The Sun.
London, England, 1870-08-23 00:00:00

THE IRISH JOURNALS ON THE WAR.

The Irish Times warmly approves of the new Enlist-
ment Act, and in a leader on the war complains of the
inefficiency of the French generals, but says that the
honour of France has been nobly maintained by the
bravery of her soldiers. The Morning Mail devotes its
attention solely to the war question, and says that the
French cause is hopeless. The Daily Express and. Saunders'
Newsletter adopt the same tone. The Freeman's Journal
persists in entertaining a hope that the French, under
DiacMahon, will turn the fortunes of the war.

NAVAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE.

The rumour that a large order was expected at the
Royal Laboratory, at Woolwich, attracted more than
2,000 applicants for employment to the main gate
of Woolwich Arsenal on Monday morning, but
acarcely a hundred hands were taken on, and those
who had come from a distance were all disappointed,
preference being given to the men recently dis-
charged, who still remain in the neighbourhood, and
are used to the work. The expected order turns out to
be an immediate demand for 40,000 Pettman's land ser-
vice percussion fuses. 13,000 zinc cylinders for cannon
cartridge, and 4,000 brass powder cases. Further orders
for iron gun carriages of the modern description have also
been received at the Royal Carriage Department, and it
is now proposed to remove the carpenter's shop to the
laboratory, and devote the carriage square entirely to iron
work. The Gatling gun, the " infernal. machine " which the
Prussians have as the counterpoise of the French
initrailleuse, is to be submitted to certain experiments aS
soon as the English War Department can obtain a sample
of the weapon from the American firm which holds the
patent and monopolises the manufacture. It is undpe-
stood, however, that the firm is busy with extensive
G orders from the overnments of Prussia and Russia, and
it may be some time before they can attend to the order
for merely one or two specimens. It may, however, be
satisfactory to know that the Gatling gun has been tried
already, two or three years ago, by the scientific branch
of the English army, and pronounced unsatisfactory. ll'
has ten one-inch barrels, each of which will throw a 6-oa
shot or shell, and it is loaded and fired at the breech like
the mitrailleuse.

Trial was made at Shoeburyness on Monday for range
and accuracy of the bronze field rifled Fun, commonly but
erroneously called a field howitzer. This gun is the old
IA cwt. 9-pounder smooth bore of the service, rifled and
reduced in weight. Since the last last practice on August
5 the preponderance has been reduced from I.cwt. 2qr. 81b.
to 51b. The weight of the gun is now about newt., and the
rifling is in three grooves, and one turn in 25 calibres
(4.25 inches). The carriage is light and handy, of wrought
iron, with Madras wheels on the same pattern as the new
Indian 9-pounder field-gun carriage. The practice was
made from a platform on the sands on the plane of the
range, at 5 deg. of elevation, with common shells of 201 b.
weight, filled with sand and plugged, and gun-carriages
of 21b. Boz. of large-grained powder, for the first twenty
rounds, and of rifle-grain powder for the second
twenty.

The Spithead forts are rapidly approaching com-
pletion, and it is anticipated that they will shortly be
formally handed over to the War Department.
The neutrality of Belgium is being violated by
quantities of wolves and wild boars, who are flying befor•
the Prussians into the Ardennes.
Prince Orloff, who on passing through Brusselb
was received by the King, has officially communicated to
his Majesty assurances of the cordial friendship an
lively sympathy entertained by the Russian Emperor and
nation for Belgium and her Sovereign.
Among other recruits who have lately signified
their intention to join the National Guard of Paris may
be mentioned Aube! who is still vigorous enough_ ta
shoulder a musket ; darnot, son of the celebrated Wm)
Minister who organised victory, aged eifflity years; and
Duruy, ex-Minister of Publid Instruction.
SUICIDE OF A BOY.—On Monday afternoon a boy
named Thomas Swinn, aged eight years, committed
Suicide by deliberately walking into the Chelmsford and
Maldon Navigation river. ltiis brother, aged tell,
stood qilietly by and watched him drown. The boys,
who are a labourer's children, had been gleaning corn.
and their mother had threatened to thrash them for
laziness. Their parents belong to the sect known at
" Peculiar People."

A. French correspondent, writing from Rheims,
says that when Prince Napoleon expressed his apprehew
mon that they would not be able to re-enter Paris, WO
cousin answered " You always see everything en noir.'l
According to the same account, the criticisms on his Mt
jesty at the scene of action are far from comply)
mentary. The Emperor, say the malcontents, is neithet
of an age nor a character to make the decisions which arr.
sometimes necessary. He should ifo back to St. Cloud"
and, above all, he should send hither his son, who talks
great deal too much at table, and touches on all subjeoto
with imperturbable mplvb.