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

DENMARK,

(From the Times Special Correspondent lately al the Danish

Head-quarters.)

COPENHAGEN, May 18.
It is of the utmost importance, I believe, both for
the Conference in London and for the world at
large, to know in what manner the terms of the
armistice are observed in Jutland. I have more
than once been tempted to go and ascertain
matters by my own observation ; but, in the
first place, the communications have not yet been
freely and fully re-established; general orders
have been given to that effect, it is true, but subject
to a variety of vexatious exceptions, and left to the
interpretation and execution of all but irresponsible
subalterns. I❑ the second place, a vast amount of
silly exasperation exists throughout Germany, and
especially among the Prussians, against England and
the English, and I know the instance of a travellir
fresh from London who had to go through Germany
on his way to Copenhagen, and who was exposed
to gross insult in a railway carriage between Cologne
and Minden, simply because he pleaded guilty to
being an Englishman. The indignities to which a
French newspaper correspondent had to submit in
Schleswig soon after the outbreak of the war are
a warning and a caution to all his brother quill-
drivers; and, without entering into further expla-
nations, I have no hesitation in stating that I
should not deem it safe for me to venture into
Prussian quarters. Pose:1)1y, however, I may happen
to be better informed as to the general condition of
the invaded province by prolonging my stay in this
capital than by roaming at random from one to
the other of the Austro-Prussian garrisons.
Doubtless, the Danes are in a state of the greatest
excitement, and their statements must be taken
with discretion, but the information I intend tosep-
ply you with does not come to my hands through
political channels; it rests on the evidence of pri-
vate, chiefly commercial, letters, and it is in a great
measure substantiated by official documents signed
by the German authorities themselves. Ac all
events, let it be taken an ex parte statement, a
mere acte daccusation ; it will always be in the
power of aggrieved parties to say anything they
may have to allege in self-justification.
I sent a telegram to you yesterday concerning the
conduct of Major-General von Bornstedt, the Prus-
sian commander in Viborg. It was, however, im-
possible to condense the intelligence in a despatch
of few words. It seems that the coming into ope-
ration of the truce in Jutland has been the signal
for an outbreak of hostilities between that gallant
officer and the Provision Committee (Verpfiegung
Konmsszon) in that town. The General continued
to impose upon the inhabitants the same contri-
butions that were levied during the war; the local
authorities protested, and would only deliver what
was demanded " under reservation of payment."
The General waxed wroth and wrote a threatening
letter, concluding with the following words :

" Should these my moderate commands not be instantly
and scrupulously obeyed by the Provision Committee, I
would give the gentlemen upon whom the execution chiefly
devolved an opportunity to consider, on bread and water,
their stubbornness, and would take by strength of arms
what the usages of war allow. The responsibility of tho
damage which might unavoidably arise from it would rest
not on me but on the town authorities."

This is signed " V. Bornstedt," and dated the
13th of May, 24 hours after the truce came into
operation and fully three days after the announce-
ment of it reached Jutland.

The General takes it for granted that the army
has a right to subsist on the invaded country, and
says nothing about payment. Possibly the inha-
bitants had not at hand the provisions required.
Possibly, also, as the Jutlanders are known to be
the most obstinate as well as the most loyal subjects
of Denmark, they had them and would not give
them ; they were unwilling to give what, by the
terms of the armistice, they were only expected to
sell. But, at all events, the Prussian constitutes
himself a judge in his own cause, and he will have
what he will by a threat of violence, both on the
property and on the persons of the citizens ; he
threatens them with imprisonment on bread and
water.

General Falkenstein, in Aarhuus, on the 12th,
grounding his demand on the terms of the truce,
thus sets down the treatment that the officers are to
expect from the hosts upon whom they are billeted :
—For breakfast, " coffee with accessories ;" for
dinner, " soup, meat and vegetables, roast, and
sweets, butter and cheese, and a bottle of wine ;'+
for supper, " tea, bread and butter, and meat ;"
" eight cigars daily." The men are to have, in the
morning, "coffee with accessories or brandy;" at
noou, a pound of meat, with vegetables, bread
and cheese, a flask of beer, k of a pound of tobacco,
or 10 cigars, daily. The horses must be supplied
daily with " four measures of oats, eight pounds of
hay, and the necessary straw." All this arrange-
ment is to take effect on the 14th. Those hosts
who have not, or cannot otherwise procure the wine,
tobacco, and cigars required for their billeted guests,
may apply for them at the Royal Prussian Commis-
sariat. The same as to forage ; where the Commis-
sariat is not ready with the required forage, appli-
cation should be made by them to the civil
authorities, who are to deliver it upon acknowledg-
ment and quittance.

Not a word is said about payment in this order,
which was equally published at Viborg and other
places. We hear, however, that 20 Danish skillings
(ad. sterling) will be allowed to the inhabitants
daily for every private soldier billeted upon them.
About the officer no statement is made, and it is only
added that Gen. Falkenstein verbally insisted that

the wine and cigars should be of the best quality.'

Be it remembered that the Danish' Government,
when compelled to quarter its own troops upon the
people, paid one mark (4d.) per head for the sol-
diers, for which the latter were to have mere straw
to lie upon and one meal such as the family could
afford for themselves, without either coffee, liquors,
or tobacco, add the officers were only entitled, upon
the same payment of a mark, to lodgings, fire, and
light, and the use of the kitchen.

It matters not how sumptuously and splendidly
the Prussian Government may choose to treat both
men and officers, so long as they are at its own
charge, nor is it worth while to stop to inquire
whether these German troops, at any time, at home
or abroad, were allowed one pound of meat daily
and 10 cigars. The question is whether their army
is to be quartered and fed at the cost of the Jut-
landerfs, or whether thoso latter are to receive the
value at least of the provisions consumed in their
premises. The Prussians and Austrians are not,
agreeably to the terms of the truce, to " lever des
contributions de guerre," and are to " payer tout
ce qui serail fourni aux troupes Allemandes." Are
we to understand that they insist upon the right
of einquartierung, and that the billet implies the
feeding no less than the accommodation of the
troops ? More, that under the designation of "feed•
ing" are to be included a waste and luxury such as
were never known since a penny was set down as
the proper wages for a soldier ?