p. 160 | News and Miscellany

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 2, 1871

News and Miscellany.

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

Paris, April 25.—Evening—All movements have been suspended to-day, in consequence of the armistice. The belligerents have been engaged in building and repairing barricades. Many placards, urging conciliation, have been posted up.

London, April 26.—A dispatch from Brussels says the Northern Railway Company has notified all its station masters that the blockade of Paris commences at once, and that provisions destined for the French capital must be re-transmitted to their senders.

Florence, April 26.—A discussion of the Papal guarantees continues in the Italian Senate. The Minister of justice has announced to the Chamber of Deputies the approaching introduction of a bill for the separation of church and State.

A News special from Versailles says that Thiers has resolved to bombard Paris when the forts east and north of the city are delivered up by the Prussians.

Versailles, April 25.—Thiers has issued a circular bearing date of the 25th, in which he says: “The last few days have been employed in engineering works and concentrating our troops. New corps have been formed at Cherbourg, Cambray and Auxerre, composed of the heroes of Gravelotte. Generals Donai and Clinebart will command them. The late engagements at Bagneaux were successes for our troops, who captured a red flag from the enemy. The great operation will soon commence.”

New York, April 25.—A dispatch from New Orleans, at a late hour last night, says the whole city is filled with rumors of crevasses and probable inundations. Careful inquiry and personal investigation reduce the number of crevasses from which imminent danger is anticipated to four, at Poverty Point, Wallace plantation, and Bonet Carre above the city, and Moraro plantation below. To-night three of these are reported under control, leaving the break at Bonet Carre alone to be combated. Here the danger is great and imminent. The waters of the great river are rushing through an opening 700 feet wide with a rushing, roaring sound, audible for miles, plowing a channel 50 feet deep far into the vacant lands, while the levee rapidly crumbles into its boiling waters. Piles four feet deep, driven 20 feet into the ground and packed with sand bags are swept away like reeds. No efforts can now close the crevasse, and as soon as the flood has cut its way into the lake, the latter will overflow the whole rear portion of the city of New Orleans.

Later—The latest news is that the Bonet Carre crevasse is still widening, and that 12 miles of the Jackson Railroad has been swept away. Two other crevasses, one at Point Manoir, west of Baton Rouge, and one on the McDonough estate, below the city, are reported.

Versailles, April 27.—via London 28.—Thiers, in a speech to the Assembly to-day, tells the country that the situation is painful. French blood is still flowing, but it is consoling to know that the denouement is near. All are doing their duty, especially the army, to which he alluded in terms of high eulogy. The investment of the works of Paris has been commenced, and active operations are expected. Fort Issy has been silenced, and Moulineaux captured. “We (continued the speaker) are not assailants. We are the defenders of law and order. We wish conciliation, but we also wish to save liberty from despotism and from unbridled license.” After eloquently defending Republicanism in the Assembly, Thiers concluded as follows: “The insurgents are isolated; and all France is with the government and the Assembly, in our efforts to combine unity with liberty.”