The Sun.
London, England, 1870-08-06 00:00:00

MISS NIGHTINGALE ON THE WAR.

At the meeting on behalf of the sick and wounded
a very interesting letter was read from Miss Nightin-
gale. The war, she says, has found us without any
organisation of the hind required, but there is such an
organisation in existence, having branches at Berlin and
Paris. An active business committee should at once
be formed in this country, to communicate with these
branch organisations and ascertain the kind of sup-
plies they most want. Having learned what articles
are required, they must be procured or made with
as little delay as possible, and sent to the two
capitals for distribution to the hospitals at the seat
of war. If supplies in kind are sent to the seat of
war, it will be necessary to obtain their neutralisa-
tion, and the persons in charge of them will
need safe conducts. If the organisa-
tions only require money, the work will
of course be so much the simpler, care being neces-
sary, in any case to preserve rigid impartiality between
the belligerents. It is likely that personal assistance
also may be needed, and Miss Nightingale says that
could she rise from her sick bed, she would before
now have been off to the scene of action. She cau-
tions volunteers, however, that hospital nursing in
war time is simple and stern reality, and very soon
tests the motives and capabilities of amateurs. She
advises the committee to keep a register of those
whom they believe to be duly qualified, who can then
be sent where they are most wanted. Miss Nightin-
gale speaks in the strongest terms of the horrors of
war, and is appalled at the suffering which will
_ _

result from the deadliest struggle of our time, carried
on " with every instrument of destruction which the
latest science has placed in human hands."

SOLDIERS' PANICS,

An article in the Pall Mall Gazette notes that

French soldiers are very apt to give way to panics.
The other day at Metz a sentry was shot dead
' through the mistake of another, upon who m he
came suddenly. The confusion spread to the other
sentinels, and they discharged their rifles. In former
wars the French have displayed this dangerous
inclination. During the Crimean war a regi;
ment which was encamped near Inkerman
raised a false alarm and for some time the
greatest disorder prevailed which the officers could
not control. The panic was infectious, and the other
regiments caught up the notion that they were to
take up arms. No. one was wounded, which was
strange, when so many men were on the alert and so
many rifles were discharged. Another of these false
alarms took place during the Italian campaign in
1859. The cry of aux armes was heard through the
camp, and all the troops made ready for action,
During most campaigns such panics are likely to
occur, and occasionally they gain possession of
the old and experienced as] well as of the young and
untried. A short time will generally suffice to
restore order, but during the interval of disturbance
the soldiers for the most part will seize their arms
either instinctively, or as a matter of precaution.
To avert the chance of a panic it has been suggested
that a line of retreat should be made known to the
troops, which would strengthen their confidence.
Soldiers are most likely to give way to panics when
they have been kept in suspense for some time and
are momentarily expecting an engagement to take
price.