Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

Latest War Dispatches- London, September 25.— Dispatches fr< vn Tours confirm the reports cf fighting in Paris between Reds and the troops un der Frcchu. No particulars. The Local Junta will rule Rome until after plebiscite vote. A French steamer from Havre wili come New York via Cowes. Tours, September 25. —Ministers Gam betta and Ferry, addressing Cremieux, say : “Paris is prepared to make a heroic defence. All parties are united to sustain the Government of defence. You hear, through Prussian sources, of troubles in Paris; we deny it. \Ye have an enormous force of the National and Mobile Guard and troops of the line, with munitions and provisions to hoid out all the winter. Let France make a heroic effort.” London, September 25. —Thiers, after interviewing Yon Bucst. departed for Petersburg. Journals concur that Favre’s visit to IP-march proved abortive. Tours, September 25. —The Journal u eiares that the French people prefer ex tin *ion tc humiliation. Germans considor Strasbourg, Toul ?n i Verdun theirs. Favre and his ed it gues unite against their demand. The terms wili now depend upon an European (ft nereis to assemble at Brussels. L i France says: Peace is impossible on the terms proposed without ruin. Noth ing is left us but dogged resistance. Despatches from Berlin repudiate the permanent occupation of Fort Valerian as a permanent menace to Palis. St. Petersburg, Sept. 25.— The Jour nal denies that neutral powers encourage the obstinacy of France, and declares Rus sia approves the terms dictated by Prussia. Queen Victoria wholly ignores Eugenie and Louis. The meeting at London, last night, to sympathize with France, proved a failure. There were but few people present and no notable orators. Berlin, September 25—[Official. j-Two thousand two hundred men, with much material, were captured at Toul. Florence, September 20. —Among the political prisoners released at Rome was Petroux, after seventeen years’ imprison ment. London, September 20. —The limes specials, dated Saarbruck, Sept. 24th, say that Bazaine made a feint at Mercy la Gant, and attempted to escape to Thion vilL. There was heavy cannonading lor some hours. A slap light occurred at Moulin, seven miles from Metz. The French were driven back. Their loss was serious. Bazaine has released his prisoners. A heavy force of Bavarians is penetrat ing the country towards Lyons.. The cathedral at Strasbourg is irrepara b’y injured. The astronomical clock is still going. Von Buest assured Thiers of the deep est sympathy, but intervention was impos sible. It is said Thiers will offer the Czar important concessions in the ea9t. A French levee ai masse is hourly ex pecred. The Baltic fleet has been ordered to cut the cable between Germany and Sweden. Tours, September 26. —The city is crowded with refugees from all quarters. Many sleep in the streets. Brussels. September 26. —The Belgian press unanimously denounce Prussia’s ar rogant demands: Florence, September 26.—Cadoma, addressing tho provisional government at Rome he himself created, said : “Your task is sublime. The 20th of September is an era in your history, for it makes R me again the capital of the kingdom.” Madrid, September 26. —The Govern ment informs Deßodas that his resignation, if nersisted in, will be accepted. Tours, September, 26. —Balloon letters from Paris give the following account of the battle of the 19th: General Ducret occupied the heights from Ville Juif to Mcndon. He made a reconnoisance and encountored the Prussian masses, concealed in the woods, with many cannon. The French attacked vigorously and drove them precipitately. The Prussians reformed on the heights of Chatalon. Tho tremendous artillery fire compelled Ducret to seek the shelter of Fort DeVauvcs. His artil lery was well served. The Mobiles were cool 3nd resolute. Ducret finally with drew into Paris. The Prussians suffered severely. London, September 26. —Dispatches from Orleans report cavalry at Bazuches and Autenay. Prince Adalbert, with a large force, is reported near Bazoches. The Prussians are reconstructing the Laon fortifications. The Jamaica cable, laid yesterday, is working admirably. It is to be continued to Aspinwall. London, September 26.—Communica tion with Paris and Tours by balloons continue. The Prefects of the western depart ments, according to a proclamation from the Ministry, are appealing to the people to rise en masse and overwhelm the in vaders. Three million francs for defence were voted by Calais. Belgium is grieved and alarmed at the failure of peace negotiations. The Patrie, a semi-ollicial newspaper under the old regime, now published at Poictiers, is enthusiastic for the Republic. The treaty between Belgium and Prus sia for the release of wounded soldiers in Belgian hospitals has been signed. Tours, September 26.—A large number of official messengers hence tor Paris have returned. f he omnibus horses of Paris have been sc zed by the Government to transport the troops. The Journpl Official pub ishes decrees increasing tho number of regiments and conferring extraordinary powers upon gen eral officers A division of cavalry has reached here from the south of France. A large force of Mobiles passed Tours on their way to Orleans. Martial law is suspended in Algeria. The Prussians are in force at Bougivale, Re*.!, Monterre, and near Chatillon. Skir mishes have occurred at Yille Juif,LaHayc, CbevilJv, and elsewhere. The Prussians have apparently aban* doned St. Dennis. Side movements indi o# f e an intention s o attack at Sccaux. Later information places the Prussi-ms near Bourget and at St. Cloud. Brussels, September 26 —Bands of workmen yesterday paraded the streets sWing the Marseillase and crying Vive la France. A majority of the people here disfavor the annexation of Alsace and Lorraine. New York, September 20. —The lele gram's special from Berlin says the ap proaching alliance between Prussia and Austria is mentioned. Hungary is opposed. Tours, September 26. —The Moniteur publishes a proclamation from the Pro visional Government at Paris, dated the 20th, re-affirming that the policy of France is not to cede an inch of her soil or a s one of her fortifications. Later news from Paris report outpost skirmishes. A message from Versailles says the Prussians have undertaken nothing im portant in that neighborhood. The gunboats on the Seine are ready for action, and entrenchments and barricades a:e going up everywhere. New York, September 26.—A special correspondent of the Tribune writes from Mcaux, dated headquarters of King Wil liam, 18th iast.: I had a conversation with Bismarck, during which I asked him if the report was true shat there were English representatives here. He answered, the English have asked me if we will treat with Favre, and 1 replied that we would it his Government would guarantee us the possession of Metz and Strasbourg. This he could not do. In this war we are influ enced, said Bismarck, by no motive of aggrandizement whatever. We have no purpose in view but our own security, consequently wc muse provide for ihe next war, which is sure to come. Franco is now without allies but m3y soon succeed in pr curing them, and is sure to com mence another war, under better auspices. That is why we demand these fortresses, but the present Government in Paris dare net agree to the cession of French territo ry, nor, probably, will the next Govern ment, but our purpose is fixed, and, it necessary, we are ready to stay all winter at Paris. I said the general impression was that France is too much weakened to begin an other war for many years. That is noi the case, said Bismarck ; France is a very wealthy country, and will remain so alter the war. Within five years she will have so recovered a3 to be able to recommence hostilities. For that reason we must have these fortresses; but as the Government at Paris is not disposed to deliver them up, and probably has no command over them, peace is not very near and we must wait until we can reduce them. We hear tnat the garrisons arc already eating horses. Then the question of peace, I said, reduces itself to one for the possession oi Metz and Strasbourg. He answered: Yes, that is it precisely. London, September 26. —Fighting all day near Paris is reported from Tours, but accounts are contradictory. English jour nals refuse to publish them. The inhabitants of Strasbourg are still kept in ignorance of events outside of the city. They believe the French have been victorious, and that the army is advancing to the relief of the city. The English press compare the war movements in France with those of the late American contest, especially with the campaigns ot General Grant against \ icks burg and Richmond. Tours, September 26. —There has been several engagements with the enemy in the open country between Pari3 and Blois. Results are not serious. The Government here denies the categorical statement of the Berlin corre spondent of the Loudon Times, that Ba zaine bad made proposals lor a surrender. The garrison at Havre has been re inforced and also has received a number of mitrailleurs.. The place is now fully prepared to resist an attack. Brussels, September 26.—The imme diate publication of a manifesto from Na poleon, in reply to the last proclamation of the Government at Tours, is promised. M. Conti, private secretary to the Emperor, is said to be the writer of the document, A great majority of the Prefects met to organize the uprising for defence. Several journals dwell on the fact that Govern ment journals allow such disorders to con tinue at Lyons. Cluseret is there, and his influence, they say, is very bad, his pur pose being to excite serious disturbances. Spots on the Sun. —Those who are in terested in sun studies have an opportunity of.-eeing at this time an extraoidiuary number of sun spots- Five large groups are now visible. Ten or twelve of the spots are large and conspicuous. Around each of the groups are extensive regions of protuberations on the photosphere. With a magnifying power of sixty times, more than a hundred distinct spots may „be Mlffllß Os 311 Ml counted. Whether the drv weather or the hot weather is due to the presence of spots we a e not yet prepared to say. To settle that question wdl he tl e business of fu ture inquiry. —O., in Providence lost, iSept. 20th. The Battle of Sedan. KING WILLIAM’S ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE AND SURRENDER. The following is the full text of the dis patch sent by the King to Queen Augusta, some extracts from which have been pre viously given; Vendresse, south of Sedan, / September 3, 1870. j To Queen Augusta: You know from my three telegrams the whole extent of the great historic event which has just happened. It is like a dream, even when one has seen it hour by hour developing itself. When I consider that after one great and successtul war I could not ex pect more glorious things yet to happen during my reign, and now behold this his torical act accomplished, and I bow before God, who alone lias chosen me, my army and my allies to perform what lias hap pened, and has made us the instruments of His will, I can only look upon it in this light, and in humility praise God’s guidance and grace. Now let me briefly give you a picture of the battle and its results. On the evening of the 31st and the morning of the Ist, the army Dad moved in the positions assigned all around Sedan. The Bavarians had the left wing at Ba zeilles, on the Meuse. Next to them the Saxons, in the direction of Moncelle and Daigny ; then the guards still on the march in the direction of Givoune, and the Fifth and Eleventh Corps at St. Menges and Fleigneux. The Meuse making here a sharp bend, no troops were stationed from St. Menges as far as Donchery; but the latter place was held by the Wurtem bergers, who at the same time covered the rear against sorties from Mezieres. The cavalry division under Count Stolberg, in the plain of Donchery, formed the right wing. In the front toward Sedan were the remainder of the Bavarians. In spite of a dense fog the fight com menced at Bazeilles early in the morn ing, and gradually developed into a hot engagement, in which house after house bad to be taken, lasting almost the whole day, and the Erfurt Division, under Gen eral Shoeler (iu the reserve, Fourth Corps), had to come to the assistance. When I arrived, at eight o’clock, at the front, before Sedan, the great battery was just opening its fire on the fortifications. A huge artillery combat ensued at all points, which continued for hours, and during which on our side ground was grad ually gained. The villages mentioned were taken. Very deeo ravines covered with timber rendered tho advance of the infan try difficult, and favored the defence. The villages of Illy and Floing were taken, and gradually the circle of fire was drawn closer and closer around Sedan. It was a grand sight from our position, on a dominating eminence behind that battery mentioned, to the right of the village of Frenois, aud forward above Pt. E’orey. The stubborn resistance of the enemy gradually slackened, as we could see from the battalions in disorder, hastily retiring from the woods and villages. The cavalry attempted to attack some battalions of our Fifth Corps which held out arid bore themselves splendidly. The cavalry dashed through the intervals between the battal ions, then wheeled and returned the same way, repeating it three times with different regiments, so that the field was covered with dead men and horses. We could see it all distinctly from our position. I have uot yet been able to learn the position of that brave regiment. The retreat of the enemy in many places becoming a rout, and all-infantry, caval ry, a::d artillery—crowding into the town and the nearest surroundings, but still no indication appearing of the disposition of the enemy to save himself from this des perate condition by capitulation, nothing remained than to order the town to be bombarded by the battery before mention ed. In less than twenty minutes it burning in several places; that, together with the many burning villages in the whole radius oi the battle, made an appall ing impression, and I ordered the firing to cease and sent Lieutenant-Colonel Von Bronsart, of the staff, with a white flag, as truce-bearer, offering capitulation to the army and fortress. He was met by a Ba varian officer, who reported that a French truce-bearer with a white flag had appear ed at the gate. Lieutenant-Colonel Von Bronsart was admitted, and upon his in quiry for the Geueral-in-Chief, he was un expectedly conducted before the Emperor, who wanted at once to deliver him a letter addressed to me. When upon inquiry by the Emperor what his orders were, the reply was given: To summon the army and fortress to surrender. The Emperor directed Bronsart to address himself in the matter to Gcd. De Wimpffen, who had just assumed command in place of Mac- Mahon, wounded, and stated that be would send his letter to me by Adjutant- Gereral Reille. It was seven o’clock when Reille and Bronsart came to me. You can imagine what an impression it made upon me especially, and upon all. Reille dis mounted and delivered to me the letter of Lis Emperor, adding that he had no farther orders. Before opening the letter I said to him: “ But I demand as first condition that the army lay down their arms.” The letter commences thus : “ N’ayant pas ptf rnourir ala tete de mes troupes je depose men epee a votre Majeste” (oot having been able to die at the head of mv troops, I lay my sword before your .Majesty,) leaving everything further to my discre tion. My reply was that I regretted the man ner in which we had met, and requested that a plenipotentiary be sent, when the capitulation could be concluded. I had given the letter to General Reille. I spoke a few words to him as an oldacquaintance, and thus ended this act. I gave Moltke full powers to treat, and directed Bismarck to remain behind, in case political questions should come up, and then rode to my car riage, and drove to this place, everywhere on the road salted with thundering hur rahs by the trains m wing up, and singing everywhere the national hymn. It was sublime. Everywhere lights had been it, so that now and then we drove in the midst cf an improvised i'lummadon. I arrived hero at 11 o’clock and drank with my suite the welfare of the army that had accomplished this great result. No report having reached me from Moltke up to the mornipg of the 2nd of the capitulation treaty which was to have been made in Donchery, I drove, at S o’clock, according to arrangement, to the battle field, and there met Moltke, who came to get my consent to the terms of cipitulation pro posed, and at the same time inform m° that the Emperor had left Sedan at 5 o’clock, and had come to Donchery. As he wished to tome, I selected fer our meeting a little castle with a park, which w »s close by. At 10 o’clock Moltke and Bismarck made their appearance with the articles of capitulation, signed, and at 1 o’clock 1 set out with Fritz, escorted by a cavalry guard. I dismounted at the castle, and the Emperor came to meet me. The interview lasted fifteen minutes. We were both deeply moved at thus meeting again. What I felt, having seen Napoleon three years ago in the very summit of his power, I cannot describe. Alter this interview, from 3$ to 8b o’clock, I rode along the front of the whole army before Sedan. The reception by the troops, the meeting with decimated corps of Guards, all this I cannot describe to you to-day I was profoundly moved by so many tokens of love and devotion. Now, goodbye; with throbbing heart at the close of such a letter. Wilhelm. ARTILLERY WON TIIE BATTLE OF SEDAN. Dr. Russell writes to the London Times under date of Donchery, September 3: And let our soldiers and statesmen at home make note of this. The issue of that battle (Scdar) was decided solely and en tirely by artillery fire. Ido not here u can to say that if the Prussian armies and the troops of tho allies had been brought to deal with the French army of Marshal McMahon they could not and would not have beaten it with musket and bayonet so effectually. No one can preter and that the French army could escape from the coils of the net which Von M hke, Von Blu menthal, and tho members of trie Military Cabinet cf the King of Prussia wove round the unfortunate Marshal, or show how the subtle perfection of the strategy which enabled the presid'ng genius at the head of the list to put his fifiger. day bo fore, on the very spot on the map where McMahon was to bo brought to biy, could be evaded and frustrated. But what I as sert, after a long examination of the bat tie-field yesterday, and an actual observa tion of the progress of the action itself, is that but for the decided superiorly and terrible effect of the Pi ussian artillery fire the position cf Sedan could cot have been taken without au appalling loss of life whereas it was won at a comparatively small expense of it indeed. It was to the comparative impotence of the French ar tillery that result was due. Now, 1 know the able director of our artillery at home is bent on making a radi cal change in our system of ordoance. I do not know how far Colonel Adve has yet carried his ideas into effec ;, but all artil lery officers are aware that the breach loading system has been condemned in England, and that a strenuous effort, sue cessf’ul at last, has been made to adopt the muzzle-loading steel gun and the shrapnel shell. If Colonel Adve had seen the bat tle-field of Sedan I think he wou.d have been shaken in his strong conviction, it anything could shake it. I speak of him with the greatest respect, but I entreat him to stop and inquire before he carries a vital change— to inquire into the circum stances of this battle, and to see if he is not of the opinion of the fallen Emperor, shat it was “to the superiority of artillery, not in numbers, but in weight, range and precision, the victory was due.” Ido not know what the relative merits of the Armstrong and of the Prussian breach loaders may be, or what may be the de merits of our time anu percussion fuse, but it is quite clear that any attempt to adopt the French muzz'e-loadirg system, or anything like it, ought to be resisted strenuously until a careful inquiry has es tablished its superiority. There is a manufacturing town called Bess-brook, near Newry, in Ireland, which has neither public-house nor policeman. It was founded by a Mr. Richardson, a member of the Society of friends, who built a spinning-mill there, and now employs, 3,000 men in his own establishment. The people are said to be all orderly and sober. The vessel in which Dr. Kane made his famous voyage to the North Pole now lies at Newport, R. I. She is own ed by Captain Hopkins, of that city, her name having been changed to the United States. The following from one who, amid the dearest earthly relations has just tasted afresh the bitterness of breavement, to an old companion who has led a life separate from friends and kin, besides"’its especial aud limited application, has a wealth of meaning for all kindred souls that desire to grow strong under the common lot of trial and suffering: From the Journal of Commerce. ki Nil DesTDerandum.” We sang it once in youths exultant morning, Oar song of victory ere the strife began, Before we knew the legend’s solemn meaning— “ Never despair J the happy chorus ran. Then hope’s bright beam encircled every morrow, And love—it was our life from day to All sadder depths of loneliness and sor row Within the undiscovered future lay. * “W r e will be strong!” we said, and smiled in parting, Our lives, we felt, must still together flow; A bright, brief da}’ of toiling and cf triumph, Then sweet communing in the evening glow Nil desperandum! watch word’unforgot ten Through many years of parting and of pain, Now, 0 beloved, with a deeper mean ing, And reverently we utter it again. For we have watched the slow and mournful setting Os fariest hopes that lit our morning sky. The buds most precious on our summer garland • ■ •* Storm winds have scattered, rudely rush ing by. To me the cup renewed of smiles and Os thankful joy, and grief that knows no care; thee—to watch alone—a lifetime lonely— The bitterest pain thy spirit could en dure, No hand to clasp thine own when thou art weary, No heart thy deepest, truest self to know; — Better the love and ioss so oft recur ring, Which fill my lot with gladness and with woe. Yet, friend, despair not! for the sun des cending Begins to burn along the western sky— Let the old song which charmed our life’s beginning, Our later hours illume and glorify! Let us go down, unfaltering, to the river Beyond whose waves our meeting place shall be— There shall our watchword lose its solemn warning, And anew song be given to thee and me! Bangor, July 7, 1870. F. L. M. — A h alse Statement. —In consequence of statements made in a letter going the ronnds of the press recently, to the effect that there were several thousand Confed erate prisoners on the Dry Tortugas in a state of destitution, without means of get ting away, Mr. G. F. Marlow, of Selma, Alabama, addressed a letter to) the War Department asking as to the truth of the statement. The enquiry was responded to by E. D. Townsend, Adjutant General of the United States, who says: “There is not a single Confederate prisoner in the custody of the United States anywhere at this time.’’ He further says: “There were never more than two thousand men, United States,soldiers, prisoners and ail, if as many, at any one time on that Island. All these statements concerning Dry Tor tugas are utterly false.” FROM VIRGINIA. Fortress Monroe, September 25. — The splerdid new iron steamer Mgancke, of the Old Dominion Steamship Coast Line, passed here this afternoon for Nor folk. A salute was fired from the fort, which she promptly returned. Norfolk, September 25. —The U. S. steamer Bibb, which vas reported lost at sea recently, has arrived safely at Ilat teras Inlet. 7