The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-10-15 00:00:00

THE PRESSURE AT VERSAILLES.

A letter from Ferriares, dated October 1, In the Cron
Gaz-tte, states that the commencemeut of the bombarrimeut
of Paris is very near at hand, IA the heavy guns are arriving
in unbroken tuccesslon. lirmichitach has been appointed
Protect at Versailles, and some field police have been placed
under him. "He will have enough to to, for the disorders
in the rear and by the side of the German army are on the
Increase—not, as it seems, In consequence of the appeals
issued from Paris and the present Government, but of desti-
tution and want of shelter which prevail among the peasants
who have fled from the villages. The people, indeed, do
not know where to turn o find shelter and food. Attacks
on post (Mice Oh-Ails, orderlies, and i.ouveys have occurred,
which have beeu punished by the military authorities, but ,
even these punishments seem unable to repress the of-
fences." A letter from Versailles, of the same date, men
lions the capture of 100 French soldiers who made a sally on
the entrenchments at SZvres. They had to pay dear for the
Jest, for noun returned over the Seine except good swimmers.
rho French are recovering their eourage at the silence and
inactivity of the Germans, though there are good reasons
for the delay, they shout and sing, and are In the best of
humours. "Balloons ascend daily; they are not only the
: means of communication with the provinces, but favour us
, a Ith packets of silly proclamations •to the Germans.' They
,tfer us a kind ef sugar plum, confessleg that the Genesis
soldier, are bravo fellows hut the grand Idea Is always
• Victor H 1).1 not tort me, and I will not hurt you'
'I hey threaten us, moreover, with their mines, and that
' these really exist has been ascertained at alendon, where
they tried to inveigle us on gr and which they themselves
carefully avoided. There is little doubt that we
tread here on many volcanoes, but we have discovered
some, and are on the trace of ,then. It Is probable, more-
over, that on their hasty flight the trait" of gunpowder were
not quite in order. The day before yesterday the editor of the
Gazette was arrested, which journal, in order to elude the
notice of the Prussians, was printed on preen paper. With
matchless iniptelence this journal, under-the very eyes of the
Prussian authorities, published the grossest insults on Ger-
many and the German troops. Another newspaper appearing
here, the Union Liberale, has been ordered to avoid politics,
and it therefore confines Itself to local matters. With what
silly and sentimental phrases these papers console their
readers! Thus, the Journal tie renailles remarked on the
appearance of • balloon—. IL was as though the angel of
France was flying over the country.' As happens everywhere
the ton of Versailles am o gradually adapting themselves to
the unavoidable Already elegant tullettee are seen 10 the
street. Everything is cautiously creeping out of Its hole,
for the commandant, General Volgts Rhetz, does not omit
tranquilizing proclamations, which are restoring confidence
How long we shall be before Paris nobody has • clear Idea
of. The Crown Prince remarked jestingly to an officer going
to Germany, "rig a pity that you do not remain here. you
might have dressed up our Christmas tree for us.' Weeks
we shall certainly remain, but as to months, that la hardly
credible, and yet not impossible."

ONE GRIEF MORE FOR FRANCE!

The Menifeur, which has re-appeared at Tours oath. official
organ of tie French Government, pubitshes in the bulletin
the following on the recent events at Ly one :—" There re-
mained for us one grief in the midst of the hard trials
through which we are mining. It was to lee one ol our
greatest cities paralysed by it. disordsrly spirit. and render-
ng useless for common safety the Immense res3urces which
it contait s It was to I,are that instead of Johan all its
etforts to ours, and aiding us with is whole force, the
second capital of France only employs In unprofitable
tmetac, the warlike legions siolch should aid us In driving
forth the enemy. Let the ultras of Lyons take a model
from their brethren of Paris, and learn from them to pet-
pone till otter the expulsion of the Prussians the application
of their doc,rhses and the pursuit of their political ideal We
appeal to their patriotism. But we also address ourselves to
tt e Government, and to those who represent it in the great
city of Lyons, and we conjure them, In the interest of the
country, to display henceforth as much firnmees as they have
hitherto shown moderation Men who seek to make use of
the public danger for the profit of • party, men who bresthe
discord when concord alone can save the country, men who
In impeding the national defence make themselves the mil-
li/ales of King William, only deserve to be treated without
compassion as a soldier is treated in time of war who goes
over to the enemy."

" GENEROC3 FORBEARANCE"

The Dail!, News, In a leader on Monday, recommends
the Gemara to be merciful. The Germans could do nothing
greater now than to refuse to be the instruments of the
blind rigour of war which would bombard a whole helpless
city. The voice and the conscience of Europe must plead
powerfully against an exercise of a conqueror's rights which
would hurl the fiercest bolts of war broadcast over harmless
households and defenceless hearths. Grant that France has
brought this on herself; grant that she cou'd even now
avert the danger by yielding to fate and laying down her
broken .word ; grant that it would be wise and right to do
this, and that the heroism which still defies destiny is
heroism thrown away. Yet, when all this tenderer no much
more has keen said, the unconquerable Instinct of the human
heart revolts against such • measure of vengeance as is
meant by the bombardment of Paris. The sympathy and
even the logical Intelligence of man will always distiumush
between warfare among warriors and warfare which wraps
its ruin Indiscriminately around the helpless and the harm-
less. By exercising their utmost rights the Germans can
only conquer France; by • generous forbearance in victory
they will conqner the admiration of the world, and the
abiding homage of history.

FRENCH PRISONERS IN GERMANY.

The number of the unwounded French prisoners In Ger.
many has be, n Increased by the fall of Leon, Tool, and
smasbure to 9,577 • fficers and 123,700 men. 1, S9I officers and
93,392 men are In the North German fortresses, Ilsg lebnrg
hiving 916 fli3ers and 1 ~010 men, Coblents. Cologne, and
B!ettln 9,, UV 1111.11, Mayence, 7,000, Mogan 13.900, and Erfurt
and %linden 9 800, while Kurtrtn Ma only 993 and Graudens
928. In the unfortided towns of Prussia are 1,232 officers,
with but few men, most of the former being at Breaks,
Ilalnerstadt, nod Wiesbaden In the South German States
are 395 rlft ere and 29,190 men. Thorn Is u yet no accurate
return of the Lumber of French wounded prisoners.