The Sun.
London, England, 1870-11-16 00:00:00

M. GUIZOT ON TILE ARMISTICE.

M. Guizot writes to the Times on the
proposed armistice, which, be was pleased to
find, was put forward by the neutral Powers
under the direction of England. The diplomatic
world were of opinion that the negotiations would
be successful, and yet the intelligence had reached
him that the undertaking was a failure, because
Prussia had refused to accept the conditions which
were proposed. M. Guizot, considers the objections
of Prussia to be worthless, and their consequences
deplorable. It would be a violation of the right of
nations to deny to Alsace and Lorraine the privilege
of voting in the Nationil Assembly elections, but
Prussia could make a reservation to the effect that
she had not renounced her claim to these provinces
when a Treaty of Peace should be considered.
Prussia also showed her disregard of national rights
in refusing to agree to the revictualling of Paris, and
overlooked the essential principle of an armistice,
namely, the maintenance of the status quo.
The principle of natural justice which suggests the
revictualling of a besieged city has' been acknow-
ledged in similar cases in the history of nations. It
would have been easy for the Prussians to limit the
supply of provisions which were sent into Paris, as
they have succeeded in blockading it so effectually.
While he holds that it would be honourable and
wise of France to accept an armistice which was just
and sincere, M. Guizot believes that Prussia has in-
directly refused the truce which was suggested by the
neutral Powers. It remains then for France to pro-
ceed vigorously with the war, the responsibility of
which can no longer rest upon her.

BULLETIN DOCTORING.

The German war bulletins have acquired a well
earned reputation for accuracy; but it remains to be
seen whether this love of truth will bear the test of
defeat. Der Tang's :report of his losses would tend
to prove that though it is easy to give the exact facts of
victorious engagements, the tendency to " arrange" re-
ports of reverses is one common to French and Ger-
mans alike. Der Tann says that ho lost on the 9th 42
officers and 667 men killed and wounded, whilst lie
adds, by way of contrast, " the French admit a loss of
2,000 men." The facts are these. The French esti-
mate of 2,000 includes the casualties of the 9th and
10th. Der. Tann gives his figures for the 9th,
and says nothing of the 10th, nor of
the 7th, when severe fighting took place.
More than this, lie makes no reference to prisoners,
of whom the French took about 2,000. If the Bava-
rian leader got off with a total lois of 5,000 he was
fortunate.

CANDIDATES FOIL TunoNEs.

Such a book as Sir 11. Bnlwer's Life of Palmer-
ston appears at an unfortunate 'moment for the
A:
consistency of diplomatists. great deal has
been said about the injustice, the absurdity, of the
French Government asking a guarantee from King
William that Prince Leopold should not accept the
Spanish Crown. Unjust, absurd, or otherwise, it
appears that the English did a similar thing forty
years ago. The question was the candidature of the
Due de Nemours, which was strongly opposed by
England.. A letter on the subject from Lord
Palmerston to Earl Granville is found in the re-
cently published " Life." It contains the following
ex tract :

" The Cabinet have considered the question of the Duc
de Nemours, and have determined, as I tell_ you in my
official despatch, that we must require from France the
fulfilment of the engagement by a refusal to accept for
him the crown, if offered. We are reluctant even to think
of war. but if ever we are to make another effort this is a
legitimate occasion, and we find that we could not submit
to the placing of the Duc de Nemours on the throne of
Belgium, without danger to the safety and a sacrifice of
the honour of the country."
TURKISH 'ARMAMENTS.

If there is a chance of a war in the East, it behoves

Turkey to be speedy with her preparations.. The
reports go to prove that everything is sadly behind-
hand. At present the navy is so deficient in the
requisites for
.putting to sea that one English cor-
respondent at Constantinople says the ironclads could
sot leave the Sea of Marmora " for Months." He
adds:--" They have not coal enough for
_pne
day's consumption; there is no reserve depot
for fuel, even at the arsenal at Haskeni;
it would be necessary to go into the market,
and purchase whatever was required. The want
of fifty thousand tons of steam coal represents but a
small difficulty to an English mind ; but it becomes
a very tangible and serious difficulty when the
whole of it,has to be brought out here from South
Wales before it can find its way on board the
Turkish iron-clads. But not only are there no men
and no coal, but there are also no provisions, no
stores, and no supplies for fitting ships out for any
period." Of the army we hear less, but the general
impression is that Russian troops could walk about
the country with as much ease as it they were, say,
brigands in. Greece. 150,Q00 men could take Con-
stantinople, say, our informant.

SHERARD OSBORN ON IRON-CLAD SHIPS.

Captain Slierard Osborn protests indignantly
against the course pursued by the shipbuilding de-
partment of the Admiralty with respect to the
Monarch and the Captain. He contends that to send
two ships of such disproportionate stability to sea .to
compete one against the other under canvas, without
the fact being made known to the officers who com-
manded them, or to the admirals Who were respon-
sible for the ships- and lives under their charge, was
an instance of gross incompetency if nothing worse.
" Are we," asks Captain Osborn, ." to allow those
who ought to have cautioned our officers of the
danger they incurred in sailing the Captain in
equinoctial gales to escape with impunity when, by
the figures they now furnish, they acknowledge it
was within their power to give information which
would have saved her Majesty's ship Captain r
Of . our ironclad fleet itself Captain Osborn
has a poor opinion indeed, and thinks that
a Royal Commission should be appointed to arrive
at facts, irrespective of all party considerations.
Captain Osborn believes that the principles sup-
ported by Captain Coles would be adopted, viz.,
low freeboards and heavy armour-plating, no masts
or sails, motive power to be dependent on
steam engines, moderate draught and size, so as to
enable iron-clads to defend our own shores, or break
into an enemy's port. These elements have been
entirely lost sight of in the present British armoured
fleet, says the critic, but he does not explain how to
avert the danger which proved fatal to Captain
Coles's own ship, and which Captain Burgoyne, the
commander of the Captain, remarked upon some
time since. When on board an iron-clad in a heavy sea
an officer remarked to him that on the whole iron-clads
rolled less than wooden two-deckers. Captain
Burgoyne replied, "Yes, that is very true; to a
certain point their steadiness is greater and the
rolling.less, but if they get over that point I do not.
see how they are to recover themselves."
THE OFFICE OF JUDGE ADVOCATE-GENERAL.

The post just vacated by Sir Colman,Q'Loghlen
is one the nature and duties of which few of the
public comprehend. The office, it has been re-
marked, is generally bestowed upon respectable
politicians, whoa© principles must accord with those
of the party in power, and whose legal know-
ledge is at least entitled to respect. Yet the
business of the department is essentially of military,
and not so much of political importance. The Judge-
Advocate's court is a military court of supreme re-
view—a d epartment th rough which all matters relating
to military law, except those of a trifling nature, must
pass, and through the instrumentality of which the
humblest soldier is scoured against a violation of the
law. It is to be observed, however, that' the func-
dons of the office have heretofore been practically
performed by a Deputy-Judge Advocate, who,
although discharging most of the business,
has been enabled, especially in the case of
the present deputy-judge, to secure the full
confidence of the army. Au apparently
wise attempt accordingly is mooted, having for its
object the amalgamation of the two offices- of Judge
Advocate and Deputy Judge, and as a saving of
£2,000 a year to the country will be-effected by the
project if undertaken, there is mush reason
.to be-
lieve that it might be carried out without serious
detriment to the service most interested in the
question.