The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-11-19 00:00:00

ITEMS OF THE WAR.

The German vessel Fenna Johanna has been captured by
a French war steamer.

The 8.-lot Pot says that England proposed the armistice
merely im order to permit the negotiations of the French
Loan.

M SchrAhler has slid his property at Lo Creof It to an
American company, and the flag of the United States is now
hoisted over We whole establishment.

During the past fortnight about 310 horses have been
shipped at Southampton by the Seuth-Western Cumpany's
steamers for llondeur, St. Maio, and Havre.

Among the regimental flags captured by the Germans at
Metz, and which are now deposited in the arsenal at Berlin,
are several bearing the inscriptions of Marengo, Wagram,
LUtzen, and &Merino.
The Crowe Prince of Prussia has written a letter of thanks
to the veteran Marshal von Wrangel for his congratulations
on the bestowment of the title of Field- Marshal, concluding
with the words '. Au revolr in Paris."
The Echo do Nerd reports that Generals Ladnilrault and
Jealmingros have succeeded in escaping from Metz ant are
now at large In Lorraine, but closely pursued by the German
troops.

There la a story that the Pramlens have let fly a large
number of hawks in the neighbourhood of Faris to wage war
upon the French pigeons carrying letters. Certainly this
gigantic war ham been prolillo of strange devices and cape.
clients.

In the Vienna Pra..s an analysis Is given of a circular note
on the subject of the Treaties of ISM, which Rll9bis is said to
have addressed to the Powers. It would appear frorn this
circular that the Russian Government wishes the clauses
which ensure tie neutrality of the Black Sea to be revised.
The Daily News Special Conespoiment at the German
headquarteis at Versailles, states that before Paris the be-
sieger. are busy with their preparations, and that it will
need a desperate sortie to break out GI the city, and when
once outside General Trochu would find himself attacked
on both banks, If he did more than occupy the siege works.
lathe course of the battle of Bacon the battalion of Garde,
Mobiles of the Uir athi Cher thrown into a panic by a dis-
charge of grapeshot, gave way; General Benne rustled to
their head sword in hand crylog .` l wilt show you the way
to march against the enemy." fie communicated his courage
to the troops, who rallied, followed him, and broke through
the Bavarian rank,

The Emperor Napoleon has lately written to the King of
Prussia, thanking him for complying with hie wish that the
elptured anhall from Meto should be Interned near him at
tassel. Ile likewise requeated that the Imperial Guard
might be located in hie Immediate neighbourhood. It'nether
(say. a correspondent ot the Co log. G.. te) he reckons, like
Napoleon I , on returning to Vari, at the head of hie jrognards,
I will not deride.

The French papers announce the formation of numerous
Companion of Francs-Tireurs. floe of the mod recent edit.
lions to that tody of Irregular forces Is a oomploy raised
and commanded by M. de Fries, a Frenchman, settled in
Montevideo. Each member of the company, in addition to
his rifle and bayonet, is armed with a lasso, which is to be
employed in some way against the German troops.

•
The Emperor of Kumla recently sent a letter to his uncle,
the King of Prussia, which excited some speculation both in
French and German political circles. It was stated by some
to have simply asked leave for M. Thiers to pass through
the German lines into Parts, but it is to have merely
expressed a wish for the speedy restoration of peace. The
bestowal of the 3rd class of the order of St George on
General Steinmcic is explained in the following manner :
The Itu•slan Emperor sent the decoration to the King, ask-
ing him to confer It on the most deserving officer In his
army. The K trig thereupon Bent it to General Steinmetz,
with a highly complimentary letter.
There le no more remarkable feature In this war than
the immunity with which the Germans are able to keep up
their commtinicatlone undisturbed over long lines of railway.
Practically the whole of the nor h-east of France Is In the
peaceable possession of the German armies, and to judge
from the complete submission of the inhabitants it would
act be difficult, lilt were considered worth while, to occupy
the whole of Franco in the same way."—Correspoudent of
The Times.

A letter from Sedan, in the Weinutr Gazelle, describes the
fortress and the hospitals In its vicinity as insecure, being
too weakly garriamtecL The Uhlan patrols in the direction
of MeriCres are constantly exposed to the shots from Franca.
Timm in ambush, and several of tho former have been
wounded or captured, while their assailants are vainly
searched for in the nerabouring villages. About a dosen,
however, Including a priest, have been shot. Me official
paper at Siegleres urges the assassination of the Germans,
remarking that If each of the 00,000 enrolled Franc Tlreurs
shot • Prussian a day there would In 10 days be none left.
the FrancATlrcnrs of the Arcennett are divided into the
deatnyers of Ai eztbres" a; 4th." butchers of the Ardsnnes,"
and they Gan relate unheard of exploits not happily the
Inventiveneas of the present generation In France IA greater
than its activity
- -

If Tillers has published a report of his armistice negotia-
tions at the Berman Bead quarters, and it ham been comnin
Melted to the representatives of the Great Powers, and to
those of Turkey RIO Spain. The report statal, iii slihstance,
that all went well until the question of the re-victualling of
hills and the other besieged places was discussed. M.
'niers stated that this goestlon was not one of details, hut
a Rine qu4 non. Count Bismarck, who had previously
referred the matter to the military authorities, there-
upon declared that the armistice was opposed to
the interests of the Prussians, and that ho could
only consent to the re-vittualling of Paris If SOM. mili-
tary equivalent Isere given for it, am, for instance, one or
more of the forts. al Tillers declared that to salt this was
to ask for the surrender of the ramparts, and the negoils•
Bons came to an end. In conclusion, the report says that
the time has come for the neutral Powers to jin lire whether
sufficient attention has been paid to their advice, and that
they cannot reproach France for disregarding it. tier grew
and irreparable fault, according to id. Thiers, is that she
abandoned herself to a Gosernment the very existence of
Which Irma a mistake,

" Persons who come out of Pule say the are stores there
ample to eustaln the whole population for months to come
The ft--rman army does uot believe It."—Correspondent of
The Times.
The censorship at St. Petersburg has forbidden the sale of
coricotnree and writings which are personally offensive to
poloon iii • step which is regarded by some as Indicating
that Itti-sla still rev,gnises him so Emperor.
A strange report Is Circulated at Tours—namely, that an
accomplice of Basalne's has been arrested in that town,
where he was recognised, notwithstanding • disguise, by
certain officers who had come from Metz.
The Journal de Rouen says that the French mail steamer
Pere,re, which has arrived at Havre from New York, brought
over 7 000 barrels of powder, one million cartouches, 80,000
riffia, 30 cannon, and one niltrallleure. What will Count
Blemarek say to this!
A c trrespondent of The Tiiit,B says an order has just been
sent to Koulgsberg to mobilise seven more companies of
artillerymen, and deepatch them at once to Paris. The rear
of the force investing Paris, it is said, is now protected to-
wards the north by the arrival of fresh trooPA
lo has been stated that in the affair at Le Bourget a French
officer, while osten.P.ly tendering his sword to Colonel
Count Wahlersee, commanding one of the regiments of
Prussian Grenadier Guards, drew his pistol and killed the
tent. It now appears that Colonel Waldersee NAB killed
by a shell while entering the village.
Herr Wicked., in the Cologne Gazette. remorks that how-
ever the Ampere., justly, or too often unjustly. may be
abused now in France, they-fourths of all the officers, from
captains upwards, are in their hearts Imperialist, and
would like the Prince Imperial to ucend the throne.
In two days' travel between Strasburg and Mete (says •
correspondent of The Times) I was struck with the absence
along the route of any visible population. The villages
have a gad, silent weary air; hardly a cow or a sheep is to
be seen on the laud ; the forges and smelting mills in the
Moselle Valley are still.
- - • ••

According to a German letter Garibaldi has hardly 8,000
badly-armed and undisciplined men, 3,00 being Italians,
I 600 Hungarians, Voles, Americans, kc., and scarcely 3,000
Frenchmen. These last sre chiefly youths from Lyons and
other large town.. enthusiastic hot undisciplined, all wanting
to be officer.. They have only 12 guns aud 330 cavalry.
. „.. • •

. .
The Idea of a Bonapartist restoration is still occasioning
reflection to Belgian politico.. To gild the doubly-bitter
pill of Napoleon 111. at the Tuileries, and Alsace and
Lorraine, in the hankie of the Germans, some rectification of
frontiers according to the linguistic limitations might, It ie
feared, be propoict, and it is hardly necessary to point out
shore tie victim would be sought.
- - • - •

The North (ierman Correspondence Is authorised to give an
emphatic contradiction to the statements lately published
about the pretended wretched condition of French prisoners
In Germany. Though tens of thous.de were suddenly
thrown on the Germans' hands after the capitulation of
Sedan and Metz, they have been (says the Correspondenee)
cared for If we except the first few days after tile former
event, when it was Impossible) with a kindness and humanity
unexampled in the history of international warfare.
The German waggonen atta-hed to the army have addressed
• petition to the King of Prune* praying for dismissal. They
urge that they have been employed ten weeks with their
vehicles GOO miles from hems, that both themselves and their
horses are exhausted, and that their agricaltural duties are
vrry urgent. Having failed in their representations to the
military authorities, they have ventured to appeal to the
King personally.
The 31 °lntent. accumes the German army of great barbarity
and of pillage. It state, that at Chateavidun wounded French
soldiers were thrown out of windows, and two peasants were
shot f 4. working cn French entrenchment.. Accordiut
,to
the same authority several artillery caissons captured at
Orleans were found to be fllnt cub wearing apparel, cloaks,
carpets, perfumery, and numerous other article,
General Michel, wh t has Just superseded General Cam..
bridle in the command of the Army of the East, is one of the
superior office's who refused to capitulate at Sedan. At the
head of 2,100 cavalry he rushed at the Prussian lines and
succeeded in cutting his war through. Ile is the son of that
well. known General Mt•hel who claims—in the place of
Cambronne—the paternity of that famous word which was
pronounced at Waterloo, and which Is euphemistically trans-
lated by La Garde menet et tie is rend pas
An Englishman who was • passenger In the balloon taken
near Chartres, now Iles in prison at, Versailles, but at the
utmost his offence was only blockade running of a new kind,
and he will probably be soon liberated. lie is no politician
or soldier. Two of his companion. in captivity and misfor-
tune are Frenchmen—a fourth. who was carried off In the
balloon when it was lightened by the leaping out of the °tilt r
three, who thought • Jump of thirty feet among the Prus-
sian light horse better than being shot in the car and left to
linger miserably, is believed to have been English aleo—fugl.
tires from Paris.

The Berlin banker arrested on the charge of high treason
for subscribing for the French war loan, it likely to be ar-
rainged before a jury, and, if ff und guilty, to be pardoned by
the King. He seems to have had no idea that be was
committing a heinous offence in what, under ordinary cir-
cumstances, would have been a legitimate and, indeed,
every day business transaction. It is said he so little sus-
pected he was violating the law that he made use of the
public telegraph for correspondence on the subject.
The Military Cabinet of the King of Prussia sits every
day.nufler the presidency of his Majesty, At ten tich oh. The
Crown Prince Is not a member of the Council, but when any
important ruliltary 'natter is under discussion the King sends
for his Royal Highness Tip Crown Prince was present on
the 9th, and the Councilsat for a long time. The new Means
if operating against the scattered bands out of which the
French, or some of them, hope to form an army will soon be
employefi,

- -
The Economic of Counsel states that for many days rant
the trains from Brussels to Lille hove conveyed nilineroUS
French soldiers who had succeeded in escaping from Metz
am' who sought to retorts to France. Among them were
many officers, who, haviltg signed no eugagetnent Li the
contrary., are tree to resume service with the French army.
Tnese travellers assume the most extraordinary disguises in
order to escape capture by the Germans, and one colonel
was noticed in the working dress of a jaUrneyrainu Stone-

In spite of the remonstrances of the local authorities, the
German order requiring an influential inhabitant to accom-
pany the stoker on, at least, the first train which runs in the
day is being carried into effect. At Nsucy the first hostage
was M. Leolair. President of the i met of Appeal. On au.
other occasion Procureur-General hard was invited " to
make an involuntary journey. Escorted by two Prussian
gendarmes, he had at 5 p.m. to mount the tender and travel
to bineville, where his colleague in that town took his place
The President of the Cnamber of s' ,mmerce, a Judge, and •
banister have also occupied the post of danger.
The Echo du Luxembourg describes the condition of the
districts around Nleir:—"M herever the Prussians have been
they have carried off everything that was portable -cattle,
horses, grain, fodder, even furniture, bedding, and linen.
The deportment of the Moselle is ruined for the next twenty
years. The vineyards, for the most part, are destroyed, and
will rod be productive again for lien or six years. All the
wine that was stored in the villages has been consumed or
taken away. In those villages near whioh the dreadful con-
flicts of August and ieptember occurred houses and gardens
are mere wrecks On the 3rd of November there remained
still In Metz 22,000 wounded and 3,000 sick, lying in fifty-two
hospitals and ambulances'

"At las.t the French have had a real victory, and I need
hardly tell you that the most will oe made of it. I have not
heard if boars Is t, he illuminated to-night, but it is very
probable.... The "Battle of Bacon" will sound rather
oddly in English ears., the title of the first French victory ;
but the name matters little if the fact be beyond dispute.
Bag ,n Is a small village about fourteen miles to the went of
Orleans, but, judging from the circumstances of the affair, so
far as they areas yet known, the principal fighting most hove
been farther north.... Orleans, according to a telegram of
this morning's date, Is overjoyed to be rid of her enemies
Let us hope nothing will happen to dispel that joy.—Times'
Correspondent.

A wounded toldler recently patted through Berlin who
excited general attention, being a 1,0111(413. She is 24 years
of age, was carefully educated, but always showed a pre-
ference for muculine dress and activity. She passed the
ensign's examination, and, with good recommeinlation.
entered the army under the name of Weiss. Site distin-
guished herself by the recovery of a Fraction standard
taken by the enemy, and was presented with the iron cross.
She has received tour shot wound., and for recovery has
gone home to 'Filet. An East Prussian paper vouches for
the accuracy of these statements.
The fistulas of the 7th Met. nays that after the attempted
revolution in Nth on the 31st ult. a letter was found on the
table where Kisumu and his associates had been sitting,
apparently addressed to the direct Tot the bay. at Toulon,
and in these terms:—" Citizen, we must at any price have
William'. head. S,nd a hundred resolute convicts. Make
haste ; time plagues." The signatnre wee Illegible. This
proposed assassination of the King of Prussia shows that in
the eyes of the partisans of the Commune all means are legi.
Ornate. The revolutionists not only broke or spoilt the
furniture at the Hotel deVslie, Lot stole the coats, palette,
military uniforms, umbrellu, and everything they could
carry off

Since the nights have been foggy the German sentinels on
the north of Faris have on several occasions heard the sound
of voices—those of women as well as those f nien—lii ad-
vance of the French outposts, and they have also heard
digging and plucking up, as if persons were searching for
vegetable. Only a few nights ago a party were distinctly
heard advancing towards the German lines. The sentinels
Seed, but fortunately without any fatal result. The party
proved to be one of men, women, and children. They were
told they most go back. They didl so. Anti afterwards
there were cries. %Vhetlier these i °mous were fired upon
by the French outposts is not known.
The francs-tireurs of Listens took part in the action at
Saint Laurent des Bois, hear Ilarchenoir. They three times
repulsed the enemy, and killed a captain of Prussian cavalry.
The wife of one of the franca tirenrs happened to be on the spot
when the engagement began. She did not like remaining a
pas-ive spectator of it, and asked for a revolver, with which
she played her part inn the affair. The revolver was after-
wards given to herby the Commander Innard as an acknow-
ledgment of her bravery, and she took It home to Lisieux
with a prayer-book and cartridge-box found upon the Prus-
sian captain.

A letter from Gournay, dated the 11th instant, published
in the Mr mnrial (I Amiens, says The execution of • man
condemned to death by the court-martial of the 3rd battalion
sitting at Geurnay, took place at five o'clock this morning.
As soon as the decision of the Court was known In the town,
the ladles of Gourilay applied for mercy. A telegram was
sent to M. Gambetta, who, on account of the previous con-
duct of the condemned man, did not think himself justified
In granting the application. The condemned, on being in.
formed of it, received religious asslatarice, arid prepared for
death. The soldier hail been sentenced to death!, mutinous
Conduct; when drunk, he had shouted, 'Vine la Brume "
General Changarnier, writes a correspondent at Brussels,
is here in a peculiar position Ile is not a prisoner of war.
After the surrender of Metz Price Frederick Charles ex-
pressed to him a desire that he should riot remain in France.
Thereupon the general selected Brussels as his residence.
Ass mutter of course he feels Mimed bound not t r return
to France during the war. Nothaithstanding he is eighty
years old, he Is atilt vary lively and In the enjoyment of
good health. Borne dms ago he lent to the I ndep'utlence
&lip a letter In reference to the cipitulatlon of alelz, but
stopped its publication a short time after. Ms opinion of
fluorine Is that the latter's Incaparßy was even greater than
his treason. itazaine expected to play the part of dictator
after the capitulation of Paris, which he thought would take
place along time before the surrender of Metz would become
necessary. General ohan3arnler eutertaine the opinion that
no French army would ever again obey a Bonaparte, and
that, therefore, an Imperial restoration ii alto,;ether impoir
stole.