The Express.
London, England, 1866-06-25 00:00:00

PRUSSIA.
(mom out owe cosazsroanzirr.)
BERLIN, Joys 19.
King William of Prussia has issued his war pro-
clamation to the Prussian people. It may be seen
upon every advertising post in Berlin, and it is
read with interest by all who pass, if they can only
squeeze near enough. The King tells his subjects
that danger is at hand ; he warns them to expect a
hard struggle, and exhorts them to rival their an-
cestors of the time of Frederick the Great. I need
scarcely add that his Majesty throws all the blame
of coming bloodshed on Austria and her allies, as
such throwing of blame is the custom in war pro-
clamations. Nor have I much to say of the manner
in which the people regard this important step to-
wards actual hostilities. They have been so well
prepared for what will presently occur—prepared
during years of fruitless discussion—that they
understand the meaning of the conflict, and give
King William their full support in a quiet dogged
way. Crowds assemble to read his Majesty's pro-
clamation, it being part of Prussian history, but
there is not any show of enthusiasm, neither
is there any sign of discontent. These people
are very quiet—alarmingly quiet, until one has
become accustomed to them. Only this morning I
witnessed the farewell marching past of a landwehr
regiment before the palace. Not a cheer was given
from first to last, yet the men were in excellent
spirits and delighted beyond measure to see the
King. With tap of drum and shrill note of fife
the landwehr came along the Unter den Linden
until they were close to the palace gate. Here they
halted whilst his Majesty inspected them minutely.
There was a murmur, supposed to mean " good
day, sire," as the King approached the head of the
column, and all eyes were fixed upon him, but
silence was not again disturbed. A large concourse
of spectators, whom I judged by their speech to be
mostly loyal, easy-going folk, remained dumb,
despite the interest which they evidently felt.
Silence reigned up to the moment when the column
moved forward, and then there was only a sound
of fifes and drums. Prussian soldiers have a loud
hurrah in action, as is natural after keeping their
breath so carefully beforehand.
It was worth while to look closely at those
militiamen who marched past King William, for
they presented an appearance of great efficiency.
How so many persons exactly alike in face and of
the same height could have been collected together
mattered not. Here they were—well dressed and
well shod, with knapsacks, great coats, and haver-
sacks, their heads covered by flat blue caps, and
their formation as regular as the strictest martinet
would wish to see in his own corps. They might
lack fiery impatience to be led against the enemy,
but 1 am each day more firmly convinced 'that,
besides drill and weapons, there is tough fighting
material at Count Biamarck's command.
Juin 20.
As we receive fresh reports from one
German principality after another, the skill
and promptitude with which Prussia has
sprung upon ter weaker opponents and
the advantage which she has thereby obtained
become more clearly visible. A broken frontier is
rendered complete, whilst the war is carried to
alien territory. But most important of all to an
ambitious power ie the fact that Prussian bayonets
now hold just what Count Bismarck is believed to
covet for his royal master. Draw a line across
Germany from the Rhineland to Silesia ; imagine the
Prussian right to rest on Coblenz, the left on Breslau;
place a strong central force in Saxony, and you
will see that by merely defending this line Count
Bismarck secures the prize of the contest.
may Austria send her largest army northward,
leaving Italians to try their hands at an attack on
Venice ; well may the Bund muster its forces.
They are already checkmated, unless Prussia can
be overthrown in battle. Nor will it be safe for
the allies to leave their bold enemy time to conso-
lidate his conquests, so we expect that Marshal
Benedek will push forward immediately against the
Prussian centre. His numerical strength is said to
exceed half a million of all arms, and even with
allowance for popular exaggeration, he must have
a splendid army. Our cousin Jonathan never saw,
during all his civil war, such an equal contest of
giant& as Saxony is soon to see. It will not be the
first contest of giants in her bloodstained annals.

ROME, Juza 22.

Corps, and the Guard Rifles, all of which were
deserted. The Royal Military Academy was also
found empty, the cadets of the first clans having
been incorporated with different regiments, whilst
those of the two junior classes returned to their
parental homes.
The supreme command of the army of occupation
is held by General Vogel von Falkenstein, who has
issued the following order of the day to his troops :
Hanover, Saxony, and Electoral Hesse, with whom we
have hitherto lived in peace, have resolved at the inetiga-
I don of Austria to place in the field an army of execution
against Prussia. It is not our province to examine the
grounds which led to this resolution, but' as a matter of
course it became necessary for his Majesty the Xing to de-
clare war against these arrogant little States, which has
been done. In consequence we this day enter Hanover
and Hesse as enemies. Nevertheless, let it be our endea-
vour to show to the quiet inhabitants, many el whom are
on our side and sympathise with our cause, that we deeply
regret being obliged to undertake a fratricidal war. Sol-
diers of the Westphalian corps l in this spirit let ns cou-
rageously go through the approaching struggle, and let
us show our present enemies that the araioable relations
that have subsisted between us for more than fifty years
have left too deep an impression on our memories to
change us at ones into inconsiderate monies.
The general in command has further issued the
following proclamation to the inhabitants :
I have this day, with a part of the fortes nuder my com-
mand, marched into a capital deserted by its own govern-
ment, and the administration of affairs therefore devolves
on those who have remained here, and I shall hinder no
one in the performance of his official functions. For the
present I shall confine myself to taking thom measures
that are indispensable for the security of the troops under
my command, as well as for providing them with food and
other necessaries for their regular maintenance, which
duty, according to the laws of war, devolves on the
authorities of a conquered country, and will have to be re-
gularly executed under the supervision of my own tom-
missariat.—(Signed) Vox FeL11114871:11,1, General in Com-
mand.
The Hanoverian regiment of Queen's Hussars
evacuated Luneburg, where they were quartered,
on the night of the 16th inst., and marched to
Celle, where they arrived the next morning at
6 en route to join the rest of the army at
Gottingen. The Duke of Cambridge's Dragoons
and the depot company of the 2nd regiment of
infantry !quitted Celle for the same destination
the previous evening. Lieutenant-Colonel von
Witte, who had orders to evacuate the guard-house
on the market-place, was accidentally left behind,
and fell into the hands of the Prussians, but has
been paroled.
Before quitting the capital, the King issued a
decree, dissolving the parliament, and ordain-
ing that the taxes and other sources of
revenue should be raised in the usual manner for
the financial year, front July 1, 1866, to June 30,
1867.
From Gottingen we learn to-day that Colonel
Dammert, of the Engineer Corps, is appointed
Adjutant-General, rice General Tschirnitz super-
seded. General von Arentachildt is Commander-
ir-Chief, and General Gebser the King's Adlatus.
As the Grand Duke of Oldenburg has declared
in favour of Prussia and mobilised his little army,
Prince Ysenburg, hitherto Prussian envoy at
Hanover, has been despatched to hasten on the
march, as the troops are destined to form part of
the army of occupation in Hanover. The King of
Hanover and the Grand Duke of Oldenburg are
brothers-in-law, their respective consorts being
sisters.
It appears now that the capture of Stade was
of much more importance to Prussia than was
generally supposed, as the booty found in that for-
tress was very considerable, consisting of 15,000
stand of muskets and rifles, two batteries of new
rifled steel guns, only just received from Krupp's
establishment at Ysen, 176 siege guns, and other
pieces of heavy ordnance, and a large quantity of
live shells, ball cartridge, and casks of powder,
besides army cloth, accoutrements, and other
stores. Several vessels left Altona yesterday, ac-
companied by the squadron of gunboats, for Stade,
to take on board the booty and bring them up to
this city, whence they will be forwarded to the for_
tresses of Spandau and Magdeburg. The regiment
of artillery and the 4th infantry hitherto quartered
at Stade were just able to escape capture by a
timely retreat.
Poor little Harburg has to bleed severely as a
conquered town, the Prussians having exacted a
contribution of 36,000 dollars hard cash, and the
Hanoverian island of Altenwirder is mulcted in a
fine of 5,000 dollars for having presumed to refuse
ito furnish the Prussian gunboats with river pilots
from among their fishermen who form the chief
p art of the population.
P.S.—Heavy firing from distant artillery was
this morning distinctly heard from the Sullberg at
Blankenese, apparently from the south-west. The
town is full of Prussian green hussars, not quar-
tered here, but come in on leave from Alton* to see
the place ; also a considerable number of cuiras-
siers, whose uniforms are of a very dirty white,
and suggest rather the idea of their coming out of
a hard campaign than just entering on one.

VOLUNTEER REVIEW IN HYDE-PARK.

review_ Lord Elcho was very cordially hissed.
The brigade of the second division eras
under the command of Lord Geoevenor ksho
was greeted with some shouts uf " Aduilam."
His lordship's partial unpopularity, how-
ever, exercised no unfavourable effect upon the
reception of the corps which he commands, and
the Queen's Westminster, who were as usual
one et the strongest corps upon the field,
were repeatedly cheered for the smartness and
excellence of their marching. The Irish passed by
in gallant style, and elicited numerous expressions
of approval and sympathy. The City of London
brigade was imposing by its number (upwards of
1 200 men), and in no way fell short of its old effi-
ciency ; but the public admiration was most warinly
excited by the marching of the cadets, and both
this company and a similar one attached to
the Working Men's Corps were greeted with
loud and general shouts of " Bravo, boys !"
Among the other metropolitan corps which
deserved and commanded most approval were the
Civil Service, the St. George's, one or two of
the Surrey regiments, and the Tower Hantletai
corps. After all, however, the greatest admira-
tion was expremed for the country comps,, of which
there were five battalions present, viz latßerks
(such we wideastood to be the tat lion of a corps
which did not appear in the official peogramme),
Ist-Derbyshire Administrative Battalion, two batta-
lions from Warwickshire, and the lit Nottingham,
or Robin Hoods. The marching of all these regi-
ments was first-rate, and the size and stature of
the men of which they are composed contrasted
most strikingly with those of the members of
some of the metropolitan corps. Judged by
the teat of marching, there can be no
doubt that the Robin Hoods and the Ist Derby&ire
signalised themselves as the best drilled bat-
talions upon the field, and of these two the Robin
Hoods had slightly the advantage. Some camp,
nies of the Berkshire regiment carried knapiacke,
and a good deal of amusement was b
the appearance of the butt marker of the ,
regiment
who was at first mistaken for a drum-major. This
officer carried in his hand the disc which be uses
in the discharge of his functions, and was dressed
in an entire suit of scarlet, reminding one very
forcibly of the dress in which Mr. C. Kean played
Mephistopheles at the Princess's Theatre some tune
ago. A great deal was at one time said about
having one general uniform for all volunteer corps,
and there can be no question that such uniformity
would have its advantages. No one, however, who
witnessed the march past on Saturday afternoon
will dispute that for review purposes, at all events,
there is much to be said in favour of variety. The
contrast afforded by the various shades of green
and grey, of blue and scarlet, was most agreeable
to the eye, and did much to relieve the tediousness
of what is always rather a monotonous operation.
Grey or green may be, and doubtless are, more
suitable colours for the uniform of riflemen if they
are to be employed mainly as skirmishers or in light
infantry operations, but for parade purposes the scar-
let as wornby the Engineers, Working Men's corps,
and Derbyshires, will always carry with it the popular
voice. It may be from the more striking effect of
the colour, or it may be, which perhaps is more
likely, from old associations and old prejudices,
but the British blinever fails to maociate more
of a soldierly character with " the wearing of
red" than with that of any colour.
After marching past, each battalion wheeled to
the left, and regained its original position in the
alignment ; all the officers were called to the
front, and the whole force advanced in
close column of battalions. When within
a. hundred or a hundred and fifty yards of the
position occupied by the Commander-in-Chief they
halted and saluted, the united bands of the house-
hold brigade playing "God save the Queen." This
was the prettiest and most effective movement of
the day. The long lines of the civic soldiery ex-
tended from end to end of the space reserved for
their evolutions, their varied uniforms were thrown
out in brilliant contrast by the deep foliage of the
trees behind and the rich green of the turf in front,
and the mellowed light of the now sinking suh fell
warmly upon the swords of the officers and the
bayonets of the men as they were brought to the
" salute." As the last strains of the national
anthem died upon the ear, the Duke of Cambridge
left his position in front of the flagstaff, and rode
from the ground amidst loud cheers. The commanders
of divisions and brigades and all the staff officers,
including aides-de-camp and brigade-majors, were
then called to the front, and Sir Hope Grant in-
formed them that he had been requested by his
royal highness the Commander-in-Chief to express
to them his great satisfaction with the manner in
which the volunteers had performed the various
movements which had been executed. In marching
past their companies were well dressed, and his
royal highness was greatly pleased with the steadi-
ness which they bad generally exhibited. For his
own part, the gallant general said that he was well
satisfied with their steadiness under arms and
with their smart and soldierlike appearance on the
field. The various regiments then faced to the
west and marched from the park in the order which
had been prescribed.
As it may possibly form the subject of future
discussion, and possibly of inquiry, we ought not
to omit to mention a circumstance which occurred
in connection with the West Middlesex Corps, com-
manded by Lord Radstock. This regiment was
attached to the 3rd brigade of the 2nd division,
under the command of Colonel Loyd Lindsay. Its
place of rendezvous was Gloucester and Sussex-
squares, and some 150 or 180 of its members had
assembled at the hour appointed, when the follow-
ing notice was placed in the hands of Captain Dear
(who, in the absence of Major Bridgman from ill-
health, was in command) by the adjutant, Captain
Pennymore, who was not in uniform, and who, it
is alleged, had closed the armoury, so that many
members of the corps who would otherwise have
attended were unable to obtain their rifles :
Weer Women: itirtea—The commanding officer
There can be no question that as far as marching regrets to find that the number of names of those who
is concerned all the corps which took part in the I wish to attend at the review In
Hyde-park is not nearly
review of Saturday have greatly improved since enough to form • separate battalion ; under thee. eircum-
their first appearance in Hyde-park. Some of ono
tacked ttshstt* goe would naoat
per- like visbheebrisoken thaant (re
them may almost be said to have attained toand he is confident that they will agree withilini timetnthe
fection in this respect, and the means of comps- reputation of the regiment would be damaged by its
Moon which they supplied brought out the defects appearing merely as an appendage to other corps. While
of other come which might otherwise have t
hat
lion is sorry for the disappointment which this must our
unnoticed. Marching is of course not all that lion,
_Wore' other corps. hatimt:knebetrhiswdi jdn
the
volunteers have to learn or to do; it is but a very rinks of any t
essing sar spectators corps, but ratherhose
masiss opirsetinda%
pert. No volunteers, even in
small part of what the volunteers have already they have so oftentam,
learned and accomplished ; but it is a test of pro- uniform, will be allowed within the division suolousre.—
ficiency in drill, and as it was the only one which (Signed) Itaouroar, Lieutenant-Colonel 9th Middlesex
was applied on Saturday, it was rot unnatural that Rillve.—Head-quarters, Lord's Cricket Ground, June 23,
the public should accept it as their guide to the 1866*
merits of different corps, and should make the ex- In the face of such an order as this Captain
despite the demands of the men, this,
to
pression of their approvaldependentuponthe steadi- Dear,
lead them into the park • but when the circum-
nem and solidity exhibited by different regiments Colonel Lindsay
stances were reported to he
and coin fee when in motion. The first brigade
attached the two strong companies which had
consisted of artillery and engineer corps, who made
assembled to the North Middlesex, under the com-
deep blue an excellent appearance (the scarlet uniforms of the
engineers contrasting vividly with the viand of Colonel Whitehead, and under the dire
passed satisfactorily the ordeal of public ecru- It was reported that although the order which we
tunics of the artillery), and most of whose comps., tion of that officer they took part in the review.
have quoted above bore the signature of Lord
tiny. The second brigade which was commanded
Radstock, his lordship's resignation had previously
by Lord Elcho, included 'two corps which have
been received at the War-office, and the whole
always been celebrated among volunteer regiments,
affair was productive of the greatest dissatisfaction
his lordship's own corps, the Scotch, and the Inns
among
of Court, or Devil's Own, which, under the com-
mand of the late Colonel Brewster, occupied per- eernen.
e metropolitan corps ens a
rule fell short
lisps the very first positionseiong the metropolitan • Although the review was e whole a great
corps. Nor were they on this occasion unworthy success, th
of their old reputation. Their muster waa Doh en of their estimated strength, which was over 18,000.
large as might have been desired, but The Derbyshire, Warwickshire, and Nottinemm-
shire battalions, however, grutly exceeded the
their marching was good, and the light
which it is distinguished
springy step by w numbers which were promised and when it is re-
from that of moat other regiments was as marked collected that they were collected and travelled
as ever. In the Scotch corps the bell suss borne from various parts of their respective counties on
steady marching left little to be desired, and wee same evening, the labour which they underwent,
away as usual by the kilted companies, whose Saturday morning, and had to return thither the
for the time accepted by the spectators as almost, and the appearance which they presented in the
if not quite, perfect. Towards the close of the field were most creditable to these corps.