The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-10-01 00:00:00

ITEMS OF THE WAR.

The Purls journals are full of complaints of the towns that
prefer to r oma to an understuAlng with the invader, to
fighting him.

-The -GeILIIMI troop. have discovered cud destroyed the
subterranean telearaphic COLIIIIII:tilt,t1011 which existed
between Paris and Tout.. It Is hollered that :mother exists
betweed Paris and Brussels.

The dreadful accident near Tours, all esdy reported, .1c
pears to have been caused by a special train conveying
troop having run into a passenger train which was sta-
tionary at the place where the tickets are collected. Eleven
PII,IOPII were killed and alssut twenty other, were seriously
injured.

M. Thiers Is repotted to have add at VI nos, that the
French Government thinks Pruinie Is not in csairst when
ilemondlrg a ce.sicu 01 territory. Sin proban,y prebrred
this demand eifly to make it. withdrawal a conceasn n which
might recurs her a counter-concession. It Is Stough& at
Balm that M. Thies in in telt miitaken.

The upshot of the controversy among the German p.peri
as tothe .11rplacement of General ateittmetz set ma to he that
the veteran coati never foergo a momentary success or the
rake of Ulterior advantage.. It ems therefore foloal luzon-
renient to continue hint in high conanand at the theatre of
war.

Captain von ih rlepsch, a direct lescadant of the re
nowned knight of (Locate name, who captured Luther and
conveyed him to the Wartburg, there to shield him from the
Intrigues of his (Hernia, is among the victims of Sedan. lie
was a highly accomplished author on miscellaneous topics
and a promising officer.
In one of the recent fight., a Frusalas Jager found a
moment to pluck • rice; mid after coming with his regiment
out of the till and peril of the day he sent the flaw to the
Central Committee In Berlin, asking that it might ho given
to that lady who had done moat to help the wounded. The
rose and the letter have been received, and Very elegantly
framed for preservation, by Queen Augusta.
An example of neural solf.possession is reported fruit
Etrasburg. It appears that an artilleryman attached to one
of the Prusilan Hattales had the presence of mind to take
no a shell that had fallen arniat the Nokias, and throw it
some dbitance out lido a held, where It exploded. For this
net of cool courage, •ffich had saved his own life as well as
the lives of his comrades, i.e was handsomely rewarded.

In the event of the siege of Paris being prolonged until
provision. grow scarce, it may be worth while for the friend.
of the besieged to conaider whether food could nof be droppod
from bAloorif by lueans of parachute. into the oily. Large
quart the 1 Lieblig's extracium carols might descend in this
manlier, and would be very acceptable wheu everything else
II eaten up.

The Commandant at Mu-seines has Issued a notice calling
upon artisans to join working companies to esslat In com-
pleting the defences of the city. L Ingres Is reported Ohara
been placed In a complete state of defence, wlth provisions
and ammunition for three months.

The seizure of Prussian uniform. in Paris has been ex-
plained. It hen the war broke out Messrs. Caton and la,on,
the army multractnrs, were executing au order for Frusta ;
the declaration of war jut a cop to the work, and these uni-
forms were thrown on their haLds.

Karl Yogi, the distinguished naturalist, has expretsed his
opinion in too Frank/art Gazette vaunt the annexation of
Alsace and Lorraine by Gunnery lie sayt it would be the
source of future warr, and prefers an Increase of money In-
demnification aud a cession by France of some of her
colonic& Letters on this &nil, et have alreacy appeared from
Strauss, Mominsen, Von 63 bel, and Max Miller.

-
A German stilotr, writing tot Vienna paper, .as severa
Influential Parisians, without families, have during the last
few days reached the besiegers' lines, and have requested
permission to remain In the rear of the army. They think
themselves much safer there than in Paris, where they have
more to fear in ease of bombardment or storm, from bands
of unemployed workmen than from the Gomm soldiers.
The Figaro rays that In the struride for the re lould at
that'll.. the Ge, num& fired a number of obi ,nfr shells, which
wore expiddel by means of a mark at shout three. quarters
the length of their trajeclofy. They Lunt first before reach.
log the ground, whore key burst a se.iond time, scattering
project' eat, a eistance of about 30 Inane.

A member of the house of Meters If. Piper arid Co. of
Rheims, whn liar lust arrived in London, having passed
through the Pru•sisit lines with a rate conduct from Oeneral
von Rune, states that both libeling and Epernay are perfectly
tranquil So strict in the Prussian discipline that tern or
twelve of their soldiers who but been found pilfering articles
Of private property were Instantly
Among the kind attentions shown at klundrn to the Ger-
inau troops passing through the place was one which, though
simple and homely, was greatly appreciated by the weary
and heated travellers. W 4 gulch tiths full of fresh water Male
ranged along the line, together with towels and tom,. After a
Journey of more than tweet) -four hours the oproatunity of
washing off the It us% of the toad was highly prized.

The Mobile Gardes who have been pressed into the army
at Paris are ilesertingln botilea of from 24 to 51 etch, anti
aredeturning to their homes. Ab.ut 200 of them have been
shot for disobedience. The former iuhabitants of the aban•
doned villages round Paris, who were driven thence by the
French eoldier., ere now gradually returning, with the
property which they had taken away with therm
The French prisoners receive three hot meals daily,
coffee in tho morning, meat and vegetables a; twelve o'elock,
and soup In the evening. They are vett content with their
fare, and coy that it Is more ample than what they had In the
French 111113 y. The only thing they grumble at is, that they
receive rye bread indeed of wheat bread.
The Joernal de Liege his published the following de-
'patch The maare of Sedan Worms the Inhabitant. that
the Prussian mahoritlis I orhin circuital.] on the battle-
beide." The authorities are etrtainly right with regard to
this niea,ro lialth-ficidA are no:. the light sort of places
for the elnits I roght .cers and holid,y-norkere. 11 ins to
Sedan had klt Into become it sort of extortion, cite no baiter
or more iiseflll uttri.o4o thau going to spend a Any •t Wend
or at mra.

A letter from Sillily, which appear. in a German paper,
mehtions the capture within a few days of three balloon.
Iron, Metz They are freighted with letters, winch almost
exclusively purpon to be addressed hy French oulatiers
their famine., hut tiny are ao inttorm in style that the in-
teution evidently is that they should fall into the hand, of
the Germans Almost every letter affirms lust the carrionn
have plenty to act and a riblc, ahal evetything is going on
well, cud that the great tinwher of "imitated to be atteilued
to is tie only hicotiveniehm, they suffer.
. - -

A letter published tu the German papers, written to his
wile by Prince William of Mtcklenburg, who commanded at
the surrender of Laos, descrbea the explosion and its cot,
aequences in a rest detail. One c vain was killed, and eight
°inters woucffed,SMolig whom *meth° staff of tie
and more attectally the Paine- hhalsrlf, who bed to give weer
hls c main Ind for Vie present 11 ceusiquence. There Was 5)
doubt that • non, flitnixeloned officer of artillery Was
the perpetrator of lha deed, but the French general, though
himeelf wounded, and the der of the garrison were kept In
strict custody afterwards as indirectly et:complies* by their
eareleaanem. A number of the inhaldtants of the town—ca.
timated by the Ponce at 400—had been injured by fragments
of st.ella which must have been propene( as part of the ex-
plosion

nuMbOr

from Paris (.102,000.
Lieutenant Hoffman, one of the boldest climbers and most
mettrate writers on the topography of the I yrol, has met
with his death during the present war.
Colonel Count Finckensteln, who carried General Mottke's
famous order to the Crown Prit,Ce thenight Wore the battle
of hadows, has died of his wound•
Princess halm, who laments the death of her gallant hus-
band, • few days ago canveyel also the body of her nephew,
Lieutenant Prince Salm to the hereditary estate of the
Lustily, near Wesel.
The &Ito do N ord says that In the Inttle at Challilon,
wt,le Dr N moms, attached to the 14th Corp, d'Armee,
whited by • Jesuit priest, was raising up • wounded man,
he was et, uok by a ball, and foil dead beside his patient.
- - .•

The number of Prussians who have joined the army as
volunteers for • yeses service is 40,000 or 50,0(0. They be-
long to the educated and Mfluential classes, and have mostly
passed their examination as officers.
The reduces flag Is Bring over the Palace. of Versninea
and the Trianon., and also over the Military school of 81.
Cyr. The vast halls in these extensive buildings have been
converted Into hospital wards, and already • large number
of patients have been received.
A Berlin paper says it is impossible that the Germans
should not take Peels, and equally impeasible that they
should pay more respect to the houses, by refraining from
Sting on them, than for the blood of their soldiers.
Two French ironclad, and a cruiser were seen at Gayer on
Monday Si noon, i•oming from the eastward. After cruising
in the Ch meet they went back in the same direction.
We learn from a well-Informed private correspondent that,
by authorisation of the King of Prussia, goods trains will be
organeted from Rheims to the Belgian frontiers, and for all
travellers • safe-conduct pass will be given also thereto.
The outer who Is nursing Marshal Mulls/Yon says that be
has never uttered a complaint during the dressing of his
wounds. ho matter how they cut and backed in the fright-
ful wooed which completely traversed his thigh, and in
which a boy ten yeses old might turn his fist round, not a
groan was heard Whatever Is gives line, whatever is done
for him, his reply is always, Very well, my good sister."
M Carle Kerisouet, who was a member of the late Corps
lAgithitil, has been charge I by the Provisional Government
with a mission to stimulate the inhabitants of Brittauy to
active exertions ou behalf of the national defence. M
Kerisouet has induced the Comaseils f.h!lacraux to meet and
to vote funds for defensive preparations.
The Journal de Rouen thus describes the Prussian Cus-
toms of war :—" They disembowel (coentrer) women cut
the throats of children, shoot the old men, and semi the
vigorous ones to the galley., pillage houses, burn
&eta oy °hurdle., Meals the It.tUri of the Holy Virgin, and
assassinate the trimmers. Ills thus the }league make war.
They would fain treat our country as a conquered one."

"The more we consida the rtjoction of the terms of ar-
mistice by the French Provisional Government, the less are
we impressed with the w!sdom of tho refusal. No impartial
observer, looking fairly at the condition of things, can justly
say that there mica anything unreavonahle, far less arrogant,
hi the cordithms which were proposed by the Prussisn Chan-
cellor."—Deily New,

A ...regime-dent writes to the Pais du Luxembourg :
" The exaggerations respecting the cruelty of the PrUSSI•II4
are ridiculous. The rumor of Berlins% and his wife have not
been burned, hut are at Bouillon. The parish Prletts of
homilies and of Bailin have not been shot. T., the former I
have spoken late.), and the latter Is also safe."
'The river Seine flaws so qu'etly on, that it is difficult to
imagine the seem of fierce excitement into which it pre-
sently glides. That broken bridge, the pontoons marred
across the stream, and the columns of ammunition weggons
nambling through the town, give an idea that war Is at hand.
hut the river goes quietly on with a broad, smooth surface.
The shadow, lengthen, and the murimir from the shore
echoes from side to slde."—Daily News' Uorrespontient.
M. Emile de Girardin has been thwarted In his attempt to
found a newspaper in the provinces, lie first visited Limoges,
where he found thst the title of his proj .cted newspaper—
the Delen.e Notioncae—hAd been already appropriated,
whereup rn he sought to return to Paris, but was unable to
reach the capital, end therefore he made for Tours,
where he now remains.

The following onicers, men, ums, and munitions of war,
tke., wero captured at tho capitulation of Tout :-109 dn.
cers 2,210 men, 130 horses, 1 eagle of the Garde Mobile, 197
bronze guns, including 48 plecea of rifled ordnance, 3,000
rinse, 3,000 sabre., £OO cuirasses, and a considerable I tutu-
tity of munitions and ort,cles of equipment. Soldiers' pay
for 143,025 dais and rations for 51,049 days also fell into the
hands of the Prussians.

Havre hen bad a very narrow escape of being blown up A
drunken magaziec keeper, enraged at being reprimanded,
swore be would hue revenge, and coolly nimbi prop.rntrou
t. blow up all the powder stored In Fort Toutneville. Ile
ens arrested In the very ralek of time. There was some little
dirti..ulty Is preventing his being lynched by the Infuriated
garrison.
The " War Sausage Manufactory," nesr the Lutz.iwer
Plum, in Berlin, is In interesting enterprise Six weeks ago
the ground oa which it stands was • liarren stubble field
but now it Is covered 1.7 live Immense lung sheds, In which
during the last three weeks 60,108 sansues have been made
Icily, which, composed of peas and salt meat, elf ,rd •
strengthening dint for the soldiers. Tin tons of ham and
lmcon are worked up daily, with twenty tons of pensemeal.
A thousand e orkmin are constantly crap].) ed, and ISO
women and children have enough to du to lii the ends of the
sans .Ken

If the statement Is correct that dlarshal Rmaine inform a
• Prussian r Meer a few days ago that he waa merely pee-
s refer Melt and the army under Ida command fur the aer-
vice of the Emperor Napoleon, and that he had !lathing to do
with the Republic established in raids, his position Mc sees
more lutereatiag than 'ever : for, assuming that he holds out
against the Prussims until the Mom of the campaigu, and
that they Cr. forced to retire without obtaining poiaralion of
the fortre,a, it will have to stand • second siege from the
army of the Republic ; or, on the other hand. Troctu nor! trio
for., may find thermalvds obliged to defend Paris against
Bas .tine and his forces when their present assailants have
departed.

A Fren± military surgeon of rank was found dead on the
battle [1,1.1 of Sees his nott -book was found plot csd with
a bullet, and in it was a letter. hastily written to his wi.e in
the heat of actkn. We append a translation, and have only
to remit k that tha date, "August Ist," is obviously meant for
F.cptember la! . •dodne. A•ogust I. In the midst of the
CaDllOll balls Hying around me, I scud you my
farewells. fee balls and bullets which have spared me dotter
bur hours will not be tenit rto me much longer. Good-b)e,
ivy owu loved wife. I hope rune charitable soul will take
care that this farewell sod' reach you. I hare borne outsell
bravely, and I die bec-.use L would not abandon our wounded
men. A kiss. 11. V."

It has been commonly thought that the duty of the com-
mander of a large army corps, like that of a commander.ln-
chief, shoot,' rarely take him luto personal danger ; and in
the American war great fault was fouud one Or WO Of
the younger officers of this class who forgot their bushies• of
directing in their ardour for the front if the combat. Gut
hero seems to he a ii.lferent slew of the duties In Vie army
under the Croat. Prince, al the long ranee of weapons mskes
the dal:ger evelywhere equaL At Wl•tembourg General
Kirchhach was wounded In the attack on D Mays position,
though he has Moor recovered and lest the 6th Corps. At
Woerth General Dose was wounded, and though reported as
slight Ids wound has sent JAM away from, the army. Ills
successor la charge of the 1111. C.ups, General Gersthol,
was badly wounded at dedan ; and though he was after-
wares transported to Cassel for treatment, his death is lust
reported from that place.