NEWS OF THE WEEK.
GERMANY still advances, and the balance of evidence goes to show that Marshal Bazaine, with the remainder of the Army of the Rhine-120,000 strong—is enveloped either in Metz or outside Metz by the combined armies of Steinmetz and Prince Frederick Charles, reported in Germany and Paris to number together 320,000 men, but certainly double his own in number ; that his position is critical, not to say hopeless ; that the Crown Prince, with 180,000 men, is pressing towards Chalons, where Marshal Canrobert, according to the War Minister, has only 80,000 ; and that Paris, which on Thursday night believed in a victory, is arming to defend itself, should Chalons prove a defeat. The Emperor is supposed to be at Rheims, General Trochu is Commander-in-Chief of Paris and its defences, and the Chamber has refused to consent to a proroga- tion. Judged impartially, but by observers who trust in the substantial accuracy of the German telegrams, the situation of France would seem to be nearly hopeless,—Bazaine surrounded, Canrobert too weak, Paris raging, but indefensible. The Empire, as distinguished from France, may be considered dead.
