The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-15 00:00:00

THE WAR IN DENMARK.

:From the Vines Special Correspondent with the Danish
Army.)

DANISH HEADQUARTERS, SONDERBORG,
March 7.
Diplomatic negotiations seem to proceed as slowly
as military operations, and the Schleswig-Holstein
question is as difficult to be settled by protocols as
it is to be decided by bayonets. We know nothing,
or next to nothing, of what may be going on be-
yond the few square miles which constitute our
little world, and are at a loss to make out from the
newspapers the various phases through which the
Conference is said to pass. The conviction here,
meanwhile, is that the war is not at an end; cannot
come to an end without at least some great whole-
sale slaughter round about the bastions of Dybbol.
No power of arguments, nor threats or promises, no
amount of distress or exhaustion, will (we are told)
ever bring Denmark to fresh concessions. The advice
of well-meaning but lukewarm allies has already
cost ,her too much. It was owing to their remon-
strances that she fell back before Federal Execution
in Holstein, that she gave up Rendsburg and Fre-
derickstadt, and finally abandoned even the Denne-
werk almost without striking the blow. She will
no longer be coaxed or bullied out of Dybbol, Fre-
dericia, or Fehmarn. The most heroic valour may
not enable her to save more than her honour; but
she is determined that, in the worst events, her fall
shall be as glorious as her career has been from its
earliest rise to the present day.
On the other band, the Danes say their enemies
also have ventured too far to be able to withdraw
without disgrace. The Prussians have to look to their
deputation as a martial nation. They cannot go back
with such laurels as they have up to this time reaped
in this campaign. The magniloquent proclamation
of Prince Frederick Charles, his bombastic assurance
to his soldiers that " to have belonged to the artil-
lery before Missunde would have been equivalent
to a badge of bravery for any man during his life-
time," would long be used against him and his as a
byword, unless some deed of arms worthy of the
old traditions of the Seven Years' War were to make
amends for the slackness and slowness with which
Prussians have behaved hitherto. It is not with an
army which has consented to play second fiddle to
the Austrian that Prussia can make good her pre-
tensions to German Hegemonie, or hold her own on
the Rhine as a first-rate Power, ready on any emer•
gency to withstand the onset of France. She has
come sur le terrain, and fight she must. She can-
not welcome back her troops in Berlin with their
brand of impptence against such a puny enemy as
Denmark numerically is. She must have at least
this poor nook of Dybbol and Alsen to boast of as
a conquest, to set off against a wanton expenditure
of men and money, against the intolerable brag and
bluster with which she has been for the last two
months blowing her nwn trumpet.
Hence is it that none of us interested in the issue
of this Dano-German difficulty venture to quit the
spot. Days may be wasted in idleness and ennui—
weeks may follow weeks without any incident worth
noting ; but the conflict is sure to come in the end,
and it will be a conflict worth witnessing and tell-
ing of—a conflict rising to a pitch of tremendous
sublimity commensurate with the length of time
employed by the belligerents in making ready for it.
It is not in our power to make out to our satisfac-
tion how the Prussians are employing their time.
It is, however, natural to suppose that, after a whole
month's hesitation, they h lye come to the conclusion
that the Dybbol position is not to be taken by storm.
Marshal Wrangel has tried his hand at that kind of
work years ago, when the Dybbol line relied for its
strength almost entirely on its natural advantages,
and he must be aware that an assault would cost at
the present time ten times as much blood as was
shed in 1848-50, without result. Dybbol must,
therefore, be attacked not with the bayonet but
with the cannon, and the ground will, perhaps,
only eventually be gained by the slow process of
parallels. The amount of artillery with which the
Prussians are preparing to open fire on the Dybbol
batteries must be something enormous. All our
accounts, at least, concur in appalling us with the
numbers of heavy pieces which have been for the
whole month going through Hamburg, Rendsburg,
Schleswig, and Flensburg. There is no doubt also
but the Prussians as well as the Austrians have
been sedulously following every step made by the
art of gunnery in our own times, that they have
profited by French, English, and American haven-

tiveness, and contributed their own share to the
common stock of modern destructive contrivances.
Their advantage over the Danes in mere weapons
is as manifest as their superiority in numbers. Nor
are they deficient in their means of conveyance of
all this heavy material. The railway was in ope-
ration as far as Flensburg almost immediately after
the fall of the Dannewerk ; and from Flensburg to
their outposts at Nybol tha distance does not ex-
ceed a score of English miles. For the last tea or
twelve days the weather has been rather sloppy,
and the thaw which has been softening the ground
by imperceptible degrees has now been aided by
heavy rains, which have turned the whole country,
roads and fields, into a vast quagmire. The batta-
lions matching to outposts or returning hence
morning and evening have to paddle in the mud
up to their knees, and are drenched to the very
bones day and night. Spring has its horrors in this
climate no less than winter, and the transition
season is apt to combine the evils of the two
extremes and aggravate them. I must say that the
Danes manage to thrive equally well under the in-
fluence of :all atmospheric inclemency, and they
suffer even less from thorough wet than they did
from intense cold. Their climate is something be-
tween Russian frost and English moisture, but they
are used not only to either, but, what is far more try•
ing, to the frequent alternation and rapid transition
from the one to the other.
Whether the Prussians will fare as well under such
circumstances you will probably learn from other
sources. But what is important to our present sub-
ject is that the softening of the ground in this
thorough thaw enables the engineers on either side
to complete and extend their earthworks with the
utmost speed. Hitherto the Danes had been doing
wonders, though they had to contend with a soil
hardened by the frost to the strength of granite.
Trenches and bastions will now rise, and rifle-pits
are dug with far greater ease and speed, and when
we hear that the Prussians will be ready to open
fire on the 11th, and that they have appointed the
23d (their King's birthday) for the trial and deci-
sive onset, we may well believe that there will arise
at least no material obstacle to prevent their being
as good as their word. With all the advantage of
weapons and superiority of numbers, however, the
Prussians will find, if they really attack Dybbol,
that they will have a hard nut to crack.

MARCH 8,
We have by no means cheering news to-day from
Jutland. The Austrians have advanced very large
forces against Fredericia and pushed their conquests
as far as Errttso, and another village, both of them
at about two English miles from the main strong-
hold of Fredericia; the former place lies on the
Sound, and ought to enable the Austrians not only
to bombard the fortress, but also to command the
passage of the Sound to Middlefort, in Funen. The
intelligence has reached headquarters here about
noon, and the telegram was so laconic and oracular
that its real import cannot be satisfactorily made

out, and the actual loss of the Danes may be ex,
aggerated. It was added that both General Wilster,
the Commander-in-Chief of the Danish Forces in Jut-
land, and tptain Hoffmann, the officer at the head
of his Staff, have been wounded. Nothing is known
as yet as to the nature of their hurts, and it is like-
wise uncertain whether they were struck in a gene-
ral action or simply in consequence of their having
rashly ventured too near the enemy at some unim-
portant encounter at outposts. Both the General
and his chief aide-de-camp were among the bravest
officers of the Danish army, and, as they were daily
dining► at our mess at the Hotel Reimuth only ten
or 12 days ego, and had as many friends as they had
acquaintances, their loss would be very painfully
felt by high and low here. In the event of General
Wilater being disabled by his wounds, the command
in Jutland would, in the natural course of things,
devolve on Colonel Neergaard, who has also the
reputation of great ability and courage. Altogether
the news from Fredericia has wrought rather a de-
pressiug sensation at Sonderborg. Two other offi-
cers were also wounded. It seems that only one
Danish regiment was engaged.

(From the Times Special Correspondent with the Allied
Army.)
HEAD-QUARTERS OF THE ALLIED ARMY,
KOLDING, March 9.
The move into Jutland took us rather by surprise.
It is understand to have been made in consequence
of telegraphic instructions received from Berlin on
Sunday. By the same channel you will by this
time have learnt that the Austrians at Veile, and
the Prussians at Gudsoe, have driven the Danes
before them, and now have their outposts within
a trifling distance of Fredericia. There has again
been a good deal of hard marching over heavy
roads, although the highways from Hadersleben
to this place is a very good one in tolerable wea-
ther; but thaw and the drenching rain which
fell for hours on Monday afternoon have made it
severe work for the troops. The Auetriaus marched
very early yesterday, some from Christianisfeld, two
German miles south of this, and some of them must
have marched for 10 or 11 hours at a stretch, or at
least with trifling halts, for it was three p.m. before
they got to the Danish position at Veile. Having
found it impossible to leave Hadersleben until early
this morning, in consequence of certain arrange-
ments indispensable to be made, I have not seen
the ground, but shall endeavour to do so to-mor-
row. It nppears, however, that the Danish position
was strong. The action lasted until half-past six,
and was chiefly with artillery, except in the case of
a wood, which was held by infantry. According to
a Prussian estimate, the enemy's forces consisted of
three regiments of infantry, three of cavalry, and
two batteries, under the command of Lieutenant-
General Hegermann Lindercrone. The position
was finally stormed, without very severe loss to the
assailants, who made 120 prisoners. The Danes re-
treated upon Horsens, where they may, if so minded,
easily embark. I find the statements, or rather con-
jectures, as to the strength of the Danes in Jatland
to be very conflicting, and the fact is that, owing to
the facility they possess of conveying troops by
water, what is correct one day may be very incorrect
the next, Moreover, the Allies have now got into
a region where information is not easily obtained by
them, whereas we know that the Danes are particu-
larly well informed of most things that go on within
these lines ; so much so, that it would probably not
be easy for me t 9 reveal to them through my con
respondence many things with which they are not
already perfectly acquainted. One great inconve-
nience here is the difficulty of ascertaining the cor-
rect names of places, owing to the peculiarities of
the Danish orthography and pronunciation, and
to the circumstance that the names of many
small hamlets are not to be found on any map to
which I have access, perhaps in none except
Danish Ordnance maps. The Austrians are at this
present time in Veile and its neighbourhood. The
allied outposts are within two or three English miles
of Fredericia—at least the one they have hard-by
the wood of Fuglesang (Song of Birds) can hardly
be more than tWo miles from that fortress.
Some Prussian troops made a circuitous march
yesterday, with a view to cut off the Danes sta-
tioned at Gudsoe, who seem to have been come
pletely surprised, but proved to be bat one company.
Four officers and 178 men were made prisoners.
The battalion which took them is now at Saoghoi.
As a precaution against any attempted attack
by Danish shipping, two shore batteries have
been erected some way down Molding Fiord
(frith), and submarine mines have also been pre-
pared. To-day all is quiet, and I believe that
Headquarters are likely to remain here at least all
to-morrow. It seems almost beyond a doubt that
the Daneswill not risk an action in the field, but con-
fine themselves to the defence of Dappel and Frede-
ricia. Such at least is the general opinion here, and
it certainly seems justified by the way in which the
Danes have repeatedly abandoned positions favour.
able for giving battle had they been so disposed.
As regards besieging Fredericia, it is probable that
operations will be a little delayed by the necessity of
getting up heavy artillery. Meanwhile the weather
continues most unfavourable. At half-past 6 this
morning there was a red glow, which looked almost
as if the sun intended to shine, but the pleasing
hope soon vanished. There was a rather a sharp
frost this morning, and at this present time (after-
uoon) a gale is blowing, and the snow whirls and
drives through the streets and lanes of this dull and
dreary little town. Marshal Wrangel surprises
every one by his powers of endurance. The
Staff tell me he was on horseback for eleven hours
yesterday. Whither Headquarters will betake
themselves, should they leave Molding, no one
knows ; but from what I hear from residents in this
place, there will be very scanty accommodation in
front of that fortress. As we advance northwards
the country looks more and more bleak and unpro-
mising. We are already beyond post-offices—at
least, the only post that at the present moment goes
south from this is the Field post. As it leaves
early in order to catch the mail from Hadersleben,
I must conclude this short and hasty letter, which
I have written in order that you might not be
entirely without reliable information concerning
what yesterday occurred, but some of the details of
which may possibly need some slight correction in
my next.

Foreign Mail Packet List.

MAILS DUE.

Australia and Mauritius, via Southampton . 2O.

via Marseilles Mar. 14.
Brazil and Cape Yerds, by British packet. April 5.
Cape of Good Hope, Ascension, and St. Helena Mar. 30.
China, Penang, and Singapore, via Southampton Mar. 20.
via Marseilles Mar. 14.

Falkland Islands ..

Gibraltar, via Southampton .. Mar. 13.
India (Calcutta), and Ceylon, via Southampton Mar. 20.
via Marseilles Mar. 14
India (Bombay), via Southampton .. Mar. 13.
via Marseilles Mar. 22.
Portuga1....
Malta, Egypt, and Aden, via Southampton Mar. 13,
via Marseilles Mar. 14.
Newfoundland
Oporto and Vigo
U. S. and British N. America, by Brit. packet.... Mar. 10,
by U.S. packet....
1
101.
W.C. of Africa, Madeira, and ab'yenCerainffaed.i.a.n.P.f.c.k.e.t..rlll:..
Bahamas, via New York Mar. 11.
Mexico Mar. 15
All parts of West Indies, including Chili, Peru, J mar. 30.
California. and British Columbia.

Mr. Aferrywan is the title of a new comic paper
on the eve of making its appearance.

BREACH OF THE SPECIAL RULES OF A COLLIERY.
—At the Hyde Petty Sessions, yesterday, John
Reece, a collier, was charged that whilst working
at , Bayley
Field Colliery, Newton, near Hyde, ou the 22d ult., he did,
on provisions of the Mines Regulation and
I
violate the special rules of the colliery
contrary
ne to
Act, the
by using a naked light whilst removing props. Edward
Philips, the underlooker, stated that the defendant had,
contrary to the special rules of the colliery, taken his
lamp top off whilst removing props, and used a naked
light, the consequence being that an explosion took place.
The witness added that the defendant had hitherto been
found a careful man, and, under the circumstances, the
masters did not wish to press the case, The Bench sail
the defendant had been guilty of a very serious offence,
which might have caused the loss of many lives. He
would be fined ss, and costs, or 21 days' imp:isontuent,
but in future they would inflict a serious punishment.
The joiners at Cockermouth have given notice of
their inteßtion to cease working unless their masters ad-
vance their wages from 205., the present rate of payment,
to 225. per week, and also allow them to leave off work at
four o'clock on the Saturday afternoon,