The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-12-10 00:00:00

IN VIE NICK OF TIME FOR TliE GERMANS!

Banks surrendered Metz In the nick of time for the
German armies, that. now certain (writes the correspondent
of The Times). Had he held out for a few days longer, and
prevented ki,ltke from sending the Duke of Mecklenburg
and Prince Charles south and General Manteuffel north,
thins, would have been very embarraslng, If not positively
serious, torus before now. the motives which Inties,nced
the Marshal do not trouble the German mind; whether he
Is a patriot ore traitor Is all the same to those who have
gained so much by what he did. I believe that, had not the
army before Metz been enabled to come down arid keep open
our communication, the Investing armies north and south of
Paris might by this time have been obliged to light battles to
prevent themselves frOM being Invested, or something vary
like it.

A COOL CARD !

The nova' Correspondent at Versailles writes :
" Yesterday morning two deserters presented themselves at
the Saxon outposts, and were brought to these Bead.
Quarters. One was a Garde Mobile; the other a soldier from
Fon R osny. The latter was about al cool • card as ever
aban toned the post of duty. It was amusing to see the air
of meritorious satisfaction assumed by the rascal as he was
being ' Interviewed' by some of the Staff. lle emokeel cigars
which the German soldiers had given him, kept his hands
Stork In his breeches pockets, and spat about the place with
a power of rouge that would have done credit to the most
accomplished tobacco chewer on the other side of the At.
tenth:, lie said Rosny has 46 large gum in position, and
plenty of ammunition, lie was asked why that fort SIB se
given to the Connaught fashion of firing at ' nothrig.' Ife
replied that, for the honour of the gunners and those who
commanded them, he haul deny that Rosny did any-
thing of the land. It never fired except some h
oly
of men on the German side was seen within firing
distance. This, the examining Officers said, could
not be the case. They knew the contrary ; bet the
deserter would not yield on the point. The fort never fired
except at • living mark. There acre provisions enough still,
but a scarcity of fresh meat. Nothing in that way but horse-
flesh, and It only once a week; on the other dabs, haricots,
and other vegetables, with salt meat. But he obj-cted to the
.toasters theniselves niore than to the diet. They Were damp
and dirty. The garrison 1141 eneamped, and he had had
enough of it. Ile did not know niacin of Truchn, but, on the
whole, Ind a rather favourable opinion of hie military
ability. Of French politics the deserter avowed himself
profoundly Ignorant, lie thought diplomacy beneath a
soldier; lint he hoped to see the blessings of peace 110011
restored to La Prance. This caitiff has lot given value in
the shape of loformation for the cost of his keep but, your
,neovratter lex wares, he is vote:led from failing Into the
hands of his countrymen to receive the reward been richly
reserves, and., for the expense of his transport and main.
Lenience, it is only as advance, for will not France have to
pay the bill I"