News and Miscellany

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 10, 1871

News and Miscellany.

“Can ye not discern the signs of the times?”

The War in Europe.

Extreme cold weather prevails in France, which greatly interferes with military movements. General Faidherbe has gone into camp near Arras on account of the severe cold.

The Prussians cannonaded the town of St. Calais on the 26th, and afterwards captured it. The French are complaining bitterly of disorders committed by the German soldiers. Considerable excitement has been created in England by the sinking of six British coal vessels in the Seine, by the Prussians. The cause of this act has not been explained; but we suspect that it was because they were engaged in a contraband trade. There was considerable of a fight near Havre on the 25th, in which the French were defeated. They came out of the city to meet the Germans. Fire was opened on the fortifications of Paris on the 24th, and has been continued at intervals since. No impression has been made up to the 27th. News of this event has caused great rejoicing in Berlin.

The Prussian government has apologized for the destruction of the English vessels in the Seine, and offer indemnity. The officer commanding the troops who committed the outrage, has been courtmartialed and cashiered.

A proclamation has been issued by the Prussian government declaring all French seaports occupied, or to be occupied by its forces, in a state of blockade.

Saturday morning’s dispatches bring us a contradictory medley of reports and rumors upon which but little reliance can be placed.

The Prussian Twelfth Corps occupied Mt. Avron, one of the Paris forts, after a day’s bombardment, on the 29th. The garrison fled into the city, leaving many guns and their wounded. A dozen shells were sent into Paris on the 27th in the departments of La Villette and Belleville.

Large numbers of French troops have been incapacitated for service by the cold.