The Sun.
London, England, 1870-12-30 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1870.

THE LONDON SC iIOOL BOARD.

This Board, through its chairman, Lord Lawrence, has
invited applications from candidates for five of the prin-
cipal administrative offices at its disposal—namely, first
a clerk of the Board, at a salary of £BOO a year, who
is to discharge the duties of secretary, act under
the control of the Board in all executive matters,
and have charge of the entire establishment ; second,
a clerk, at a salary of £350 a year, who is to have
the qualifications of an experienced statistical officer ;
third, a clerk, at £250 a year, who must be a com-
petent book-keeper and accountant ; fourth, a clerk,
at £2OO a year, who is to be a good shorthand writer,
and to be able to take minutes ; and, fifth, a junior
clerk, at £100; well educated, and not ander 21 years
of age. The whole time of each officer is to be at the
disposal of the Board; and while they will be elected
with reference to the qualifications described they will be
required to discharge any duties that may be assigned to
them from time to tithe. Every application for those five
offices must be made by letter addressed to the Chairman of
the School Board, Guildhall, so as to be delivered there
on or before 10 in the morning of Thursday next, the
sth of January, and marked outside with the number of
the office, 1,2, 3,4, or 5, as the case may be, for which
the applicant desires to be a candidate. He is also to en-
close 15 copies of the letter and testimonials, and give
names and addresses of some persons for reference as to his
character and ability. These copies are to be in print or
legible writing, and fastened together in 15 separate sets.
Notice will be sent in the event of the Board desiring to see
the applicant in any one of the five cases. No original tes-
timonials are to be forwarded. According to a resolution
passed at the last meeting of the Board the candidates for
each of the five above-mentioned offices are to be
eventually reduced to not more than six by a committee
of the Board, appointed for the purpose, and afterwards
from the six so submitted for competition in each of the
five classes the whole Board assembled at a general meet-
ing will make the elections. At present there are at least
five declared candidates for the office of clerk, at £2OO a
year, all of them men more or less experienced, and there
may yet be many more.

TWO POLES SHOT BY A. FRENCHMAN IN
SHOREDITCH.

A shocking and singular occurrence has taken place in
Commercial-street, Shoreditch. Between seven and eight
o'clock on Wednesday night a number of persons who had
assembled near the Canibridge Music Hall, in Commer-
cial-street, were alarmed by hearing, shots fired, and they
immediately afterwards saw two young men fall upon the
pavement. A few yards behind them was perceived a
Frenchman lying upon his face and hands, and under his
right hand was s double-barrelled gun, which had evidently
been recently discharged, smoke issuing from the muzzle.
Four or five police-constables rushed from different parts
of the street; the Frenchman was arrested, and the
wounded men conveyed to the Spital-square Police-station.
The three, individuals were followed by a crowd of over
15,000 persons, and the excitement was intense, for a
rumour quickly gained currency that a Frenchman had
shot two Prussians. Dr. Phillips, of No. 2, Spital-square,
the police surgeon, was instantly sent for, and upon
seeing the wounded men he asked them whether
any of the shots had entered their bodies, and
one of them replied, with a shriek, "We are full
of shot ; we ate both killed." Upon the doctor making
an examination he discovered that the backs of both their
legs were literally riddled with small shot, generally used
for bird-killing. The men were in a state of most intense
agony, and they screamed loudly when the doctor pro- i
ceeded to extract the shot with a pair of tweezers and a
knife. They were assured that there was no immediate
danger, and that piece of information appeared to calm
them, for thy were enabled to state that
they were Russian Poles, and had been sup
porting themselves by tailoring in England. Their
names were Alfred Wohlman, of No. 0, Jeff-terrace,
Commercial-roadißatclitf, and Ephraim Berdenbalg of 60,
New-street, Gravel-lane. Yesterday they applied for ad•
mission to the London HospitaL Inspector Older, of
the H division, was then informed by the constable who
had brought the Frenchman to the station that they had
him in custody. Upon being questioned, the unlucky
Frenchman said that he was M. Walter Ringer, a looking-
glass manufacturer, in Commercial-street, Shoreditch.
On Wednesday morning he decided upon having a day's
sparrow shooting at Tottenham, and for that purpose
he took down to Tottenham a double-barrelled gun. He
wandered about the fields at Tottenham for the whole
day, but he was not able to shoot a single sparrow. In the
evening he returned home, but he did not take the pre-
caution of discharging his gun, but he put the triggers
down. While walking along Commercial-street with
the rifle in his right hand he slipped on the
snow and fell upon the pavement. The shock of
the fall, he alleges, fired the two barrels off, and that
was all he knew about it. He had seen a large
crowd of people before him waiting for admission to the
Cambridge Music-hall.

The police then decided not to retain M. Ringer in
custody, and the Poles were informed that they have a
civil remedy for the injuries inflicted upon them. Neither
of the sufferers is at present quite out of danger.

Dr. D. T. T. Mauusell, of Dublin, has just been
presented with a valuable testimonial in appreciation of
his services in the cause of the poor-law medical officers
in Ireland.

In Ireland, a man named Thomas Egan has just
recovered £5O from Father Reynolds, damages for assault
and battery committed by defendant during the late
Longford election.

Intelligence from New York states that the health
of Chief Justice Chase continues steadily to improve.
Beyond mere bodily weakness, he is as well now as he
was before the attack in August.
RELIEF FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE WAR.--The
Countess Bernstorff having obtained every facility
for sending a messe.s.r with stores to Vorcwillks.
via Cologne, Saarbruck, Nancy, Epernay, Meaux,
and Lagny, has requested us to s;ate, in answer
to the many inquiries addressed to her Excellency
about forwarding things for the wounded and for
the French prisoners to Germany, that the messenger will
leave London on Friday, January 6, at two o'clock, and
that any parcels or contributions sent to Prussia House
before Thursday next will be entrusted to his care. Help
is still very much needed, and kind gifts of new warm
underclothing, socks, blankets, quinine, chloroform,
Liebig's meat extract, &c., will be most thankfully re-
ceived.

Perhaps the most convenient of the many classes of
pocket-books issued for the new year are those just en-
tered at Stationers' Hall by an Irish firm—Marcus Ward
and Co. The great advantage of the memorandum por-
tion is that only a quarter of a year's memoranda instead
of a whole year's notes, as is usual, need be kept in the
pocket-book at one time. This arrangement gives more
space for occasional jottings, and prevents the possibility
of bulkiness in a pocket companion intended as a purse as
well as a note book.

SERIOUS EMBEZZLEMENT BY A HOSPILAL CLERK.—WiI-
Hui). Henry Simpson, clerk to the Secretary of Westmin-
ster Hospital, was charged at the Westminster Police-
court with embezzling the sum of £249 7s. 6d., the monies
of the Governers of the hospital. Mr. Wontner, solicitor,
conducted the prosecution, and proposed to give merely
preliminary evidence, and then ask for the remand of the
prisoner till a future day. Mr. Wilson, the secretary of
the hospital, proved that it was the duty of the prisoner
to pay monies into the Messrs. Hoare, of Fleet-street,
the bankers to the hospital, and the prisoner had not paid
in four sums amounting to £249 7s. 6d., but had falsified
the pass-book and made four entries as if made at the
Bank. When taken by the officer he gave up a bag
containing £57 10s. 10d., which formed part of the pro-
ceeds of his defalcations. Mr. Woolrych said it was a
serious case, and remanded the prisoner. Mr. Wontner
said he should also have to prefer a charge of forgery.
Mr. Woolrych said that was rather a matter for the
Bank. Prisoner was remanded.

BATTLE OF PONT-NOYELLES.

The special correspondent of the Telegraph, writing
from the headquarters of the Eighth Army Corps, at
Amiens, under date December 24, says :—I have already
told you the position of the armies, French and German,
when it had been definitely settled to attack
the French forces under Generals Faidherbe and Le
Coing. The morning of the 23rd of December was
bitterly cold—the frost most intense. The 29th
Brigade, commanded by Colonel von Boa, and
composed of the 33rd and 65th Regiments, with artillery,
and one squadron of the King's Hussars, marched forward
to the right of the farm of Les Alencons; the 30th
Brigade, with the 70th and 28th Regiments, and two
batteries of artillery, advanced upon the left of Altonville,
covered by a regiment of Lancers ; whilst Count Gro-
ben's Dragoons rode along the crest of the hill looking
across to the heights, on the other side, above Cor-
bie. Steadily, as if on parade, marched the compact I
masses of infantry, the skirmishers in front, with
their supports t ) the right and left of the Albert-road.
They take possession of the woo& beside Allonville ; in a
Moment the village is occupied ; still not a French
soldier to be seen. Had the enemy then retreated ?
No ; an orderly gallops up to say that the village of
Querrieux, in our front, is strongly held by the French
troops. We mount our horses and ride straight up
to Albert. At Les Alencons there is a road which leads
off to the left through the village of Cardonette and on
to the Pierregot road. Along this galloped Captain All
born with orders from General von Goben to the 16th
Division to change front to the right flank, and, marching
across between Molliens-aux-Bois and Mirvaux, to storm
the French positions in the villages of Bavelincourt, Be-
hancourt, and Frechencourt. Arrived at the Chateau of
Bengerie, we saw the French tirailleurs retiring upon
Querrieux. The 29th Brigade then brought their left
shoulders forward, two batteries of artillery took up posi-
tion on the right, and at ten minutes past eleven the first
shot was fired by the French infantry from a windmill to
the right of Querrieux. So the battle of Querrieux com-
menced. By twelve (noon) the village was stormed,
and the French had retreated upon their position.
The position of the Prussians occupying the lower ridge
opposite was anything but pleasant. The French batteries
all along the plateau, especially that to the right of the
village of La Houssoye, kept up a . determined and
well-directed fire upon Querrieux. Meantime, to the
right, the villages of Daours, Vacquemont,
and Bussy had been taken by the Prussians, the
French retiring upon their intrenched positions
in front of Corbie. The fighting here was also hard, for
both sides appealed to the bayonet to settle the disputed
possession of the villages. At two p.m. the enemy, under
a heavy fire of artillery, endeavoured to retake the
village of Querrieux. Hard, indeed, was the
struggle between French and Germans. For nearly
twenty minutes they fought actually looking into
one another's eyes. But the French again re-
tire, and again their five batteriCS of thiitY guns
open a crushing fire upon the Prussian line. Every eyiJ
is now anxiously turned to the flank, but as yet no signs
of Barnakow'S division. The PrUssians are very Weak
before Querrieux, and the reserve is ordered to move Up
to the left of that village. The 30th Brigade have de-
ployed in the valley, and taken a small vil-
lage, into which the French are pouring a
shower of shell and shrapnel from their bat-
teries to the right of the Albeit-road. At
2.30 p.m. the French made a strong demon-
stration between La NeuVille and Daours. The French
guns to the left of La Houssoye took ground there,
whence they opened a heavy fire upon our right flank, a
considerable body of troops at the same time advancing
as if to retake Bussy. At four p.m. the 16th Division
had stormed the villages of Bavelincourt, Behen,
.court, and Frechencourt, but their further advance
was stopped by, the same formidable position
which had brought tie sth Division to a halt.
The whole Prussian army now held a line of
villages in a valley through' which flows a small
tributary to the Somme —WhiCh tributary formed
the line of demarcation between the two armies. On the
other side of this stream, a natural glacis extended to the
summit of the ridge of hills occupied by the French army.
Up this glacis, with 50,000 troops at the top, and fifty or
sixty guns, it was both too late and too dangerous

to advance ; so the artillery pelted away at one
another, whilst the skirmishers of both armies kept
up an incessant fire—a distaned of brit 300 yards
between them. Meantime the village of querrieux was
held by two battalions of the 33rd and the 65th Reg l.

meat. Again and again had the French tried to retake

it, without success. At 4.45 the French had again
attacked Querrieux, and the 65th were retiring. The
33rd and 65th were now nearly destitute of ammunition,

but the gallant fellows would not giVe up the
position so dearly bought at the price of Many pre-
cious lives, and there they stood, each man in his
place, determined to make cold steel take the place of ball
cartridge. It was now dark. The Prussian artillery had
ceased firing, and the village of Querrieux was in flames
in four places. Six companies of the 33rd Regiment
determined to avenge the lagt attack made by the
French. In the dark they stole Out of the

formed line, and at the point of the bayonet
charged up to the French battery on the right of
the Albert-road. They had spiked two guns and taken
the horses, when they were attacked by five French
battalions, before whom they were forced to retire into
Querrieux, the French following so closely upon them
that at oue moment I thought the village was lost. By

this time, however, the 65th having received ammuni-
tion, drove the French back with a withering fire. And
now it was 5.30. The battle of Pont-Noyelles was over,
the Prussians having taken seven villages and 900 pri-

bonem

THE MILITARY STRENGTH OF GERMANY.
Commenting on the eerious aspect of the struggle, the
special correspondent of the Daily News at the head-
quarters of the Crown Prince of Prussia, Villeneuve St.
Georges, writing on December 25, says :—I hear from art
intelligent young soldier who has just travelled up to the
front that all the strength of Germany is gathering
against France. The struggle is seen to be very serious
in spite of what has passed. A captured Emperor,
a captured army, ruin, invasion, and political
change, have left the French still able to fight. Thoy
"come up to time" after each knock down with sur-
prising alacrity, and though the chances are in favour of
Germany, the. German people must not be disappointed
at one, or two, or three months of delay. Such a work
as the destruction of France requires patienle. What if

they resist after Paris has fallen ? What if Trochu, to
begin with, should push his defence to the point
of starvation, and not surrender until February
is well advanced? The best of the German leaders
have seen that no chance must be neglected, and fresh
forces are being called up, and the King himself has
spoken boldly of the delay which may occur. When the
whole of the Landwehr is in readiness, as it soon will be,
and the strong places in rear of the army are garrisoned
by this formidable militia, there will be such a force
for active operations as will tax every effort of
M. Gambetta to confront. The new levies in France
fight as well as the old and vanished army, or, at
least, they seem to stand their ground with as
trattch cfrcelo. Dub 4ho Nrcain tot., Ghe country of
having such men shot down will become almost insupport-
able. It has been my fortune to see many of the
recent prisoners, officers of the Gardes Mobiles,
and officers come back from honourable retire-
ment to serve the cause in extremity. I have
found the same obstinate spirit in most of them.
They own that they are worsted, but stick to the " na-
tional idea " with a faith in France that cannot be
denied. They will not believe that the frontier is to be
changed, and here is the difficulty of the solution, the
sore point of the whole matter to Erenchmen. "If we
do give it up," they say, " we will try for it again."