The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-01-21 00:00:00

INSIDE PARIS.

The following is from the diary (.1 the "Besieged
Resident," of the Daily Nova, under date, Paris,
Jan. 11:--

The spy mania, which raged With such intensity at the
commencement of the siege, has again breken out. Every
day persons are arrested because they are supposed, by
lighted candles and other mysterious devices, to he in com-
munication with the enemy. Sergeant Hoff, who used to
kill his couple of brace of Germans every day, and who die
appeared after Champigny, it is now sad was a spy :
and instead of mourning over his wife, who had been
slain by the Prussians, kept a mistress in splendour,
like a fine gentleman. Foreigners are looked upon atm-
pielously in the streets. Very Click looks are cast
upon the Americans, who have eatablished and kept up
the lest ambulance there is in Parte at their own coat.
Even the French ambulances are suspected, slime some of
their members during a suspension of arms, broke bread
with the Prussian.: for it is held that any cue who does
not hate a German must be in the pay of Bismarck. But this
is not all : the newspapers hint that there are spies at head-
quarters. General echmitr has a valet who bass wife, and
this wile 1. a German. What more clear than that General
Sehnilt z confides what passes at councils of war to Lis valet
I —generals usually do: that the valet cenfides it to hie wife,
who confides it to Bismarck. And then General Trochuhaa an
aids ele.camp, a Prince Belem. He is a Wallachian, and anon
of an ex-Iloapodar—l never yet heard of a Wallachlau who
wee not. Can a doubt exist In the mind of any reasonable
human being that this young gentleman, a harmless lad who
had passed the greater part of his existence daisies cotil-
lions at Paris, lain direct communication with the Prussians
outside A day or two ago two National Guard, were ex-
changing their strategetlcal views in a cafe, when they ob-
served a stranger wale down something. Ile was imine-
diately arrested, as he evidently intended to transmit the
opinion of thane two military sages to General Moltke. I
was my self down at Montrouge yesterday, when I was re-
quested by two National Guards to accompany them to the
nearest commissary. I asked why, and waa told that a
women had heard me speak Gsrman I replied that I was
English. "Z it ye call soon Tee." sad one of my captors,
"1 spek Anglish like an Anglishman, address to me the vord
in Aeglish." I replied that the gentleman spoke English
with so perfect an accent that I thought he must be a fel-
low.countn man. The worthy fellow was disarmed by the
compliment, and told a crowd which had collected around
us to do prompt Plaice on the spy, that I not only
was an Englishman, but sin. Ceekno; that in to say, he ex.
planed, an inhabitant of London. Ile shook me by the
band ; his friend shook me by the hand; arid several ladies
and gentlemen also shook me by the hand; and then we
parted. Yesterday evening on the Boulevards there were
groups discussing the traitors." Some said that General
Schmitz had been arrested; others that he ought to be
arrested. A patriot observed to me that all foreigners its
Paris ought, al a precautionary measure, to he extirpated.
" Parbleu," I replied, and you may depend upon ill rolled
my • and shrugged my shoulders in true Gallic fashion This
mornher General Troche haa publiahed a proclamation, de-
nouncing all attacks upon his stale and making himself
responsible for lte members. It Is an honest, manly pro-
test, and by far the best document which this prolific
writer has issued for some time. Another complaint is
made against the Generals who damp the popular
enthusiasm by throwing doubts upon ultimate victory. In
fact, we have got to such a condition that a military man
dares not venture to express his real opinion open military
matter. for fear of being denounced. We are, Indeed, still
In a molt unaurreudeang mood. I was talking to-day to a
banker—a friend who would do anythieg except cash my
bill. In Leafless he Is a clear-headed, sensible man. I
asked Um what would occur If our provtione gave out before
the armies of the provinces arrived to our succour. He
replied that the Government would announce the fact, and
! mil upon all able-bodied men to make a dash at the Prussian
le es ; that 3,50,000 at least would respond to the call, and
I would either be killed or force their way out.