The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-08-20 00:00:00

The CROWN PRINCE of PRUSSIA and the
NEWSPAPER CORRESPONDENTS.

Among the French who fell into the hands of the
Prussians after the battle of Woerth were two cones-
pondents of the Paris prey', M. Henri ChabriDart, of
the Figoro, and M. Cordon, of the Gautois. Each of
these gentlemen has published an account of his ad-
ventures. At Soulz they were brought into the pee.
ounce of the Crown Prince, and the interview is thus
&scribed by M. Chabrillart
"1 confess lam very much embarrassed. If I draw a flat-
tering portrait of the Priuce it will be said that I am sold to
the Prussians ; If I draw all unfavourahle picture of him to
gratify any malevolent pasal.,n I shall be guilty of Injustice
and falsehood. lam a reporter, which means a kind of pho-
tographer I st.tol there.ore simply mai truly state wlmt
saw and what was said. Those who may be dissatisfied with
my account must deal with the truce themselves It is not
my fault that he Is hum.. Would to Heaven that all
Germans were like him : but, unfortrinately, iii. not so.
" Prince Frederick William, heir to the Crown of Prussia,
I. a man of tall stature, thin, with a calm and placid coun-
tenance, but iu the curve of his acquillue nose and his
dilating irsstrils there are evidences of energy, while the
rapidity of his whoie.. convinces you of his decision. A full
fair beard softens the somewhat stern expression of his
features. lie has great Rlmpltetty of mariner sod affects
ra..her a kind of bourgeoie style of speaking, thinking and
general behaviour. Ile was dressed In a Mack tunic with red
colMr and Men g+, without any embroidery or gold braid,
upon the shoulder a small epaulet to indicate Ids rank, but
no other distinguishing ornament. He wore a small black
cap bordered with rot, and the whole uniform was severely
stool° He speaks French with great purity, without foreign
aecmt beyond • slight German Intonation and urea-halal
hesitation at certain words. 'Do you speak German, Sir?
said he to me. ' No, Priv ce, not sufficiently.' 'I WU sorry for
it, as otherwise yon could have heard in what manlier our
troops speak of your., and I..what esteem they hold them.' 'I.
thank you very much for that opinion." Oh, it is quite de-
served. We have all admired the tenacity and the courage which
have hem, evinced by even the humblest of your soldiers.'
Then, with much delicate c musLeration, and almost making
excretes for mentioniog the facts to us, he told us that they
had taken between 3,000 and 4,1:00 prisoners, 30 gun; six
mitrailletnes, arid two esgles. ' Among the prisoners.' said
he, is General Itariult I went this morning to see him at
Iteichshofen, where he lies wounded, his hip and thigh being
broken ; I fear that he Is now dying. Ile is a brave officer,
and he has given me some addresses in Paris to which he
wishes letters to be sent.' 'But l'rince,' I observed,
'the other prisoners also have families.' '1 have thought
or that. I have had them supplied with writing materials
the letteri will be sent unsealed to our Consul at Geneva,
eho will forward them to France.' • Prince, we thank you
on behalf of the mothers whose grief you are abut to
assuage." Ido not like war, gentlemen. If I ahead reign
I would never make it. Now, despite my love of peace,
this is the third campaign that I have been compelled to
make. 1 went over the battlefield yesterday. It was fright-
ful. if it only depended upon myself this war would end
here. It is your alinitters and the Emperor win would have
it, it was not we who wanted it. Aral yet the Emperor has
been very good to me and very kind to my wife. The last
time that I saw him was at the Tuileries on the 12th of
January, when he said to me, "You know that I have found
a new Minister." That was this M. Glaris r, who now makes
this War against us.' 'lt is terrible, indeed' and I think
your artillery livery fornildable."No, Sir, It is not superior
to yours, but we make different use of It from what you do,
placing it more freely with the advanced post.. Your aim is
very good—too good, Indeed ; for we have lost, I think, more
men than you have. I have regimen's which have lost 29 or
30 officers. But we have taken prisoners, and that restores
, our wivantage.' 'An enormous advantage, for you know
well what you had before you yesterday.' ' Nearly 40 000
111.), the C dint tel Marshal Mac Mahon, and a division of the
7th Corps. I did not hat ntl to attack, wishing only to make
reconualsance in force, but uncle not always able to put sri
end to a light when once it has begun. It was fortunate for
119 011 the whole, fur he would doubtless have received relic
forcemeat; and we shoulo have had still harder work next
day.' 'Prince, it seems to me that 30u are Very well Informed
concerning our army.' One must be so,' said he smiling
But, said I, wilfully committing an error, 'lt was your en-
. tire 42017 which wee =PVC 240,000 lila 4 lout.' !Not so