The Express.
London, England, 1864-04-09 00:00:00

THE WAR IN DENMARK.

THE BOMBARDMENT OF SONDERBORG.
(riot OUR SPILCILL COMSPONDIST.)

HORUP HAP, agar SONDERBORG; Aran 4.

Yesterday morning was comparatively quiet ; a
shell cause now and then from Broagerland, but
across the Sound we heard much less cannonading.
Towards mid-day the Prussians began a tremendous
fire upon Sonderborg, five shots a minute crashing
through the unhappy town. It is easy to speak
lightly of horrors when they are remote. Cities in
China may blase unpitied beneath foreign bombard-
ment, or we may read of American calamities with
cool indifference. People who sit in English draw-
ing-rooms can scarcely realise what is described by
such familiar expressions as "blown to pieces" and'
" bead knocked off." There is something so dread-
mai in the sight of mangled human forms,
that 1 will draw a veil over what waa seen in Son-
derborg streets during those memorable hours of
April 3. The inhabitants, wildly alarmed, fled
from their houses. Here ran a miserable husband,
driven mad by having lost his wife and nes-born
child. Behind came sick persons carried on
stretchers, or groups of children clinging with
frightened faces to some elder brother, who tried
to brave it out for their sakes. Carts with fur-
niture and luggage choked every avenue of escape,
moving slowly away from the burning town.
Why do these scattered parties rush so quickly into
any open passage, crouch upon the ground, and
seem so terribly agitated I A shell is
beard screaming along the street It bursts,
sending splinters about in a shower. Perhaps
there follow piercing cries if anybody is bit, but
generally, the shock being over, work recommences
in nervous haste. I must praise the noble conduct
of many Danish soldiers, who assisted their civilian
friends with what little property it was possible to
remove in the confusion. A couple of girls came
tottering forward, supporting an old lady whose
sight bad failed her : of course they were instantly
relieved by the nearest soldiers, their grandmother
being fairly lifted up and carried off between two
yellow-haired giants of the Guard. Young recruits
with kind smiling encouragement brought infants
out of danger, whilst the poor wearied mother
would tearfully walk beside them.

As shot after shot reached further up the town
our sheltering hotel became untenable, so there was
a retreat of the English colony to Baran Hay.
Some found quarters in farm-buildings, but I saw
a red ensign waving among the masts of this
crowded harbour, and knew that under the brave
old tl.ig a warm welcome was certain. Captain
Scarl-tt, of the steamer United Service, received
us wit!, a sailor's frank hospitality. Everything
was done to make his small cabin accommodate
four unexpected guests, and the hungry fugitives
enjoyed a plain, though hearty, meal. This
sudden -!selling of an unfortified place, filled by
non-combstants, is truly disgraceful to Prussia : if
duty rumpelled her commanders to destroy Son-
derborg a proper notice should have been sent, that
women might withdraw from danger.

I returned to Sooderborg later in the day, with
an English officer, and found that many portions of
the town were blazing furiously. Shells continued
to fall at intervals upon its lower extremity, and
the crash of breaking timber followed each explosion.
We visited our hotel, but could naturally obtain no
food, although the house was still unhurt, so came
back at night and slept aboard this comfortable
steamer. In spite of their wretched triumph in de-
stru3ing a defenceless place, thu Prussians have as
yet done nothing towards the capture of DybbOl.
hill. Amid suffering and horror of every sort, the
military strength of General Gerlach's position
stands out more clearly than ever. Forts remain
nnsileneed ; bridges secure. The Danes have sus-
tained very little loss, and are resolutely determined
to hold out. But for the fact that Denmark is quite
alone and Prussia stung by defeat, I should not
despair of saving Dybbol in spite of all.