The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-07-30 00:00:00

PRUSSIAN HONOURS.

Tao King of Prussia has revived the Order of the Iron
Crag—a decoration which has not bean worn Rillee the wars
of Liberation against the First Napoleon, 1813 and 1015. No
ther rank will he handicapped for iho chase of his re want
for courage exhibited on the field of It atln, or in shielding
the household gods at home but that of merit. The soldier
of Prussia has now before him two classes and a grand cross.
The first-clue medal and ninon' Is to be worn the instant he
wins it, on the left breast, where his heart beats; the see red-
class in the button hole, where of all places should be sported
the flower of valour ; the third, a double-sized medal, to
dangle round his neck as a cross round the throat of a Fru-
Baler. But to possess the second he must make god his
title to the first The Grand C/014 will be the rec.amition or
nothing less titan signal victory accomplished, or fortress
seized The Iron Cross was the glory of glories during the
wars of Liberation. Even when you had won it, it yet re-
mained to be won ; for the number of these precious badges
were limited, and its recipient had not only to distinguish
himself against the foe, but to wait till one of his fortunate
fellow cotentr3 men possessing It died Ile might, however,
have handed It down to his son as an heirloom.

LEAVING THEIR PEACEFUL AVOCATION.

" Eve, y Prussian under a certain age is a soldier either in
me or in posse, and all the Reserve is now being called lido
active service (writes a correliondent Irvin Dusseldorf `. The
peasants, who were just about to begin their rye harvest, the
Cs fliers, the factory hands, all mi St leave their work and
their families, and join their respective regiments. Bow.
ever, there is no lack of enthusiasm on their part. l'bey
resin jolly enough as they come into the town, twenty or
thirty together. shouting patriotic songs. As yet we have
not seen much of the pride, pomp, and circumstance of
glorious war. Men arrive In their ordinary wei king dress,
with nothing mild sry about them hut a cross Or medal
gained in some prcvions campaign banging outside the
blouse. With even less parade are those who are ready for
the war sent olf, no hands playing or colours dying, or an-
hung of that Burt. As to horses, there will be none left lit
the country soon but the veriest "screws " Every decent
animal is taken possession of by the anthoritie4, and turned
into • charger, the owner receiving regulation price"

DICLARATION Or THE AUSTRIAN GOVERNMENT.
The AustrianGovemment has offic,ally notified to Paris
its determination to maintain neutrality in the war. The
Note of the Aintro•Huneartan Cabinet begitiffby expressing
regret that the efforts it has ni ,de to prevent war has not
succeded. The Note then states that the said Cddnet Is not
called on to pidge the reasons for which Ffance and Prussia
have seen fit to go to war, or the opportunities of choosing
ihe present in.unent for commencing hostil es; but that its
duty is to endeavour to circumscribe the Mutts and hasten
the conclusion of the war—a duty which it will honestly
fulfil. In discharging that duty It will observe a strict neu-
trality between the twa combatant Power., but the neu-
trality will he an " attentive " one.