The Express.
London, England, 1864-05-21 00:00:00

Nesped, Ad. Additional.]

t'l

ME 'IPA** =15114M

(nom aos imkuL cappercazink)
tIONDUBORG, MAT 14.$ P.M.

I have come in here from Mated, and been very
buoy for the last six hours examining each well-
kw 'nap* to find whether any end how much change
has been made in the town and neighbourhood
since my departure on April 20. Dybbol bill,
formerly the centre of interest, with its chain of
redoubts stretching across the summit, its mill
rising conspisuous above them, with crowded can-
tonments and that strip of white high road that
quitted the stockades of the Me-de-poet and
stretched upwards for half a mile covered by lions-
met trailies—Dybbol bill, the wens. of en mach
courageous endurance of Daaish and Prussian
victories and of that last sad tragedy which ended
the famous siege, is now silent and deserted. As I
sit near the &arch battery and lookaczaesAlesuesd,
it is difficult to believe that the same patch
ground is before me which saw such mighty deeds
not a month ago. Those fields were strewn
with deed end wounded • Premium, rads'
hill-top was crowded by their cheering
battalions, on the evening of April 18th. No one
who then saw the glittering show, the captured
redoubts swarming with German soldiers, the sun-
shine that played upon the forest of bayonets, and
who beard burst after burst of exulting hurrahs, that
mingled with adenine of military music, will ever I
forget the imposing spectacle. But, like a hundred
other great battle-fields, Dybbol shows no trace of
what will always be associated with its name.
Marshal Wrangel and Prince Frederic Charles—
their highly-drilled infantry, brass bands, Prussian
flags, and rifled cannon—have passed away into
the region of historical phantoms. Men will judge
of their achievements less and lees favourably as
the truth becomes everywhere known, until, some
day, that fertile hill-side is honoured by curious
travellers on account of the glorious vanquished
rather than the innumerable victors. Du Plat and
Rosen, with twenty other slaughtered Danes, will
be thought of when Dybbol is mentioned, and
though few were present to see the ghastly ferrying
of their poor mangled bodies to Sonderborg, this
too will not boon be forgotten.
From where I sit a splendid view is obtained
over the Sound and a portion of Venningbund,
Broagerland, Sonderborg, and Dybbol bill. The
sun has just set, but left so bright a purple glow
in the western sky, that one can see clearly in all
directions. Net a breath of wind disturbs the
smooth sheets of water which lie on either hand,
and are changed for the moment into lakes of gold
and crimson. Every sound floats distinctly up-
wards, so that a barking dog acquires almost the
importance which not long since was denied to the
heaviest artillery. At my feet is that new built
ship, whose escape seemed impossible in March,
Ibut now mast rank as simply extraordinary.
There, a little to the left, are fragments of charred
timber, sunken bargee and band rails showing
above water, where once lay the bridges. A
Prussian sentry has come out upon the furthest
remaining pontoon, and lolls, pipe in mouth,
lagainst the bulwark, his rifle laid carefully aside.
Tiro Danes, more vigilant, but smoking of course,
stand watching him upon a mass of broken wood-
work, their weapons shining with the sun-
set glow. It is so quiet that I have lei-
sure to wonder whether Prussian discipline
allows its sentries so much relaxation, and
whether the tranquil German, who has come out
upon yonder pontoon, is aware of a mounted
officer riding slowly towards the We de pond. Lest
this picture of evening time at Sonderborg during
the armistice should give an impression that
Dybbol-hill bears scarcely a trace of war, I must
add that the cottages and farms, which ones dotted
its side, are represented by blackened ruins, whilst
I the veteran mill has been reduced to a melancholy
stump. Of the forts but little remains. They
were thoroughly pounded during April last, and
have since undergone systematic demolition. No.
10 still shows what it has been ; the rest are com-
pletely levelled. The Me de pont, without rims or
stockades, looks blind and helpless. It did good
service when all else was lost, and cost the enemy
very dear—in fact, they did not storm it whilst
any Danish troops were within. And this brings
me to oar own side of the Sound ; the church battery
and other defensive works. A great deal has been done
towards strengthening the position on Alsen. This
battery, from which so terrible a fire was poured
upon the enemy's columns, has been improved in
many ways, whilst lines of entrenchment are skil-
fully drawn along the rising ground on both its
flanks. The shore is covered with rifle pits, and
the lower streets are barricaded. In the church-
yard it was necessary to form entrench, and old long
buried bones lie scattered over the tombstones, which
are undisturbed. All oetokens preparation and
defiance. A crossing by force of arms may,
perhaps, never be attemped : but it is certain that
the enemy, should be try, will have great difficulty
in taking Alan from the Danes. They have held
it hitherto by no favour and through no foreign
assistance, but by their own right hands ; and the
beautiful island will not pass into German posses-
sion [by fair fighting] without heavy loss to the
invaders.

IJLIEEBOL, MAY 15.

Pastor Meyer has escaped the intrusion of prac-
tical Prussian theology, which appeared likely to
trouble him when last I saw the good old gentle-
man. He still can preach and pray to the country
folk around unmolested by volunteer liberators.
There have been so many cases in Sleswig of cruel
oppression exercised against Danish gentry and
clergy, in the name of that blood-stained chimera—
Sleswig-Holatein—that I rejoice to think of at least
• month's respite for our friends in Alma. It may
be true that Denmark runs nu small risk of robbery
and betrayal when she trusts herself between timid
allies and grasping enemies in the London Con-
ference. But if diplomacy can save Alma' and
rescue Sleswig and Jutland from the brutalities
which are hushed up in Jutland, but firmly
believed in Denmark, our diplomats will deserve
immense credit. And, writing from amongst them
victims yet to come of Prussian ambition, I feel
really glad that they are spared yet another month
Moistest amenities of modern warfare. Thanks to
long-range guns, Souderborg has already enjoyed
them, and • visitor to its ruins can appreciate the
force and precision of German artillery. I think
tbat*y yesterday's calm inspection of what had
been done was more striking than the hur-
ried glimpses obtainable amid smoke and flames.

Whole blocks of homes are reduced to a few
beige of brick. One street cea hardly be &Ain-
guisbed from surronadisg rubbish. le many places
the bathos:a have marks of farmer habitation, and

[TWOPENCE

those porticos of the town which escaped destruction
are re-occupied by their original tenants. Osumi
and his family welcomed me heartily as of
yore. The belle of Sonderborg looked oat laughing
from a house which was partly smashed, and where
every pane of glass in the window at which she
stood had been broken. I remembered how she had
presided at their tea-table during the very night of
bombardment, and could perceive that Prussian
shells had not turned grey her erases of brown
Bair, nce permanently blanched the ray cheeks.
Furniture was being lumbered back by a few san-
guine persons. Others, more cautious, have merely
encamped in their houses, and prefer to wait
until the future is lees hazy. Though brick
and mortar bear traces of violent divisor.
men% the fields along Alssund ahow little
sign of the iron tempest which rained upon them.
Young corn is springing up on all sides, sad behind
the church battery, for instance, where ow April
19 you sight have counted a hundred places cut
open by falling shells, is now a green expanse that
seisbatinesot of Alai eketesatoes.
lkipy hire not many soldiers remaining in Alain,
IS sale army Is abougrro lioU it temporarily,
and the Danes have not sufficient military strength-
for its permanent defence should their enemies
come on in downright earnest. I fancy that
Alssund will delay an attacking general several
weeks, provided only that he adheres to German
strategy, and this delay will give time for help to
arrive from Ragland. The troops are to have •
holiday, which they richly deserve, and such confi-
dence is felt that the gallant fellows will return to
their regiments the instant they are needed, that
furlough has been granted to large numbers of
them. A government steamer lies ready at Ilorup
Say to convey them home, and dusty, toil-worn
crowds are tramping towards the port without a
gleam of cheerfulness—this because of the armistice
—but very glad to see their friends again.