The Sun.
London, England, 1870-07-23 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY MORNING, J GLY 23: 1870

The number of volunteers enrolled in Paris amounts
now to 15,000 men, and in the, rest of France to
85,000. The Garde Mobile is being rapidly organised.
THE NEUTRALITY OF BELGIUM.
The official Moniteur Beige publishes a notice reminding

the public of the penalties which the law prescribes for
any act that would compromise the neutrality of the
country. The Government has issued a circular an-
nouncing that reassuring declarations have been received
from the belligerents as regards the respect that will be
paid to Belgium's neutrality.

A telegram from Portugal says it seems certain that the
Portuguese Government made some advances to Dom
Fernando with the iew of influencing him to accept the
Spanish Crown. The Dom, notwithstanding this, abided
by his refusal.

The Imperial printer is preparing a miniature French
printing-office, to be despatched to the seat of war. It
will be installed at headquarters. The whole " firm" is
said to be very ingeniously organised, and comprises a
good fount of German characters. Eight 'ompositors and
two pressmen will form the working staff.
A letter from Verviers says :--"An enormous balloon
has been seen in the north-east, oscillating between
Herbesthal (Prussia) and Dolham (Belgian frontier). The
balloon approached the earth several times, and in the car
were seen two men with telescopes." This was no doubt
a balloia de reconnaissance. The French used one in the
Italian campaign.

THE SITUATION IN PARIS.
PARIS, THURSDAY,

The Journal Officiel comes out to-day with an impor-
tant notification. It is to the effect that the subjects of
Prussia and the South German Powers, who are at present
in France or any of the French colonies, will be allowed
to continue their residence, so long as their behaviour
leaves no ground for complaint. But those
who are now out of France, and desire
to enter the country, cannot be allowed to do
so. A special permission will be required in
such a case, and this will be given only in exceptional
cases. Trading ships which are at present in French
ports, or which may enter them in ignorance that a state
of war exists between France and Prussia, will be allowed
thirty days to make good their departure. They will re-
ceive safe conducts, which will convey them to their des-
tination. Also, such vessels as may have taken cargoes
in hostile or neutral ports to convey to France—they
having laden previously to the declaration of war—will
not be subject to capture; and after having disembarked
their cargoes in the ports of the Empire they will receive
safe conducts for the return journey. These regulations
are not so favourable as had been looked for. Count
Beust proposed to France and Prussia to adhere to the
principle established in 1866, whereby merchant vessels
not carrying contraband of war were allowed perfect im-
munity. The Prussian Government consented ; but
France has not been willing to agree, and hence this note.
The difference in the naval strength of the two countries
no doubt accounts for this refusal of France.

Apart from its direct importance, it is worthy of remark

that this modification is made to apply to Prussia and
" her, allies," which signifies clearly enough that France
now recognises the South German States as belligerents
against her. Indeed the fact that Bavaria, and the other
three small countries will fight on the side of Prussia
is now admitted to be beyond dispute. The Go-
vernment here is acting throughout on this
assumption. For instance it has just inquired
at the Baden capital whether the army of the
Grand Duchy will employ explosive bullets in the coming
struggle, for when the Convention of St. Petersburg, by
which most of the European States bound themselves to
refrain from using these missiles, was drawn up, Baden
declined to adhere to it. The Government of that little
country has, however, replied that it will not
use explosive bullets, and that it never intended
to do so. If there could be any doubt as
to the attitude of the South-German provinces,
these significant little interchanges would set the ques-
tion at.rest. But there never was any doubt—scarcely

even after the first day. The papers here reckoned that
the discontent supposed to exist in Hanover and south
of the Mein, would have a substantial effect ; and no doubt

a diversion on the part of the Hanoverians would be of
great value (it may be as well to add that there is not
the slightest symptom of anything of the kind taking
place); but with respect to South Germany it may be
doubted whether the French Government is not better satis-
fied with its hostility than its neutrality. Of course the force
at the command of Prussia will receive an increase of
some moment from the now well organised contingents
of these States. But the opportunities of attack
for the French, and the difficulty of defending the German
territory, now become much greater. Had Prussia been
the sole enemy, the only territory open to the assault of
the French arms would have been the small strip of
country fifty miles long where the two countries join.
By the participation of South Germany this assailable
line is made four times as long. The Prussian
frontier adjoining France is very strongly fortified.
The 150 miles of Bavarian and Baden frontier is much
less efficiently defended. Rhenish Prussia is provided
with the most complete network of railways. In South
Germany the railway system is not nearly so good. In
short, the invasion of Germany can now be effected by the
French army with the greatest ease.

At Stuttgard the French Minister has been informed
that Wurtemberg will take part with Prussia, and he
has in consequence received his passports. In Bavaria a
commission of the Chamber of Deputies reported in favour
of an armed neutrality; but this advice was not
listened to, and the war supplies have been voted.
From Darmstadt we learn that the principal minister of
Hesse, Herr von Dalwigk, hitherto notorious for his
anti-Prussian views, has declared for the great German
Power. The Chamber has voted a loan, and a war
supply.

In the Corps Legislatif to-day the deputies are engaged
in voting a few measures relating to local matters. It is
said that the session will be immediately closed, and the
Chamber indefinitely prorogued within a day or two at
most. Such a proceeding will give rise to angry, though
unavailing, protests on the part of the Left
Deputies. To close the session at this period,
and carry on the war without the representatives
of the nation being able to say a word
respecting it, is a fine stroke of despotic policy, and serves
as an appropriate finishing touch to the whole of the
grand combination by which the Emperor has once more
got the upper hand of the French Liberals. It has been
a fine series of manoeuvres. First Napoleon represented
himself as averse to any liberal concessions ; then he
began to regard them after the manner of a half convert,
doubtfully, and with many backward steps. Soon the
conversion appeared thorough and sincere. The work of
Liberalising the empire went on rapidly, conces-
sions were made to the Corps Legislatif, the
old Ministry were turned out, and 011ivier and his
companions came in. Speedily did we find out the true
meaning of "the Liberal Empire." We soon discovered
that the most arbitrary measures were still kept in force,
and that acts of despotic authority utterly out of
keeping with anything like Parliamentary Govern-
ment were matters of everyday occurrence. The
two ablest of the Ministers, Daru and
Buffet, found that whatever the Liberal
Empire might be, it did not realise their
anticipations, They retired. Then came the
Plebiscite. After the Plebiscite comes the war.
The situation is completely in favour of the ruler who has
managed to dispose of his adversaries. Half his old
opponents have been bought to his side ; those who
refused to be bought are weakened by the defections; the
Plebiscite once more invests the sovereign with abso-
lute authority ; war is declared ; the representative body
votes necessary money, is then shut up, and the
work of conquest goes on without interruption. In all
this there can be no difficulty in seeing the evidence of one
continuous design. There, remains but one more step to
be taken, and the campaign of political strategy termi-
nates : Prussia is to be beaten. It is true that the risk of
failure in this last enterprise will be considerable, and
that the crash, if Prussia wins, will be great. But the
prize of victory is so splendid—a new lease of power in
France and the control of the fortunes of all Europe —that
the hazard seems worth running.

Poor Prevost Paradol ! He was one of those who be-
lieved in the Liberal Empire, accepted service under it,
and afterwards found their position untenable. Here the
news of his death has caused the most painful sensation.
Even the excitement of war does not divert public sympathy.
Although the intelligence is sparse, and the cause of
his suicide not given, nobody here doubts that this decla-
ration of war, so much opposed to the interests of liberty,
convinced the great journalist that in so easily accepting
office under the personage whom he had opposed so long,
he had built his house upon the sand.
Of war news there is next to nothing. The only item

of the slightest consequence is that the Prussians who
have assembled between Saarbruck and Treves have
retired on the fortresses of Coblentz and Mayence,
that is to say, instead of guarding the immediate
frontier, they are occupying a similar line on the bank of
the Rhine. Thus the country will be left open to the
attack of the French, who will not be resisted until they
have penetrated to some distance on German terri-
tory. Among the rumours of the day it is said
that Prussia has proposed that the neutrality
of the Baltic Sea should be agreed to between the contend-
ing parties. It is amazing that such reports should gain
credence. Of course it is not likely that France could
hear of a proposal which would deprive her of a leading
point of advantage, nor is it likely that Prussia would make
such an offer. That these statements should secure publica-
tion is another proof of the recklessness of the Paris press.
The papers here will print positively anything.
Marshal Le Bceuf has got the important appointment
of Major-General to the Army of the Rhine. He first
gained distinction as a captain at the siege of
Constantine, where three other distinguished Marshals of
the Second Empire also preferred their claims to renown.
He was an artillery officer, and directed the left of the
French batteries before Sebastopol. He afterwards
had the command of Kinburn given him. In
November, 1854, he was made general of
brigade ;in 1857 general of division . During the Italian
war he had the chief command of the artillery, and at
Solferino in particular he distinguished himself by his
skilful movements. In August, 1869, on the death of
Marshal Niel, General Le Bceuf took the portfolio of war.
He still retains it, but in his absence with the army of the
Rhine Vicomte Digean, General of Engineers, will take
his place.

THE FRENCH FLEET.
CHERBOURG,
WEDNESDAY.

Here the maritime Prefet, Vice-Admiral Roze, is
pushing matters vigorously forward, and he is heartily
seconded by his subordinates. There was need for exer-
tion, for the only ships in readiness at either
Brest or Cherbourg when hostilities were first
talked of were the ironclad frigates Gauloise and
Flandres and the corvettes Jeanne d'Arc and Thetis.
Fleets are not got into crder so rapidly as regiments,
but Vice-Admiral Bouet-Willaumez, the commander
of the Baltic fleet, will find, on his arri-
val here, which is immediately expected, the
Surveillant, Guyenne, Savoie, and Ocean, all
iron-clad frigates, as well as the guardship Rochambeau
in readiness. In a day or two the Taurean and the
Invincible will be added to this number. The Surveillant
is to be the flag ship. Men are wanting at Cherbourg,
but provisions and munitions of war are plentiful. No
Prussian vessel is likely to shew itself in these well-
guarded waters. The French fleet is to be divided into two,
one division, under Vice-Admiral Penhoet on board the
Savoie, the other under Rear-Admiral Dieu-donne, on board
the Gauloise. Vice-Admiral Bouet-Willaumez, on the Sur-
veillante, will be, as stated above, at the head of affairs.
The Ocean, a fine frigate, will remain at Cher-
bourg, for the service, it is said, of the Minister
of Marine himself. Some excitement was pro-
duced in Cherbourg on the 19th by the report of a loud
cannonade, and all sorts of rumours were at once afloat.
It soon appeared, however, that three of the ironclads
had been trying their new artillery.
POPULAR FEELING IN GERMANY.

BERLIN, WEDNESDAY.
The last few days both here and in different parts of
the country have been given up to preparations for the
war by the troops, and public demonstrations on the part
of the people. There can be no doubt that Prussia
wanted no war, expected no war, and has been taken
to someextent unawares. But every effort is being made to
remedy the error. The troops are being mobilised with great
rapidity, and sent to the front ; and all along the border
towns the preparations are going forward with the utmost
speed. It is probable that the German army will not be
accumulated in sufficient force to offer decisive resistance
should the French invade Rhenish Prussia next week.
In that case it will retire upon.the fortresses, and main-
tain defensive operations until the whole strength of the
German array can be sent to the front. This will not re-
quire long. The Prussian army is so admirably organised
that a very little time serves to put it on a war footing,
and though Count Bismarck would have been glad of a
few days' notice, no serious danger is apprehended from
the slight advantage gained in point of time If the
French had to deal with an unprepared army, the con•
sequences might have been more doubtful; but the Prus-
sian force is quite prepared; all
,that remains is to
bring its divisions together. It is in the
matter of concentration, and that only, that the '
French will have any advantage. The Magdeburg Gazette
states that on the evening of the 13th inst., before the
news of war came, General Moltke, in harmony with the
Minister of War, Baron von Roon, declared that Prussia,
kas far as the organisation of its army, its arms, and its
resources are concerned, has never been in so good a
pesition to carry on war with a prospect of success
as at present. He added that he was fully in-
formed as to the progress of armament on the part
of France. The Bank Gazette says it can state that Counb
Bismarck has expressed equal confidence of success.
Whilst the authorities have been making ready for war,
the inhabitants of this and other German cities have
joined in a series of meetings to display their spirit on be-
half of the Fatherland. There can be no doubt as to one
point. From Paris we hear that the inhabitants have
displayed great enthusiasm for war : they rejoice
in war for its own sake. Nothing of the kind has been
known in Germany. All through the country these
gatherings have expressed their sorrow at the rupture of
peace, and their indignation at the conduct of the
French. At Berlin, Munich, Stuttgard, Bonn,
Cologne, Magdeburg, even at Hanover and Schleswig,
the same scene has taken place. Never before has the
Teutonic people displayed such complete unanimity. In
Hanover especially both the, press and the people have
manifested a spirit the very reverse of what was
fondly expected of them by the French. A
day or two ago a great meeting held in the
Hanoverian capital, and attended by more than 6,000
persons, unanimously adopted the following resolution :

" We, the citizens and inhabitants of the town of
Hanover, declare that, in the unjust war now waged
by France against Germany, we will support the cause of
our country in word and deed, with our property and with
our blood." One resolution will do for all the meetings in
Germany.

dust by the Great Napoleon, as with the discharge of a
double thunderbolt. The disastrous retreat was some-
thing appalling. Saxony was overrun by the victorious
grand army—Magdeburg was taken--Berlin was entered
in triumph by the conqueror, who visited the Palace of
Potsdam and took possession there of the sword of the
Great Frederick.

THE GOVERNMENT AND NEWSPAPER CORRES-
PONDENTS.—At critical moments such as the present it is
of importance to correct misstatements which at any other
period might be left to find their natural level amongst
the ridiculous rumours too readily circulated by those
whose carelessness or self-esteem make them dupes, if not
authors, of fiction. A contemporary on Thursday so far
forgot his manners as to accuse the Cabinet of " ser-
vility " to France, and ventured oh the statement that
" It has been decided in the Cabinet that no British offi-
cer, either on full pay, shall have leave to go to tie seat of
war, for fear his presence should excite the susceptibilities
of the French Emperor." We have reason to believe that
the question of permission to English officers to accept the
position of newspaper correspondents was never submitted
to the Cabinet. Officers willing to proceed on such
missions have to request leave of absence
from the Sovereign. The responsible adviser
of the Queen, the Secretary of State for
War, has taken on himself, without any reference to the
Cabinet, to refuse such leave: His reasonsmust be obvious.
Without pretending to be in the confidence of the War
Office, we may certainly assume that in the present very
anxious position of public affairs officers are needed at
home to assist in the duties of an army that is by no
means too large for the calls that may be made upon it,
and we may also imagine that there can be little excuse for
permitting gentlemen in receipt of either full pay or half
pay to employ the time paid for by the taxpayer in the
earning of other emoluments. We can also readily sup-
pose that in a war which so nearly, almost dangerously,
concerns us, the Secretary for War would be unwilling to
incur the chance of revelations from either camp being,
rightly or wrongly, attributed to the pen of the officers of
the army of a strictly neutral nation. But, whatever may
have been the motives of Mr. Cardwell for the course
which he has chosen to pursue, the subject has never been
laid before the Cabinet, and the unworthy suppositions
of the Times are entirely unfounded.—MorningPost.

OUR COTEMPORARIES---This Morning

WHO IS TO BLAME ?

The Times remarks that there is one question which the
Circular of the Duc de Gramont must provoke among
neutral Powers, especially the Powers who were parties to
the Convention of Paris. What is there in these alleged
causes of offence which removes them from the category of
differences upon which, in accordance with that Conven-
tion, an appeal should be made to arbitration before
war is invoked ? Napoleon 111. said yesterday he had
exhausted all the means of peace, but he must nave for-
gotten one that his Ministers had rejected. If any sub-
stantial injury was ever done, it was repaired. Prussia
tried to injure the security of France, but as scon as
France was roused gave up the attempt. Prussia,
wounded the honour of the Empire, and when the
offence was detected abandoned it. This is the statement
of the French case, and the conclusion is a de-
mand that Prussia shall promise never to dream of such
intrigues again. It is obvious thai if Prussia were as in-
sincere as is alleged the promise would be worthless ; but
when the issue is thus narrowed there seems to arise just
such a case as was contemplated in 1856 for the
intervention of third parties before whom the offences
of the past might be proved, and from whom judg-
ment might be obtained upon it. If the
State, condemned by the verdict of the arbitrators, refused
to accept it, the other might proceed to action backed by
the real judgment of contemporary nations, and the Times
cannot avoid the conclusion that a refusal by either party
to use this process implies some doubt whether the result
would be favourable to him.

, The Daily News says the Germans are the most highly
instructed people in the Old World. In the vast army
which is now arrayed to meet the invader, there is not a
private soldier who has not learnt by heart the records of
the disastrous time of their subjugation. The memory is
still fresh of the dark days when a French general, with
liberty on his lips, and " independence" in his proclama-
tions, delivered up their homes to a licentious soldiery,
their cities to spoliation, their properties to pillage, and
after impoverishing the rich proprietors and traders by
forced requisitions, enrolled the peasantry in his armies
and hurried them away to perish amidst the Russian
snows. It is not against the French people they are
marching, but against the invader of their own soil and
the disturber of their own peace, and they are conscious
of being thrice armed in having their quarrel just, and in
the sympathy of civilized nations, while they combat for
the freedom and repose of Europe.
The Post believes the struggle which we are about to
witness has long been anticipated. So near has it some-
times approached that both a Conservative and a
Liberal Ministry take credit to themselves for having
been active in averting it. The danger was, however,
only postponed, and, if once again diplomacy had
succeeded in staving it off, none but the most sanguine
could have dared to allege that real peace existed
in Europe. Suppose we ourselves had tolerated the an-
nexation of Belgium, a French-speaking people, to
France—that France had negotiated a secret military
treaty with Holland, and finally attempted to place
a prince connected with the Bonaparte family on
the Throne of Portugal—our own temper and frame 'of
mind would be not very far removed from that fierce anger
which impelled French statesmen to such impassioned
language as that which the French Premier and Foreign
Secretary addressed to the Chambers.
The Standard says:—" A very large if not the chief
part of the responsibility for the terrible slaughter we
shall soon have to record falls upon the Prussian
Government. The formal declaration of war has, of
course, proceeded from the French Government. The
more the Standard learns of the negotiations which pre-
ceded that declaration, the more strongly the question
forces itself upon us, whether the provocation and the
challenge to that war did not arise from Prussia.
Considering that King William must have been
perfectly aware, and that Count Bismarck, whom
he consulted, must have known it even more
clearly, that the Hohenzollern candidature would
unless the assent of the French Government had been
obtained beforehand, be extremely offensive to France,
and had yet, with the knowledge that the French Govern-
ment had not accepted it, authorised the candidature
there was a plain and clear obligation upon the King of
Prussia, assuming him to have had the slightest desire to
maintain peace, to have associated himself gravely
and distinctly with the withdrawal of the Hohenzollern
candidature. The Duc de Gramont says that so far back
as 1869 M. Benedetti informed Count Bismarck that
France could not submit to the elevation of a Prussian
Prince, i.e., of this very Prince Leopold, to the throne of
Spain, and that the Prussian Premier said that there was
no reason to think such a candidature possible. At a
later date it is averred that Count Bismarck's locum tenens
gave his word of honour that the Prince could not,
and would not, become a candidate for the
Spanish throne. ;Is it surprising that, under these cir
cumstances, the French Government, which but a fort-
night before believed in the maintenance of the peace it
had sacrified so much to preserve, should ha,ve felt indig-
nant—should have considered itself tricked—when the
candidature of the Prince was announced. Upon the
showing of the Prussian Government itself it made not
the faintest exertion to avert this conflict ; upon the
showing of the French Government it deliberately
challenged the struggle. The Standard will not
pretend to say now what is the , exact measure
of the responsibility of the Prussian Government in this
Hohenzollern business, but will be glad if its official
organs will rest a little from the compilation of patriotic
articles, and say whether the confidential person who
refused the Spanish throne for the Prince of Hohenzollern
some months ago, was, or was not, a distinguished Prussian
official.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE

GREAT FIRE AT LAMBETH,
SIX LIVES LOST.

This morning (Saturday) about half-past three o'clock
a most disastrous fire happened in Waterloo-road, at Hill's
furniture establishment, about three doors from the
brigade fire station, from which place instant help was ob-
tained. From the nature of the stock the flames made
rapid progress, and although four Lambeth turncocks, all
re3iding in the neighbourhood, drew forth abundance of
water, as also from the Vauxhall and Southwark Com-
panies, nothing, however, could prevent the flame from
reaching the upper floors, where Mr. and Mrs. Hill, with
their seven children, were sleeping. Mr. Hill and wife
(recently confined) as also the infant, in charge of a neigh-
bour, were rescued, but unfortunately six children were
found burnt to death in their bed,.. Their names are as
follows :—James Hill, 14 years ; Catherine Hill, 12 ;
Thomas Hill, 10 ; Emily Hill 8 ; John Hill, 6 ; and Esther
Hill, aged 4 years.

(CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAMS.)
THE WAR.

On 'Change at Liverpool more steadiness in business
was exhicited yesterday. A patriotic address from the
Germans at Liverpool has been sent to the King of
Prussia. Over 3,000 barrels of pork have, it is reported,
been purchased for France. The Hamburg American
Company's mail steamer Holsatia," concerning the safety
of which much anxiety was displayed owing to the re-
ported presence of a French frigate in the Channel on the
look-out for her, has arrived in Plymodth Sound. While
detained off Scilly Island by a dense fog, she was warned
by the pilot who had been instructed to look out for her,
and, creeping up the Channel inshore, neither saw nor
heard of any foreign ship of war. She will remain in
Plymouth instead of proceeding to Cherbourg and Ham-
burg. She brings 300 passengers, 10 of whom have landed
herein accordance with previous intentions, and remainder
are at present on board ship awaiting means of conuey-
ance to the continent. The Aolsatia had 250,000 worth
of specie on board.

It is announced from Ply mouth that large numbers of
men in the Royal Marines hove been drafted from that
town for various ships. The Admiralty have abandoned
the intention to fit out another flying squadron for service
abroad, and have ordered the flying squadron now out,
under the command of Admiral Hornby, to return to
England with all speed. There are reliable indications in
Devonport and Keyham dockyards that the discharges
will immediateb, cease, more men be taken on, and some
new vessels commenced in addition to that already ordered.
It is thought new gunboats will be built to replace The con-
tract-built Baltic gunboats, which are now all sold or useless.
A frigate flying French colours has been seen repeatedly
to-day cruising near Eddystone, off Plymouth Sound,
probably lying in wait for Prussian ships, of which there
are five now in Plymouth Harbour, sugar and corn laden,
waiting a chance to run round to Bristol. Neither French
nor German Consuls at Plymouth have yet received in-
structions as to how Prussian ships in or making for
British ports will be dealt with by France. The German
Consul for the port of Shields has been specially autho-
rised to forward to Germany all North German subjects
liable to military duty, as well as those who may volun-
teer for active service. Several captains of North
German ships in the port are dismantling their running
gear, laying their ships up, and sending the greater part
of their crews home for war service. , The consul has
been authorised to pay a reward of £3 to any fisherman
or pilot who may warn any North German vessel bound
to ports where they are liable to capture by their enemy's
cruisers. This reward will not apply to vessels bound to
British ports, and within three miles of the British
coast.

THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SHOW.
SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

There was a visible falling off in the numbers admitted
yesterday morning to the Royal Agricultural Show, at Ox-
ford, the ten o'clock return shewing a total of 3,641. The
weather continues exceedingly sultry. Several persons
were rather seriously injured on Thursday, by the upset-
ting of a three-horse omnibus returning from the show. No
accident has happened in the machinery department. The
show closes to-night.