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

THE STILLNESS BEFORE THE STORY.

"1 here is something very striking in this pause before the
c )mmencernerit of hostilities The ring la being cleared, and
the two combatants are taking their Males. We see the
dark thunder cloud hapglog over Europe, and our nerves are
In a state of tebeion until the first flash shoots across the
sky, to be followed by the crash which we know must
shake he kingdoms of the Continent to their foundations,
and bury thousands in the ruin that must follow. The
stillness before the storm le only broken by the tramp of
armed men as they march to the field which many of them
will leave no more, and the voice of the preachers In the
pulpits, hurling their invectives against the war in the short
space of time allowed them before their remonstrances
will be drowned in the roar of the cannon, flat
although they rienounce all wars, and this war
in particular, they scarcely care to conceal that
they would be in their hearts both grieved and dm-
mated if the soldier took them at their wont and recited
to move. Yet there should be no hesitation among those who,
Interpreting Scripture literally, build tremendous theories on
telected expressions: for how on this principle can they ig.
nore the Bolemu injunctions c.mtained in divine writing to
forgiveness of injuries and suhnilesion to Insult? These are
antagonistic to the very idea of war, even to a war of de-
fence. We do not now spenk to the orthodox divines of the
Church of England, who can point to the 37th article, which
holds that 'lt Is lawful for Christian men at the comniand-
merit of the magistrate to wear weapons and nerve in the
wars,' and who would doubtless, If asked, point to the au-
thority which permits Chrbdian men to take each other's
lives at the bidding of an earthly rider, thus dispositig of a
difficult question in amanner more summary than exhaustive"
—Pali Mall Gazelle.

ON WHICH SIDE WILL ITALY BE?

"hut genie arrangement has been concluded between the
Emperor Napoleon and King Victor Emmanuel is generally
believed to he a f let. All depends on the turn elf Ors will
take. An alliance with France, and consequenily a war
against Prussia, would not only be unpopular, but, I believe,
would cause serious Internal complicAions. Therefore, if
the war were to lie localised between those powers, Italy
would keep quite aloof from the struggle ; but I most firmly
believe that if France were to be victorious in her first great
battle, and P,u,sla were to be backed by another great
Power, Italy would be called upon to join France, not so
mu •h for the sake of a cause which would not interest her
in the slightest degree, lint that meats would be f, unit for
touching Italian sensibilities by pruclalming the liberty and
the nationality of Borne great Catholic Power. If my
urnalistic experierne does not deceive me, I am sure that
this is the key to the maineuvre which has been adopted by
all the journals which have French sympathies in order to
counteract Prussian tendencies."—Florence Correspondent
of Daily New&

AUSTHIA.B POLICY DURING THE WAR.

"The Government at Vienna has decided, in order to pre.
serve the strictest neutrality during the war, not to make
any military preparations. The troops are to remain at their
preseik (cations ; all that will be done will be to complete
the prescribed number of artillery waggons, so as to pro-
vide for unforeeen contingencies ; this, however, will cause
no excess In the peace establishment of the army. It la
proposed to convoke the Reichsrath as moon as possible.
'the report which has appeared in some English papers as
to an understanding having been arrived at between Count
lieust and Duke de Grarnont In anticipation of war is a
pure Mention "—Pastern Budget.

ANXIOUS FOR A " POT."

No greater stride has yet been made in the annals of Ina-
mmity than the custom if considering sacred the lives of
prisoners of war; nor has any step more induced c milistants
to throw aside personal rancour; the attention which It Is
now hoped to extend to the sufferers of the battle.field, in-
dependent of their nationality, will still further tend to
humanize the soldiers and the peoples who engage in con-
flict. use immediate effects of appealing to the finer feelings
whose aid are thus invoked can only be to render less fre-
quent, in.t to put an end to war; but steps like these may in
the course of centuries refine the minds of all, until cam-
paigns are looked upon with univers el horror. It certainly
appears more in accordance with the history of civilisat ion
that the scourge should be abashed by a gradual elevation
of men's minds than by a mere devotion to the porsult of
commerce. At present the main current of thought in this
town istrasbourgj is directed more to the production of
wounds than to their cure. 1 observed to-day a good.
natured looking communicative French linesman looking
at half • dozen Prussians on the opposite batik, who In tuns
appeared to be gazing at him; the soldier said to his com-
rade ' I would hit one of those Germans en Weans poltrine
with my Chassepot. [could not miss, they stand out against
the sky, and the distance is just 400 metres, a short range.' 1
Inquired upon what data he felt so sure of the Prussians'
exact distance his answer showed that intelligence which
render the French skirmisher so formidable. 'The breadth
of ti e river is under 250 metres, but taken ill the transverse
direction of the Prussians it must be nearly 300, and there
area little more than 100 metres from the hank.' Some one
lent my friend a field class ; he was delighted with it, he
criticised the Prussian uniforms, said it brought the enemy
veer enough for him to embrace them, mi. d •mt shot, they
mere making frees at him, arid finally wished for a telescope
perm.neutly placed on the top of his Chasseirit to aid him in
Ids desire to s eraser lea Prussiene—Straibourg Correspon-
dent of Daily Nerve.