The Sun.
London, England, 1870-11-26 00:00:00

SOISSONS AFTER BOMBARDMENT.

Writing from the headquarters of Manteuffel's army,
the correspondent of the Telegraph gives a brief sketch of
Soissons after its bombardment. He says :It is a
town fortified upon the Vauban system, and, at the
time when it was attacked, was defended by 4,000
troops of the line, with some artillery. Meagre as
the system of Vauban is when opposed to modern
siege operations, the engineer who planned the
defences of Soissons seems to have endeavoured to make
them still weaker—for, beyond a cavalier lying out-
side the re-entering angle of the bastion of St. John, and
a very useless hornwork covering the Faubourg St.
Christophe, there is absolutely no protecting structure of
any kind to the town. The place was shelled by the
k Prussian batteries from the ridge of Vauxbuin on the
west, and from the heights of Belleu, on the south
side, at distances of 2,500 yards and 2,700 respectively.
From the elevated position of these batteries, shooting
into the town was something like shooting into a tea-
cup. As if to make his ignorance more palpable, the
Commandant commenced operations by shelling one
Of his own suburbs—that of the Faubourg of Rheims,
situated on the Rheims road, because a few dragoons
had ridden into it in quest of provisions. The result
has been the destruction of all that part of the town
which is situated in the neighbourhood of the magazine.
In this direction, by the way, is the Church of St. Jean,
an excellent mark for the German twenty-four pounders.
This fine old building is a mass of ruins, its
two unequal but beautiful spires being the
sole remains of its former beauty. The ca-
thedral is also pitted with shells, and the large
hospital is entirely destroyed ; in fact, from the gate of
St. Christophe round to that on the Rheims road, the
town is nothing but a heap of ruins. An affair much
resembling that of Laon was very near happening here.
Upon the capitulation of the town, the engineer officers
went to the Church of St. Jean, in order to take over
the powder and other materials. When they en-
deavoured to open the door, they found it fast closed
against them. The French soldier who was sent with the
officers had meanwhile mysteriously disappeared, and
could nowhere be found. The 'suspicions of the party
were at once aroused. By displacing • a stone near the
door-post, a sergeant was enabled to pass his hand
round to the back of the door ; he there found that a
piece of twine fastened the catch ; this he immediately
cut, and the door was at once opened. Fortunate indeed
was it that the absence of the French soldier had been
observed, for a truly diabolical scheme had been laid
for the destruction of many innocent people. Attached
to one end of the string was a gun fuse, which had,
by means of two sticks, been made fast in a sack
of gunpowder nailed to the ground ; while the
other end of the string was attached to the door-
latch—so that, if the door had been burst open, the fuse
would have exploded. The floor was knee deep in powder,
every cask and sack having been sprung. This is the way
in which "la graude nation" makes war under the aus-
pices of Gambetta and Rochefort ! In Soissons provisions
are plentiful. The inhabitants had been greatly elated by
the news from Orleans ; but upon the arrival of the First
Army their rejoicings were wonderfully hushed.

DIVISIONS IN THE PRUSSIAN COUNCIL.
It has been reported that for the first time during the
campaign there is a difference of opinion between the
King of Prussia, and his great general, Von Moltke. It
is said, too, that the King and his great strategist are not
at one as to the appointment of the Duke of Meck-
lenburg to the command of the forces opposing
General Aurelle. Moltke, according to the information
received, has little faith in the Duke's strategical, ability;
and so much importance did he sttach to the Army of the
Loire, that he wanted his old pupil the Crown Prince to
be sent against it. The Duke has, however, received the
appointment, but he is accompanied by a young officer
of ability, who, as chief of his staff, will be able to
prevent any serious blunder. Regarding the siege
of Paris, also, there is much difference of opinion at the
King of Prussia's Headquarters, but the most influential
members of the Council oppose the shelling of the city.
The question whether the German forces should be
massed round Paris to resist Trochu's expected sortie, or
dispersed to attack the French troops north and south,
has also been warmly debated.

The Electeur Libre says that a collective note from all
the Powers was placed the other day in the hands of
Count Bismarck at Versailles.

It is reported from Toulon that a maritime disaster has
occurred. One of the two floating iron-clad batteries
which left Toulon to proceed to the defence of Lyons
foundered. No one was drowned, but the material loss is
considerable, as the vessel sunk having on board its
artillery and provisions.

A rumour has been circulated to the effect that
important changes in the Cabinet are in contemplation,
in consequence of a difference of opinion on the Eastern
Question. There is a strong opinion that Earl Russell
is again bidding for power, and that he may soon be seen
in office.

A visitor at Beaubin, on the frontier of Belgium, writes
to say that he has witnessed a sad spectacle. About a
hundred poor women from neighbouring French villages
came daily to receive the bread which is distributed to
them by a Belgian committee. They receive it with
eagerness, and are profuse in their grateful a,cknowledg-
nents. The Francs-tireurs in the woods adjoining show
s4rupulous regard for the property of the Belgians.

THE EASTERN QUESTION.
COUNT BEUST'S REPLY TO PRINCE GORTSCHAKOII4
A telegram from Vienna dated yesterday says :
" With regard to the last Russian Note the Austria
Government considered it its duty to enter upon tile
appreciation of this event with the earnestness and crw:
ness necessary to the treatment of the question. The reply
of Count Beust to the Circular of Prince Gortscbso°l
points out that there can be no doubt as to the muto3'
obligations involved by the Treaty of 1856, which
not by one party be modified or annulled. It is merelit
in deference due to the Cabinet of St. Petersburg tilt
Count Beust proceeds to an analysis of the arguraeow
advanced by Prince Gortschakoff. The fact that Turkey
can maintain a fleet where Russia cannot could only
warrant a desire for a revision of the Treaty, but never its
arbitrary dissolution. This argument only increases the
gravity of the step taken by Russia, as such maxims
danger all existing and future treaties. Turkey is not re'
sponsible for the alleged breach of treaty by the 'Oil
of the Danubian PrincipalitiOs. Turkey does not demand
the sanction of this breach of treaty, which infringes ill
her rights and interests. The entry into the Black Sea °
foreign men-of-war having Princes on board was a harin_i.
less proceeding, of which Russia should have complairm"
if deemed objectionable. The Austro-Hungarian Gran
ment learns with painful regret the resolve °
Russia, and expresses it deep surprise thereof'
It cannot but direct the serious attention of the
Cabinet of St. Petersburg to the consequences °,
such a proceeding. A further note of Count Beust sA"
dressed to the Austrian Ambassador, Count Chotek,
at
St. Petersburg, refutes the allegation which imputed to
Count Beust his having taken the initiative in this matter
in January, 1857. At that time tjie Russian ImPerh`
Chancellor himself deemed the action of dount Beust Prt
oipitate, as tending to excite the suspicion of the Freoc''
Government, and as no satisfactory result could be sr
petted from a Congress. Besides, according to the Pr°-
posals of Count Beust at that time, the different &
signatories—but not a single Power by itself—were t°
proceed to a revision of the Treaty. At that time, t 0 ll
the proposal of Count Beust was not of a nature to ca
:s
forth dangerous, consequences, while the present isolot7
proceeding of Russia creates serious misgivings, as the
Christian populations of the East will think that Ells',
had deemed the moment opportune to take the solutionP
the Eastern Question in hand."