The Sun.
London, England, 1870-09-30 00:00:00

A. PRUSSIAN SOLDIER ON THE WAR.

The Pattie publishes a letter written by a Prussian
officer to a friend and co-religionist of his, resident at
Agen. He begins by expressing his delight at hearing
from a French, prisoner that his old friend is still alive
and well, for he knew that he was too much of a patriot
not to have enrolled himself as a soldier in presence of
invasion. He is glad, too, to find that his friend was not
present at Sedan, " at the disaster of MacMahon's army,
or rather at that of the Emperor Napoleon ; for it• is
understood that it was he who had the command, though
indirectly." The battle of Sedan, though unparalleled,
was not, he says, unforeseen. " It was known that your
army, though full of ardour and courage, was badly com-
manded, and in want of everything, and could not sus-
tain the charge of our troops, whose organisation is
incomparable. Heavens ! what corpses covered the
earth. Surely the God of Love and Mercy will punish
the authors of so many deaths ! My sight was soon wearied
and darkened ; but as far as it could reach I could see
nothing but ruin and destruction. At the battle of Sedan
the French had, tremendous losses, and their leaders were
highly imprudent. How ar,e we to explain that an autty,.l
and a French army, could capitulate with such an impos-

of making General Vogel von Falkenstein personally
responsible for overstepping his authority."
Falckenstein was the general who commanded the opera
tions against the South during the war of 1866. When he
arrived at Frankfort he imposed a contribution upon that
unhappy city. General Manteuffel, who succeeded him,
thought, however, that the sum was not large enough, and
quadrupled the amount. But if Falckenstein was not
"hot " enough to rule the Frankforters, he is quite equal
to the occasion in East Prussia.

It is not alone because this arrest is contrary to the
Constitution and every principle of liberty, that it has ex-

' cited great and general indignation. A good many people,
and their number is increasing, hold mnch the same
opinions as Dr. Jacoby, though they are not Democrats,
and hence they dislike his being prosecuted for them.
Conquest and glory may be all very well for the upper
grades of Prussian society, who would think it derogatory
to be anything but soldiers, but the tradesmen and others
of the middle-class are not so vividly impressed with the
desirability of inflicting further suffering upon France.
Whilst the nobility reap most of the honour of the war,
the middle classes bear its terrible burdens. It ig their
. businesses which are being ruined, because the proprietors
are in the front ; it is their relatives who, in thousands;
are becoming the prey of the Chassepot, and are buried
in heaps like dogs on the battle-field. "We cannot•
add much to the lustre of our dazzling triumphs, - why
. not stop ?" An addition of territory is not worth pro-
longing the war for. If Metz and Sbrasbourg be dismantled,
that will be sufficient to protect Germany, which on her
side has abundance of fortresses. The additional ground
will be more than counterbalanced by the hatred which
such a transfer would engender. Many of the South-Ger-
man statesmen are notoriously opposed to the acquisition.
The Southern States are too weak to be burdened
with hostile populations, and if they are " taken
on" by Prussia, so much the greater will become the domi-
nant power in Germany. It is by no means the fact that
the Southern States have no jealousy of Prussia. Their
jealousy will not prevent their entering the Confederation,
but it is felt all the same. Amongst another powerful
class the feeling against annexation is strong, because the
inhabitants of Alsace and Lorraine are opposed to any
transfer. Civilisation has done some good in creating
within the minds of men a repugnance to transferring
kn'ople like* sheep' and againtt their will, and nobody
doubts here that the inhabitants of A 180,03 and Lorraine e.

ing force ? It is the generals of the French army who
must bear the responsibility. Your soldiers fought,
as they always do, like lions, and they would have per-
formed prodigies had they been better led. France
mourns the defeat of her army, while Prussia exults in a
triumph which will be fatal to her if she does not look
forward. What has the war in reserve for us? God only
knows. Prussia, with all her victories, is- ruining and
killing herself. Her soldiers are decreasing, while her
thirst for conquest grows more ardent." Speaking of the
proposed annexation of Alsace and Lorraine, the writer
declares his conviction that they can only be taken by
crushing France, and in the interests of peace, he hopes
Prussia may not be able to take them, for he is
certain no peace so arranged could. be lasting.
The Prussian army are confident that Paris will not
be able to hold out against them; but he, who has
visited Paris with his friend, knows better, and believes
that 100,000 Prussians will perish before subduing the
fortsi, 100,000 more before conquering the ramparts, and
the rest will fall at the barricades. If the- Parisians hold
out a month all France will be behind them ; and the
situation of the Prussians will be as.critical as that of the
French.

THE FRENCH PRISONERS EN ROUTE.
• According to the accounts supplied from several sources
to the French journals, the Prussians do not seem to have
been very solicitous to keep their prisoners after Sedan. k THE TROUBLES IN LYONS.
A correspondent of the Peuple Francais, writing from The &clue Public, of Lyons, announces that there was
Virton on September 12th, says :—" The great event of still some agitation in the town on the 25th, but
the day is the evasion of the French prisoners after the pUblic order was not seriously endangered. The dif6"
capitulation of Sedan. I delayed writing about it until culty arose from the great flag question. A large
it had assumed really important proportions. They number of the population were anxious to see the
were sent off in columns of two to three tricolour floating over the-Hotel-de-Ville. On the morn-
thousand to Pont-a-Mousson, where they had ing of the 25th a corps of free shooters marched to the
to take the railway to Hagenau and Germany. The Place Bellecour, with the flag of three colours. Several
departure of these columns was rapidly watched, and the companies of the National Guard were at exercise there,
prisoners while they remained at Sedan, were closely and loudly applauded the hoisting of the flag. One of the
superintended, but directly they left the town supervision local mayors and another citizen protested against
became very difficult. Only some two hundred cavalry it as seditious. The lieutenant commanding the
would escort the columns, and at every bush and every Guards, refused, however, to remove it, and the
turn of the road some Frenchmen succeeded in making. i Guards themselves hoisted tricolours in their
their escape. Several were killed, but it is positively ranks. At mid-day a detachment of Mobiles had to pass
stated that not less than twenty thousand officers and in front of the Hotel de Ville itself. The excitement
soldiers succeeded in getting off. They all provided them- caused by their presence stimulated two bystanders
selves with workmen's clothes as soon as they escaped, and to tearing down the red flag from the hotel,
directed their course towards Central France. Several in doing which one of them was wounded by
rejoined their regiments at the depots, but the greater I the sabre of a staff captain inside. This produced
number came to Paris to offer their services. A good great confusion. On the one hand, it was contended that
many of them are Zouaves, Turcos, Chasseurs d'Afriques, the revolutionary symbol should be removed by proper
and foot soldiers, who already form two or three com- authority, and on the other, that an . officer of the
panies. Yesterday I travelled from Sedan to Virton with National Guard should not have used his weapon in such
a soldier of the 3nd regiment of marine infantry, who had a case. The local press, at the time the news left, was
contrived to elude Prussian watchfulness. This hero, who is endeavouring to pacify the tumult.
in his 23rd year of service, saved the flag of his regiment,
remaining for three days concealed with it among the
dead. •

OPINION IN GERMANY.
COLOGNE, SEPTEMBER 27.
That the Government have not profited in any wise by
~heir arrest of Dr. Jacoby becomes more evident each
day. The act was as foolish as it was tyrannical.
Fifty Jacobies could not have created the uproar that
the Government have made by putting this Democrat
in prison. If the doctor had preached until doomsday
his humane doctrine that Lorraine and Alsace
ought not to be transferred against the will of their in-
habitants, he could not have ensured the spread of his
opinions so efficiently as he has done with the help of the
silly men who arrested him. No sooner was the act
known than it was protested against. The one or two
journals who first spoke about it were very cautious, for,
as the Cologne Gazette remarked, the event shewed how
little freedom of speech on• this subject was tolerated in
Germany. During the last few days, however, the tone
of public opinion has made itself unmistakeably heard.
Arrest or no arrest, people will not tolerate this kind of
oppression. It degrades the people. Whilst they are fight-
ing with such triumph.ant success, and raising their
country to the first place in the world, they are
rewarded with imprisonment, if they simply de-
cline to endorse the Government policy of an-
nexation. Whilst all, the peoples are praising
German bravery, skill, perseverance, and the high
standard of German education, which has so much con-
tributed to the glorious issue of the war, here is perpe-
trated an act which reduces the nation to the level of serfs.
An old man of sixty is carried off to gaol because he
quietly explains at a public meeting the reasons why he
objects to the transfer of Alsace and Lorraine from the
state to which they are so fondly ' attached. The
North German Gazette argued that a very strong measure
was necessary in the case of Dr. Jacoby, for
such propaganda as his might not improbably
destroy the unity of the nation and weaken the force of
her just demands in the eyes of Europe. But if such
mischief is to be worked by one man, the position of tl'e
Prussian Government must be materially weaker than
most people suppose it to be. And what can Europe think
of this attempt to batter sentiments of unity into the
Germans? A unity upheld by force cannot command
much respect. Amongst the journals of weight which
have protested against this arbitrary measure are the
Cologne Gazette, the Priveligiste Berlinzsche Zeitung, the
Yolks Zeitunq, the Vossische Zeitung, and others. Nor is
the agitation to be confined to the newspapers. An
attempt is to be mad 6 to re-elect Dr. Jacoby to Parlia-
ment, and so strong is the sympathy for the old
" martyr," even on the part of those who do not agree
with him, that this practical protest may be successful.
In the meantime a verbal protest has been sent to Count
Bismarck. It is influentially signed, and speaks in the
most straightforward manner. The position is this : 'When
war was declared it became known that the 'French
meditated a design upon the Baltic coast, which was
accordingly placed in a state of siege. The command of
the district was given to General Vogel von Falckenstein.
This highly respectable commander, but exceedingly
unpleasant old gentleman, has yet had no brush with the
French ; and we all know who finis work for idle hands
to do. The time, which began to drag uncomfortably
with the General, has been employed to some
extent in arresting Dr. Jacoby and kindred
exploits—making domiciliary visits, arresting various
" offenders," suppressing newspapers, &c. But the French
have not landed on the Baltic coast ; they are little likely
to do so; and people therefore are anxiously inquiring why
the state of siege should be continued, and they remain'a
prey to the cantankerous old general's eccentricities.
These are the facts set forth (not precisely in the same
terms) in the protest forwarded to Count Bismarck.
The writers wind up by saying :—" t home
such actions produce a feeling of insecurity and
diminish men's gratification at the success of
the German arms. They are, moreover, calculated
to have a prejudicial effect on our army.
Abroad they may tend to the impression that the appa-
rent unanimity of the coun 'ry in relation to the war
against France was the result of intimidation and of the
suppression of free opinion. We, therefore, pray your
Excellency to cause the speedy withdrawal of the procla-
mation of the state of war, and that you will take means

THE LATE FIGHTING BEFORE PARIS.
The following is the military report on the latest fight-
ing before Paris :

" SEPT. 24, 10 a.m.
" Our operations of yesterday have heen. excellent. he
cannonade of Villejuif, the reconnoitring of Admiral
Soisset, the brilliant engagement at Pierrefitte have given
us a proof that our young troops have already acquired the
coolness and steadiness of veterans. It is a good omen
for the future. To-day all is calm ; the enemy is achieving
his movements, but he is not advancing ; he is in great
force at Versailles. It would seem that the enemy has
no intention of attacking Nogent, Petit-Bray, and Brie-
sur-Marne, his presence not being signalised in that
direction.—The Governor of Paris, " TROCHIJ."

With respect to this fighting the Rouen correspondent
of the Standard observes :—" The engagements have had
.a
far more important effect than appears on reading the
official notes of the Government. At Villejuif and
Arteuil the enemy lost a considerable number of his
troops, and several prisoners were made ; but the new
commanders of the French army, wishing to preserve
the greatest secrecy as to their military operations, and
having reEolved to be sober in the glorification of their
successes, are determined to give only brief reports of
the actions and of their results. The artillery of the
forts has already shewn a great superiority over that of
the besiegers, and every one is confideDt- that the armies
of King William will be repulsed."

Colonel Count Finckenstein! who of..,,ied Genet-at
Moltke's famous order to the Cknown Prince the night
before the battle of Sadowa, has died of his wounds.
It is calculated that since the commencement of the
war 35,000 foreigners have sought refuge in Brussels. The
hotels in that city are crowded and lodgings can only be
obtained with difficulty.
A guerilla force is being formed on the Rhine under the
command of an old captain who took part in the Cretan
insurrection. They number 120 men, and their head-
quarters are apparently to be at Lyons.
The Times' correspondent has been assured that the
Detached Forts at Paris are wholly unprovided with
casemates. If this be true they are mere shell-trap—
nids a bombes, as the Frenclr would say.
The Salut Public of Lyons states that the armament of
the forts round that city has been completed, and formid-
able earthworks have been thrown up, which will offer
serious impediments to an hostile attack.
Paul de Cassagnan has not followed the example of his
brother Imperial journalists. He enlisted as a Zouave,
fought well, and was taken prisoner at Sedan. He is now
employed by his captors in making bread.
La France says that when a detachment of Mobiles
were ordered to explore some of the coppices of the Bois
de Boulogne, to fire them, they discovered there several
individuqls who had been expelled from Paris, all of
whom were armed with needle guns.
A letter received in Lyons from Mulhouse reports that
the enemy's troops abruptly left the town the day after
entering it, and that since then a large number of French
troops have passed the town whose destination is un-
known.

It appears that previously to the surrender of Stras-
burg the inhabitants, driven to desperation, had succeeded
in hoisting the white flag on the cathedral, but General
Uhrich ordered its removal. It is believed he was com-
pelled to surrender by the pressure of the inhabitants and
the garrison.

A Berlin paper states that Police-Lieutenant Hoppe,
who a few weeks ago was captured by the French, and,
on account of his imposing uniform, was taken for a
general, was sent to Bordeax to be " interned." The
papers found on him, however, disclosed his rank, and
were so compromising that he was tried by court-martial
and shot.

A correspondent says It strikes many people as
extremely odd that the provincial Gardes Mobiles are
such a much finer body of men than the infantry of the
Line. It looks as if all the best men had been left at
home, and all the puny, narrow-shouldered, knock kneed
lads taken by the conscription. The Gardes Mobiles are
first-rate materials for soldiers, but it is to be feared that
if there be not time to drill and discipline them enough to
make them steady before the enemy and efficient in the
field, they will hardly have a chance of amending the for-
tune of the war."

The Main Zeituug, of Darmstadt, complains of the
defective commissariat arrangements of the Hessian
troops :—" `For three days no bread,' `three' days with-
out meat,' such is the burden of the military correspon-
dence which arrives here. Hunger, wet, and cold have
had a terrible effect in our division. On the 17th alone
there were 1,100 Hessians on the sick list. The number suf
fering from typhus and-other diseases we cannot learn. This
frightful sanitary condition of our division is mainly attri-
butable to the neglect of the State."

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are French at heart, and desire to remain French. Bis.
marck admits the fact, and substantial testimony is bore
to it by the hostility cf the Aseatians and Lorrainers,
who, in their capacity as private citizens, have
combatted the march of the Prussians with grente!,
energy than the inhabitants of any other 1'
of France. One of the correspondents of the
Cologne Gazette says he has been six weeks In
Lorraine and declares that it is French to the backbone.
It is difficult to find a few traces of German origin
even on the frontier. If the province be incorporated,
Gerrtiany will attach to herself a territory which,
will give her more difficulty than Venetia ever caused
Austria. " The patriotism of the inhabitants of this
province yields in nothing to that of the Italians.
Nowhere will Prussia encounter more vivid animosity
than in Lorraine." Another letter from an old officer of
the Landwehr, says • Lorraine, ruined, spoiliated, and
devastated by the war, desires peace ardently, but
she would prefer to continue her miseries rather
than be annexed," The Gazette itself earnestly
supports these views. It urges that Alsace may be taken,
but the French population of Lorraine ought to be left
with their present rulers_ It takes no account of the
obvious deduction that the arguments against the annelin"
tion of the province apply with almost equally great force
to the transfer of the other.