13 DECEMBER 1873, Page 3

Cartagena is not yet taken, and there appears little chance

that it will be The General in command of the besieging force las been changed three times in ten days, the bombardment, at rust furious, has been almost discontinued, no fort has been captured, and the besieged, aidedly their English Intransigente Peters and his steamer Darro, have plenty of provisions. There seems to be a reluctance to take the place, which we can only explain by supposing that the General who did take it would occupy, in the eyes of the Army, some such position as General Prim. The Republicans are said to have forced themselves between the French frontier and the Carlists, but there is no con- firmation of the statement, which, indeed, in winter time would matter little.