The Sun.
London, England, 1870-07-30 00:00:00

THE NEUTRALITY OF ENGLAND.

The New Prussian (Cross) Gazette of yesterday contains
an article on Lord Granville's statement in the House of
Lords, in which it accuses his lordship of taking up a
position inconsistent both with the political situation and
the state of public opinion in England. The
Cross Gazette adds that people in Germany are beginning
to ask whether England really wants another Alabama
question. Prussian newspapers of all shades of opinion
blame the course pursued by England in the exercise of her
neutrality, especially the unimpeded supply of coals,
horses, and ammunition to France for warlike purposes by
England, and the evasive answers of Lord Granville to
e questions in the House of Lords with reference to the
representations of the North German Ambassador. Pub-
lic opinion in many quarters, already dissatisfied
in this matter, is becoming embittered. It is officially
stated that the conversation reported by the Daily Tele-
graph is so far correct that Count Bismarck said, " Not
one foot of territory, whether Prussian or neutral, can I
surrender," but it is formally denied that he hinted to the
Emperor that some territorial concessions might be made
to France, in case Prussia should be allowed to make fur-
ther acquisitions.

THE FRENCH FLEET.
A telegram from Copenhagen states that the French
fleet was in sight yesterday.

THE FRENCH ARMY.

(FROM THE CORRESPONDENT OF THE CENTRAL PRESS.)
NANCY, WEDNESDAY.

Some important items of news have just reached me,
and as I am very doubtful whether the telegraph
wires would be allowed to convey the informa-
tion, I send it by letter. General Lebrun,
Assistant-Major-General, and General Wolff, Quarter-
master-General, left Metz by night train yesterday for
Paris, in order to report to the Emperor on the state of
the army in the field. Their announcement has been
pretty satisfactory, and it is expected that hostilities will
commence at once. I have been informed from a good
source that a movement forward would have been made
sooner but for one defect, the inefficient state of
the commissariat department. This has been unques-
tionably very bad. The arrangements at Metz remind
one of nothing so much as those at Balaklava,
though, of course, things were not so bad as at
that famous scene of bungling. For instance, at Metz
there has been plenty of provisions, but almost every
secondary convenience has run short. The soldiers have
been subjected to much difficulty in preparing and cook-
ing their food, &c. But all this has been overcome in the
main, and we may now anticipate immediate and very
serious business. The entire Imperial Guard encamped here
has left for Metz. The cavalry of the Guard went this
morning. We do not expect the Emperor here now that
the Imperial Guard has gone. He will doubtless
make Metz the centre of his operations. Every-
thing points to the conclusion that the first
serious operations will be in the valley of the Moselle, on
Prussian ground. If Marshal Bazaine can hold his
ground, or advance with his army in that direction,
MaeMahon will push forwardinto the enemy's country at
Strasbourg.

With respect to the late cavalry skirmish, the officers
taken prisoners by the French Chasseurs the day before
yesterday were brought into Metz, and taken to the Head
Quarters of General Lebatuf. They are lodged at an hotel
and well treated. One fact is noticeable ; they had money
orders on Metz in their pockets.
Your correspondent has suffered the usual fate of his
race. I, with two French officers, was arrested yesterday
near Metz, charged with being a spy. Correspondents
will find much difficulty in following the Army unless the
orders be relaxed.

THE CONCENTRATION IN GERMANY.

BERLIN, WEDNESDAY.

The iron of the railways between this capital and the
Rhine frontier is not allowed to grow cool. Ever since
the declaration of war the transport of troops has pro-
ceeded most rapidly ; and it still goes on with as much
vigour as before. The outbreak of the war found the
North German army scarcely prepared ; but every day is
remedying the deficiency. From early morn to a late
hour at night, in many cases all night, endless
trains of waggons crowd the lines about Berlin ;
and every waggon is full of soldiers. The
railway-stations re-echo with an uproar which Teu-
tons are not wont to produce. The enthusiastic public
roars, " Gott mit euch," and " Auf, nach Paris." The
relatives outside the carriages weep, and some of those
inside snivel. But the latter display of emotion does not
last long. The most tender-hearted man of the line soon
comes round to a sense of his duty to the Fatherland, and

he goes on his way with loud hurrahs, singing patriotic
songs, and making neat speeches to the general success of
German affairs. Desperate are the attempts' to buoy up
the spirits of the departing warriors at every railway
station. The people come in crowds to minister to the
bodily wants of their defenders. Here a party of young
Gretchens make a fine charge upon a carriage with a sup-
ply of coffee ; there the old peasant comes
up in hot haste with his can of beer ; and
yonder there is no resisting the matronly frau
with her " zubrod." In the Capital the King
every now and then appears to inspect and encourage any
unusually large body that may be departing, and well is he
always repaid for his trouble. There can be no question
that an immense force is being directed from different
parts of the kingdom to the centre of the war operations.
But as to where it all goes, and as to its exact extent,
we are quite in the dark. The German public actually
knows more about the French army than its own. We
are perfectly well aware that some 350,000 men are
assembled on the French side ; and the positions of most
of the corps are known with more or less accuracy. But
of the Prussian troops absolutely nothing is published.
The means of secrecy here are quite as complete as they
are in France, perhaps more so ; and they have been
adopted in a much less harsh and offensive manner.
Instead of a gruff threat that publication of war move•
ments will be severely punished, Vice that uttered by M.
011ivier, Count Eulenberg has sent a polite note to all
the papers entreating them not to print news which
might damage the interests of the Fatherland. It is true
that if they had disregarded the polite request, the con-
sequences would have been serious, but the suaviter in
modo had none the less a good effect in inducing all the
papers to cheerfully coincide in helping the Government.
The Paris journals grumble loudly at M. 011ivier's rude-
ness; here there is no complaint whatever. The papers
will be at liberty to give accounts of battles after the
danger of divulging facts has disappeared. Meanwhile,
the first intelligence of events will be through the Govern-
ment bulletins. These, printed on orange coloured paper,
were posted in all the conspicuous places during the war of
1866, and gave great satisfaction by their prompt appearance
and general accuracy, though it must be remembered that,
amid its continued successes, the Government had no induce-
ment whatever to represent anything but the truth. The
bare facts were sufficiently dazzling without embellish-
ments. The plan will be renewed in 1870, and as a preli-
minary all orange coloured placards, save the official ones,
are forbidden.

Through this system everything is kept quite close, but
we have reasons for guessing, with a great chance of
success, that no very great force of Prussians has been
massed close to the frontier, but that the army is mostly
centred at Mayence. Of actual operations there has
been little or none. We hear that a small force of thirty-
one men, belonging to the 7th Uhlans, crossed the frontier
into French territory, and did a good deal of damage to
the railway which runs from Saargemiind to Hagenau.
They broke down one viaduct, and tore up a good length
of rails. On another occasion an attack by French upon
a small party of Prussian Cavalry, just on the borders,
was repulsed without loss to the German side.