losses, equal.

Five hundred guns of Colt's manufacture, were seized by the Government on the arrival here.

They exact 750,000 francs indemnity in Burgundy for the expulsion of the Germans.

Englishmen are arriving in Havre, which the Prnssians are hourly expected to invest.

The pursuit of the army of the Loire continues.

A large number of the French officers, prisoners in Germany, protest against the restoration of Bonaparte.

Tronclads have been ordered by the French Government to repair immediately to Havre to a-sist in the defence of the city. It; is re-affirmed that Russia has ordered a hundred mitrailleuses and a million metallic cartridges from America. The Post sees no hopes of better relations with America, as the Americans avoid or are driven from political life. Men like Butler wield the political influence and ostentations courtesy is shown nations supposed to be friendly with England. The Times asks no indemnity for insults heaped on England in consequence of the Alabama matters, but craves a settlement of the claims, not merely because they are just, but as inaugurating between the two nations a feeling of close amity. The impression in the clubs to-night, Dec. 7, is that the hopes of the French Imperialists are greatly strcngthentd, and that the Prussian Government is dee'dedly favorable to the restoration of the Empire. The health of the Emperor is wonderfully improved. Mr Tardieu, in a despatch of the 7th, irom Tours, asserts that the retreat of the Army of the Loire was effected without oth- r sacrifice than the naval guns in the entrenchments at Orleans, all of which were spiked.

Reports from Tours are that the Army of the Loire has divided into two bodies, the left win<r moving towards Tours, while the ri^'ht wing and centre move south along the railroad to Vierson. Before the negotiations for a Peace Congress, the German princes iret at Versailles.

The purchase of provisions for the use of Pari« afte; the capitulation, was en111 1 usted to Officers of the Commissariat, who have concluded contracts with EngIsh houses. The officers preferred to operate through German houses, but it was .•laeertained that the export of provi ions would pioduce inconvenience in Germany. The Tours Government made public the following inte ligence on December 9 : — " General Cbancey reports to the War Department that there was an attack all along the lines from Meung to St. Laurent-fles-Faux laat night. To»day the prjncipaj effort of th'fi'enpmy f«jsj a? Beftqgenpy jm.

teen miles south-west from Orlenns, oi the Loire.) 'lhe Germans were very st ong at that place, hiving no less than ci;;h rysix cannon ; their forces consisted of two divisions of Bavarian*, one division of Prussians, 2000 cavalry, and strong reserves. They were under the command of Prince Frederick Charles and the Duke of Mecklenburg. The enemy was repulsed and driven beyond Grande Chartic. W stop to-night* on the positions held thi< morning. The piisoners taken acknowledge that the Prussians suffered heavy looses. The battle lasted till night. I have not yet received a complete list of cur losses. We may be attacked agiin omorrow, but we are prepared to resist. The Bavarian Lieufenanf-GoneralS ephen. c >mmanding the division, was wounded before St. Lnuront-d s-Faux. The Prussian have been driven from Maroiles."

Official decrees have appeared appointing General Bourbaki to the command of the First Army, and General Chancey to that of the Second.

The army of the Loire has been divided. De Paladine refuses the command of the military camp at Cherbourg, which has been offered him.

It is reported that there was fighting all day on Dec. 9, along the left bank of the Loire, between the French, under General Chancey, and the forces repulse 1 1 by him on Dec. 8. The reports add that he was successful to-day.

It is said that the Tours Goternment will go to Bordeaux, as the Prussians might risk sending a force to this city. Some officials go on to-night. Gambetta and the Ministry bureau will not leave until they are obliged. There is no news from Bourbaki, who has a large force on the right bank of the Loire. It is rumored that he is marching on Paris.

The Journal Officiel, of Dec. 9, announces that the Government has removed to Bordeaux.

Gambetta will go to the Army of the Loire, which has been divided into two corp?, with the supreme object of reaching Paris. He will then return here and remain with the archives.

General Chancey reports that he fought •yesterday against the army of Frederick Charles and repulsed them along the whole line.

An official statement shows that in the recent engagements the French army was beaten in detail in each day's fighting, separately. General Chance)', with two corps, is still on the north side of the Loire, and repulsed several attacks of 40,000 of the enemy yesterdaj . 'lhe Tour's Government has opened negotiations for an armistice, having secured the support of the Neutral Powers. On December 8, the Seventh and Seventeenth French corps were defeated by the Thirteenth Prussian corps and a Division of Wurtembergers. Rumors are reported that an armistice is negotiating at Versailles. At Nevey, a village to the northwest of Glen, the advance of the Prussian Third Army overtook and defeated the rear guaid of the Army of the Loire. The Grand Duke of Mecklenburg defeated the Third French Army Corps at Meung on Dec. S. The German losses were severe, and the French losses still heavier. The Germans took six guns and 11,000 prisoners. Beaumont, Mesa", and Beaugency have been evacuated hy the French ; the Germans captured 11,000 prisoners and six guns. Preparations for great movements and fresh sorties arc being made in Pari?. No person is allowed to leave the city. Generals Trochu and Ducrot were both outside the walls on the 4th.

Ducrot's army outside the wnlls is occupying posi.ion between Meslej', Cretell, and Charenton.

Another grand attack will scon he mude

Private letters received in London from Versaillts say the German losses before Paris and on the Loire since the 24th, are immense. Correspondents are f rbidden to communicate the truth for publication. Official returns shew the losses to be over 12,000, with many returns lacking. 'i he reported renewal of the negotiations for an armistice is incorrect. The Foreign Office here denies that there is any movement in that sense on the pa t of the Neutral Powc s ; nor has Gambctta made overtures to Bi.-marck. Some of the other members of the Tours Government, who are violently opposed to Gambetta, and anxious to conclude the Avar attempted to offer negotiations ; discovering their schemes, Gambetta threatened them with arrest, when they promised to abandon the undertaking. The reported armistice is disbelieved ; it is regarded as a stock-jobbing rumor. A despatch from Gambetta asks Lamier to announce that he had asked an armistice to enable the National As-embly to be elected, and requested that Favre be permitted to leave Paris to consult his colleagues and conduct the negotiations. He admits that he has lost all hope of prosecuting a successful *trus£gle, and has no expectation of defending Tours; the Army of the Loire has been beaten in di tail, and Gambetta declines the responsibility of a further struggle or of making a piece.

A telegram from Luxembourg states that the Prussian Govcrment has info mcd the Government of the Grand Duke that in consequence of it* having allowed a violation of the neutrality of the Grand Duchy by the French, Prussia i-? no longer bound to respect the neutrality of Luxembourg. It is rumored that Prussia has informe ' the Government of Luxembourg that she is no longer bound by the Treaty of 1 .67. In the Brussels Chamber on Dec. 9, Baron Antb.cn said be was aware of Prussia's note in regai d to Luxembourg. He denies that the Government was in the least degree influenced by Prussia to reject the petition of the French prisoners in Belgium to return to their country. As for the case ot Luxembourg, it ought to be a warning to Europe. The London Clubs are full of rumors to-night, Dec. 9, of a speedy con«>inmati n of arrangements for peace and the i\ storation of the Empire. Great significance is attached to the manner in which the Empress has been received by Queen Victoria at Windsor. The feeling is strong that victory for France is hopeless under the Republic. Private letters from all parts of France indicate a reaction everywhere in favor of the restoration of the Emperor, the people contrasting twenty jeurs <.f omer and prosperity with the prese it misery and anarchy. The Tours Government have proved incompetent either to conduct t; c war or negotiate peace. Napoleon refuses to sanction any scheme for his restoration at present. saving his part is silent inaction until the Republicans either capitulate or are dispersed. There was an anti-war riot of a serious character in Berlin on Dec. 8, caused by resistence to the order drafting married men. The landwehr and police were unable tp quell the riot and the military were called crtft ; the? suppressed th,P fly**

Oder afer nsinr srreat severity. If the order drafting marri< d men is carried out if will give an additional force of 2d,000 +o the army. There is great impatience at the prolongation of the war, while every day France increases ter streugth. Belfot is making a splendid defence. The Prussians acknowledge that the sieae costs them more than any other during the war. Abbeville has not been occupied by the Prussi ms. A 6quidron of French gunboats have been s nt to poleet the shipping entering the port of . s t Nnzaire, at the month of the Loire. Cotnmuni ation with Havre has been ros'ored It is said the french Covcnment will endeavor to onla'ge the scope of the Conference on the Black Sea question, but the attempt is discountenanced by the London and St. Petersburg Cabinets on the ground that it would endanger the assemblage of the Conference. An influential commi:tee has been formed i in London, with Tlvmas Hughes as chair- ! man, for the purpose of exacting all possible security for the maintenance of peace with America. The committee, which was formed some time since, considers it inexpedient to take public action until the Eastern question is settled.