The Sun.
London, England, 1870-08-04 00:00:00

THE ATTACK ON SAARBRUCK.

A graphic account of the shelling of Saarbruck is given
by a correspondent of the Gaulois, who writes from For-
bach :—" The first French bombs have burst upon a
Prussian town. From the high ground which overlooks
the village of Spikeren the Prussian parade-ground in front
of Saarbruck is visible. On the western side it is covered
by a curtain of trees, at the extremity of whidh, on the
Mayence road, is a red stone house of two storeys, appa-
rently solidly built. This house has been used since the
commencement of hostilities as. a cavalry and' infantry
post. From morning till night, by the aid of a glass, horse
and foot soldiers have been seen spread about in groups of
three or four within the border of the woo+ and in the
fields. . For some days past it had been noticed that
the enemy were digging trenches, forming epaulements
of earth upon the ground which slopes from the
manoeuvring field to the open country. Our military
authorities here seem to have been curious to know what
these earthern constructions were intended to conceal,
and, therefore, they determined to send a few shells to
compel the enemy to unmask his batteries. At one o'clock
I found myself on the hillock, where four guns ha,,l been
placed. Some officers of the Staff and Line were grouped
together about 150 paces to the left of the battery atten-
tively examining the position. These gentlemen were in
good spirits and in eager conversation, heedless of the risk
they ran, for it is certain that if the Prussians had replied
their fire would have swept the whole face of the plateau.
Suddenly thunder burst in loud peals, and lightning lit
the horizon, while the rain fell with such violence that
within five minutes the roads and footpaths were
converted into torrents, the water dashing through
the mountain gorges and carrying away trees and
great stones in their passage. It is needleis to say
that, notwithstanding our attempts to shelter our-
selves under trees, we were all speedily wet through
to the skin. The storm lasted with undiminished
violence for a quarter, of an hour, and then gradually the
sky cleared, and the mist which hid the Prussian moun-
tains disappeared? bringing once more in view the Saar-
bruck road, the wood, and the red house. The rain con-
tinued to fall, but not sufficiently to interfere with the
firing. About fifteen volunteer tiralleurs of the line,
under the command of a lieutenant, descended the hill
and took up their position in the fields within the Prus-
sian territory. A. Prussian soldier crouching down in a
potatoe field, fired upon them, and then lay flat clown.
Our tiralleurs sent some thirty balls in his direction, but
did not hit him. At that time a fearful detonation
was heard, awakening the echoes of the forest, and a
shell fell three or four yards from the red house. At the
second fire the shell entered the house, which became
filled with smoke. Fourteen more shells were fired, of
which one burst within the house and the others in Saar-
bruck. At a distance, and seeing the shells bursting with
a momentary flash like that from .a cannon and a loud
report, I imagined that the Prussians were returning the
fire. It was not so, however. The few horse and foot
soldiers whom we had seen under the trees had withdrawn
during the storm, and took care not to make themselves
visible again. •

The Vienna Prase, in a leading article upon the atti-
tude to be taken by Austria with regard to the war, shews
that the policy of the Austrian Government since 1805 is
one of self-interest, while a part of the population of the
Empire had adopted a policy of sentiment. Since
the battle of Sadowa, the policy of interest, as
understood by France, has led that Power towards
an alliance with Austria, while Prussia, with her
tendencies to unite Germany under the Hohenzollern
dynasty, endeavours entirely to crush Austria's power.
The triumph of Prussia in the present war would be-the
destruction of Austria, while the victory of France would
establish a French preponderance against which Austria
would move only should Germany be menaced. Austria's
duty is to establish a neutral league to establish an Euro-
pean equilibrium, which, in certain eventualities, would
have to be brought about by force.

PROPOSED LEAGUE OF NEUTRAL POWERS.—Pie
Eastern Budget has received information from a very well-
informed source on the effect produced in Austria by the
Sect et Treaty. The Austro-Hungarian Government re-
gard the crisis as too serious to allow themselves to be
influenced by sympathies for either party, and they are
chiefly concerned for the interests of the monarchy.
Austria has resolved to prepare herself for the efficient de-
fence of her territories, and to seek for allies on whom she
could rely in an emergency. Italy would he such
an ally, and negotiations have been entered into
between the Cabinets of Vienna and Florence, with the
object of entering on a common course of action in the
event of Russia t.sking the field. Italy has made-a
agreement for such an eventuality with France, and
Austria would thus Le driven, simply by the force of
events, in to taking the French side. This league, which
is in course of formation, principally with the object of
keeping Russia• in check, has also, it is said, been joined
by Turkey.