The Sun.
London, England, 1870-10-22 00:00:00

CONDUOI OF THE GERMAN TROOPS.

Di-. Thomas, of the London Loeb Hospital, has written
a letter, in which he gives an account. of the behaviour of

the German soldiers, rather different from those of special
correspondents, who, being with the German army, are
under some obligation to make things pleasant. He says:
—At the village of Boissy St. Leger most of the inhabi-
tants had fled. Here the place was entirely sacked, as
as also the town of Villeneuve St. Georges close by. The
wanton destruction is beyond- description. The soldiers
seemed to take a savage delight in breaking everything
they could not carry away .or make use of.
The horses were accommodated in the cafés,
and the tables, chairs, cooking utensils, and
beds carried into the fields for the soldiers who were en-
camped there. All the live stock and the contents of the
gardens are taken wholesale. I went into a very good
house about fifteen kilometres from Boissy, on the road to
Versailles. There was not a whole or sound thing in the
house except the piano, which was uninjured. Every
cupboard, drawer, and desk had been smashed open
and the contents heaped together in endless con-
fusion. In the bedrooms the contents of the wardrobes
were lying about, the clothing of the family who in-
habited the house being scattered all over the place. Even
the children's toys were destroyed, the chimney ornaments
and the looking-glasses sharing the same fate. At the
Château of Gros Bois, the residence of the Prince of
Wagram, I saw an officer carry off one of the carriages
and some harnt ss, although he had been entertained by
the steward left in charge of the place. All the horses
had been taken, as well as the sheep and other animals.
We stopped for two hours at a very large farm-house
and distillery on the north side of Paris.
It was in a lamentable condition. Everything
that man could do to destroy the place was done,
except burning it. From the dwelling-house to the dis-
tillery literally everything was smashed and destroyed.;
in the distillery the machine work was all broken up, the
wheels and pipes being rendered useless, and the staves of
the barrels driven in. There was a pond in the middle of
the farmyard, and into this the carts and waggons had
been upset. As we were leaving this heartrending scene
six soldiers arrived with pickaxes and spades to dig down
into the cellars, and they commenced their operations in
one of the stables. I ;think I have said enough on
the destruction of property and the pillage which the
German and Prussian soldiers have indulged in. I will
say a word on " personal violence." I have seen a Prussian
soldier strike with his hand a peasant because he did not
drive his cart fast enough. I have seen a peasant driving
his cart and horse, and two soldiers jump into the cart,
hold a pistol to the head of the driver, and compel him
to take them in a different direction. I saw a German
sub-officer strike a Frenchman with the steel
sheath of his sword because he demurred at
being compelled to give up his pig ; and I
have seen a French family compelled to sleep in an out-
house because every room in their house was occupied by
the soldiers. All this kind of thing takes place in the
villages, where most of the people are ignorant and poor,
and where, perhaps, there are no officers. In such places
as Versailles and St., Germain, where guards and officers
are stationed, the people have not this kind of thing, to
complain of, as the demands are made in a more polite
manner through the mayor. As to insults offered to
women, I would say that I have not seen anything of
the kind, although I have heard of such things being done;
yet I do not give credence to tales of this sort unless they
are confirmed by trustworthy evidence. I have now
simply told you what I have seen—and what I have seen
I believe ; and anyone else can see the same if he chooses
to go to the places I have mentioned. lam a represen-
tative of the British National Association for Relief to
the Sick and Wounded and have had very many wounded
and sick soldiers, both Prussian and French, to attend
to, and I am not in any way prejudioed for either side.
My evidence can be confirmed by Mr. Adams, of Putney,
an English gentleman who accompanied the ambulance
from ChAlons.

A PRUSSIAN OFFICER ON THE BATTLE
AT ORLEANS. •

A Prussian officer, who took part in the fight at
Orleans, says that the French, whom, it seems, no ex-
perience can teach, again committed the fault of dividing
their meh in three groups, instead of keeping them
compact. The first division, under General B.eyan,
followed the road to Etampes and Paris ; the second went
in the direction of Pithiviers ; and the third, consisting of
4,000 Mobiles, advanced to Chartres. This last division
had an engagement of slight importance on the next day
with two Bavarian battalions and a division of Prussian
cavalry, but they were repulsed the next day, with con-
siderable loss, and driven beyond the Eure. The Germans
only lost eighteen men. The centre of the Army of the
South, with 10,000 men, fell back southwards on the
approach of the Bavarian troops, under General Tann,
and a division of Pruskau cavalry. A company from
Gem were not informed of this retreating movement soon
enough. They were surprised at Angerville by the Prus-
sian cavalry, and, after a brief resistance, were all sabred
or captured. At first, as they did not wear the uniform
of the Line, they were treated as Freeshooters, but on
the production of their certificates, the officers ordered
they should be treated as belonging to the army. On the
10th the German troops succeeded in coming up with
General Reyan's division at Arthenay, near Orleans
and forced it to accept fight. General Von
der Tann brought up eighty cannon at once,
and inflicted terrible • havoc on the enemy. The
infantry were ordered not to drive the enemy too far, so
as to leave the cavalry time to take them in flank. The
two Zouave regiments made an heroic resistance, neither
giving nor receiving quarter, and the six battalions were
well nigh annihilated. The troops of the line, on the con-
trary, behaved pitifully. The soldiers threw down their
arms without fighting, and surrendered themselves pri-
soners. One Prussian officer declared he had never seen
a battle-field so strewn with arms. After the battle 1,000
prisoners were counted, and many were brought in by the
cavalry. It is scarcely credible that with all this the
Prussians only lost one officer and 110 men, mostly of the
infantry. The enormous losses of the enemy are ex-
plained by the superiority of our artillery. Thus the
army which was to relieve Paris is dispersed at the out-
set, and General Von der Tann has only had to pass
through Orleans en route for Tours.

ANOTHER ATTACK UPON AN ENGLISII

VESSEL.

Another attack has been made by a French crowd upon
an English vessel. The steam-packet Wonder has brought
news of very serious disturbances at St. Malo. It appears
that the London and South-Western Company's steamer
Cteserea, which runs between Southampton and St.
Malo, reached her destination on Saturday mor-
ning, having on board some horses for the French
troops. These were landed, and a small portion of cargo
put on board during the afternoon, the remainder to be
shipped on
.Monday. About seven o'clock in the evening a
large crowd of persons assembled on the quay, uttering im-
precations against the crew, denouncing the exportation of
food, and expressing their determination to put a stop to it.
About 200 of them boarded the steamer, many of them
carrying lights, with which they commenced to search the
vessel. They found, however, only some cases of eggs and
a few bales of rags, the latter of which they declared was
lint for the Prussians, and demanded that these should be
put on shore, at the same time cautioning the captain and
crew against taking any cargo on board. Deeming discretion
the better part of valour, the captain got up steam, and shortly
afterwards went into the roads. The Prefect of the De-
partment, who resided at Rennes, was telegraphed to,
and he, having received instructions from the Govern-
ment of Tours to see that the cargo was duly shipped,
repaired to St. Malo on Monday morning, accompanied
by a small body of cavalry and a company of
the 86th Regiment of the Line. He immediately
sent a message to the Caesarea for her to re-
turn to the harbour, assuring perfect protection to the
vessel and crew. The captain, however, declined to run
the risk of venturing into harbour again. At about 11
o'clock the steamer Wonder arrived from Jersey, and the
captain of the Caesarea having again refused to return with
his vessel, the Prefect requested Captain Clement to take
on board the cargo destined for the Caesarea. This was
agreed to, and preparations made for loading. No sooner
did the mob find what was about to be done than they
assumed a most menacing attitude, and shewed a determi-
nation to do mischief. They were summoned by the Mayor
to disperse, but they refused, and replied by threats, On

this the cavalry were ordered to charge upon the mob,
which they immediately did, the infantry joining them.
In the flight it is said that one woman was killed and
fifteen of the mob wounded ; forty were taken prisoners
and consigned to the barracks. The mob were driven off
the quay into the town, on which the gates were
closed, and no one was allowed to pass • without
a speCial permit. The labourers usually employed
to load the steamers refused to work, and the
Prefect ordered twenty soldiers to assist on shore
in bringing the goods to the edge of the quay. As the
cargo of butter was brought from the railway station, a
guard of soldiers accompanied each waggon-load to pro-
tect it from attack by the mob. At eight o'clock, though
all the cargo was not shipped, the Prefect deemed it pru-
dent that the Wonder should leave the harbOur to go into
the roads, in order to guard against a night surprise. A
guard of soldiers was left on board all night. 'lndeed the
Prefect and all the authorities behaved in a manner which
elicited the highest praise from the Englishmen. Another
vessel which went to Cherbourg for a cargo of cattle was
obliged to return empty. . .
. .

Gas is to be measured out iu Paris in the same manner
as meat is iationed out. Fresh meat will, it is said, still
be supplied lor two months.
The Nuncio of the Holy See is about to leave Paris, in
company with a messenger bearing a flag of truce. His
preparations foretell a long absence.
The German papers say very little about the condition
of their country, but private advices from all parts of the
Fatherland are very unfavourable. The industrial distress
arising from the war is very great.
After the Ist of November the Emperor's head will be
no longer recognised by French post-offices as a passport
for letters. The Republican lady will take the place of
the Imperial gentleman.
Herr Gregorovius, the German poet, suggests that
Bazaine has hopes of appearing like Fortinbras in the last
act of the tragedy, when all the parasites and screamers
of France have perished or fled, and stepping into an Impe-
rial inheritance.

News from Brussels received by the Cologne Gazette
states that the authorities at Termonde have detained a
vessel, the alleged cargo of which, being tiles, were used
to cover up a large quantity of guns, which were intended
for France.

The French have taken from the Prussians, in the
neighbourhood of Bondy, twenty waggons full of fresh
vegetables, wine, &c. These waggons belonged to the
army of Lyons, and bear its mark. These provisions are
not very substantial, but there is no fear of Paris being
exposed to the-horrors of famine for some time to come.

A decree has been issued in Paris whicl gives to
journals and periodical publications the right of transmis-
sion by all extra-postal means; on condition that they are
sent by bales of at least one kilogram. Another decree
furnishes the Minister of the Interior with a credit of 100
million francs to secure the means of special service for
the despatch of correspondence.
A newspaper correspondent has met woeful humiliation
at the hands of Mr. Gambetta. That energetic minister
called the writer to his presence at Tours, and told him
that if he continued telegraphing movements of troops,
true or false, his expulsion from Tours would be the con-
sequence. The correspondent is reported to have looked
very white after the interview.
The Patrie understands that the governmental delega-
tion at Tours offered General Bourbaki the superior com-
mand of all the military forces out of Paris and Metz,
but that the general hesitated to undertake so extensive
and weighty a task. The writer hopes that he will be
induced to accept it, and that a thorough man of war will
thus be placed at the head of affairs.

Since the Prussians occupied Rheims and Epernay, the
price of champagne has gone up 20 francs a bottle. So
long as the wine is left in the cellars, it is respected as
private property, but when it is carried about the Prus-
sians seize it as a prize of war. One House which is well
known in Rheims, the head of which is a German by
birth, has had to pay a fine of a million, because being
member of the Corps TAgislatif, the merchant voted in
favour of the war.

Though General Bourbaki has not taken the command
of the Loire army, either he or the present commander
has made a wonderful difference in the state of the army.
The men who were quartered in houses and barracks have
had to turn out and encamp in the plain. Besides this,
such power is now put in the hands of superiors of all
grades that gradually a better state of discipline will
result. All superiors from a corporal upwards have abso-
lute power of life and death upon their inferiors, and
may shoot them down there and then for the slightest
word or sound.

It now appears certain that General von Steinmetz was
relieved of his command of the First Army through his
blundering andlis irascible temper. He seriously compro-
mised the operations raund Metz in August, by attacking
from the south instead of the north side of the fortress.
The King was displeased, ordered Steinmetz to report in
future, not to the head-quarters of the entire army, but to
that of Prince Frederick Charles. After this change Stein-
metz manifested his irritation in so many ways that the
relations between him and Prince Frederick Charles grew
into a scandal, and he was removed.

The German papers continue to report outrages by pen'
sants. On the 16th 48 Alsatians, who had fired on German
soldiers and had been captured with arms in their hands
at Ammersweiler, were taken to—lngolstadt. A letter
from Livry, near Paris, states that several Saxon, soldiers,
who had left the hospital in order to return to their reg,i-
'meats were surprised on the border of a wood by half
dozen persons in civilian dress, who threw them down,
gouged them, and ran away. " They are a bad people
with whom we have to deal, and our own interest re-
quires us to keep them in check. Their animosity is
indescribable."

The French tried a ruse a .few days ago at Metz. One
day they sent out some Prussian sick and wounded in a
train, and the next day the identical train came again out
but this time, instead of being filled with sick and
wounded, it was filled with healthy French troops,
having with them two mitrailleuses, who sprang upon the
Prussians like wolves, taking them altogether by surprise.
The Prussians, however, shewed fight, but the odds were
too great against them. The French made their wag
back to the train—first of all setting fire to the village of
Peltre—taking with them three officers, two of whom
died in Metz of their wounds, and 100 men.
The aerial post is now conducted on a regular system
in Paris, and 1110111 e of• the marines have been detached
from the forts for the service. One of them descended a
day or two ago at Dinant, in Belgium, and gave a graphic
account of his voyage. On leaving Paris the wind directed
the balloon to the north-west. In passing over Soissons
a slight tear in it made it sink as low as. 500
metres. A brisk fusillade was immediately opened
upon it by the Prussians, and the balls whistled about the
ears of the passengers, while a thousand voices at
Soissons slibuted Vive la Republique." Several bags of
ballast were thrown out, and the mronants reascended,
moving this time towards the east. Luckily the wind
shifted, and carried them rapidly towards the Prussian
frontier, :which they took good care not to pass, and
descended at Dinant in Belgium.
The Neue Freie Presse explains the reason why the
Tours Delegation ordered the elections for the Consti-
tuent Assembly and why the Government in Paris
countermanded.the order. The Tours Delegation knew
the state of France better than the Ministers. They felt
that resistance was hopeless, and ordered the elections
with the view of concluding a peace. The Ministers in
Paris, on the other hand, estimated the spirit of France
by the spirit of the capital, and declared for continuing
the contest, and for the postponement of the elections'
Yet even they were not unanimous. "It is now clear
that the Paris Government was divided into two parties.
Trochu, the representative of the military element, with
Gambetta and Rochefort at the head of the masses, were
for war ; while Jules Favre, Gamier-Pages and Jule°
Simon were convinced of the uselessness of farther resist-
ance, but could effect nothing against their fiery and
thoroughgoing colleagues."