The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-01-14 00:00:00

tte 56tintrtribge Otserber.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 1871.

MR NATIONAL DEFENCES.

SCHWSRIN, Thursday.
The Grand Dnke of Mecklenburg telegrapl.s
as follows to the Grand Duchet.s

Lord Derby, though wanting in the eloquence
for which his father, "the Rupert of debate,
-
was to noted, always speaks with sound practical
sense, and sometimes with no little wisdom, when
he addresses an audience. He has just been
speaking on a subject which at the present time
ranch interests the public mind—on our eationa;
defences. Opposing sentiments on this subject
have of late been enunciated. There is a party
who deprecate any increase in our military and
navel forces; who think England ought to rely
on her moral power, on the forces she already
possesses, and on her peaceful and conciliatory
policy. There is another party who are never
tired of advocating an increase in army, navy,
militia, and volunteers, and who would fortify
our cossts—and, in a word, prepare for war which
slay come, whether it is likely to come or net.
Between these two extreme opinions there are
many others, of various shades, and among the
moderates, perhaps, no statesman has spoken
more reasonably or more opportunely than Lord
Derby, on the occasion of his distributing the
prizes to the Preston Artillery Corps.
We will merely note in passing the noble
lord's observations on the volunteer movement.
He showed that this, like other popular move-
ments, was first pooh-pooti'd, then over-rated,
and then under-rated. The cold tit, he says,
secceedied to the het fit. This reminds us of a
-,ddisr remark by the late Lord Herbert, that
wan regard to our national defencei the public
is very much inclined to oscillate between parsi-
mony mud panic. It is, however, in respect to
the impending increase of our military and naval
power generally that Lord Derby's remarks are
specially important. He is not an extreme man.
He favours neither the peace at any price party,
nor the party which would Co largely increase
our nominally defensive forces that they would
virtually become a menace to other Powers. On
this point Lord Derby may be said to recall to
their senses that "exceedingly small section of
tie public who cry out for war. He points out
that bcfore the country can make up its mind as
to what sort of army and navy it is to have, it
must first have some definite idea as to what it
vrishes or expects them 5o do. A passage or two
from his epeeoh may be cited, as they deserve
special consideration. "We should icnow
olearly," be says, " what we are about. Every-
body is agreed that national defence ought to be
made thoroughly effective. There is no ques-
tion about that; but if we mean only defence,
let us say so, and stick to that--if we mean
something more, as some of us do, lot those who
do so acknowledge the tact.' An important
truth cannot be more forcibly put than this, and
it will be well for the country if it does not push
defensive precautions beyond the boundary
which separat-s defence from menace, not to say
offence. While the one is every day felt more
and more to be advisable, the other is as inadvi-PtpseTelegotins.l
sable now as it ever was. Ili the coining session FRIDAY.
both opinions will be ;note or less ably suppor-
ted, bat the purely defensive party will have this The Echo hears from high authority that
advantage over their opponents, that the former Moltke regards further fighting on the part of
can boldly enunciate their Views, with the public the French as worse than useless. They are
to support them, while the latter will scarcely fighting rind iniclitieing life for the. impossible.
dare to say all that they rosy think. rhe views It is were warder.
which the the:eminent w,Li take on the bread A General has arrived in Vienna with import-
can hardly admit of doubt. they will ant Prussian despatches.
set on the priuciple of the Volunteer motto,
" estate% not defiance," and while they will A rule for a new trial has been ordered in the
probably endeavour to streugalien both army Lambeth Workhouse case.
and navy, arid pronoms sortie modifications in The Eel", denies on authority the Daily New,
the Volunteer and Militia services, they will care- ; report relative to Austrian proposals of peace,
tally avoid any stops that might tend towards ' and Prussia's willingness to accept them.

Counerre, January 11th, 8 pan.
" After crossing the rivulet Lhuine, North of
Le Mans, yesterday, we fought to-day a hotly-
Contested but victorious engagement at Loin-
hron and La Chapelle. Nearly 10,000 prisoners
have been captured. Our loss is inconsiderable.
We shall advance to-morrow on Lo lans."

VERSAILLES, Thursday, 1.51 p.m.

Several corps advancing on be Mans had
severe fighting yesterday until dark. 1 lie out.
lets of Champagne and Chateau Archer were
taken; seven guns and mitrailleuses were cap-
tured. The number of prisoners who fell into
our hands during the pursuit on the 10th did
not amount to 2,000, as hitherto stated, but to
5,000, besides live mitrailleuses taken by the
column of the centre alone.

General Werder, after leaving Vesoul by a
flank march, to his left, continued his movement
on the 10th without any lighting except the en -
gagemet of Villesexel on the previous day, when
he repulsed the enemy who attempted to obstruct
his march.

LE MANS OCCUPIED BY THE GERMANS.
R'IYAL HEAD-QUARTERS, VERSAILLES,
Thursday Midnight.
Le Mane has been occupied by the Germans.
Tne enemy is being pursued.

FOREION NEWS.
A US FRIA.
Pzine, Thungloy.
The Austrian Delegation has passed the army
estimates