The Sun.
London, England, 1870-10-11 00:00:00

IMPORTANT FROM METZ.

The prisoners taken in the affair at Peltre were sent out
of Metz. yesterday to be exchanged. They describe their
treatment as of the best. They were served twice a day
with excellent soup made from horseflesh, and also a suffi-
ciency of bread. The only thing that seemed to be want-
ing was salt, which they say is now served out only to the
officers. They describe the French troops as being in
excellent spirits, and say that the soldiers talked, laughed,
and joked with them in the most friendly way. They
were not subjected to any examination respecting the dis-
position of troops, or anything at all connected with
the arrangements of the German army ; nor were they
ever visited by any general officer ; but quarter
were immediately assigned to them in the suburb of L e
Sablon, where they were exceedingly well treated, and
eventually sent with a flag of truce to the nearest Prus-
sian outpost. Their report only tends to confirm the
opinion that Metz la Pucelle will not be taken before
winter shall have tried the resources and constitutions of
the German army--Daily Telegraph Correspondent,
October 2nd,

A captain in the Prussian army gives similar testimony
that the siege is likely to be a long one. He says :
" How long we have to remain here heaven knows.
Goeben thinks it not unlikely that we shall have to light
here our Christmas trees. However, this life is very
interesting, though it may be very fatiguing. In spite of
all the shooting we have • been exposed to, there is only
one wounded among my men. . . . A handsome
pointer (Lulu) is the trusty companion of myself and my
horse (The Swallow). . . . Favoured by excellent
weather, little to eat and much appetite, little to drink
and much thirst, dirty hands and no water nor time for
washing, no sleep by night and sleepy by day, volia ma vie
but always in the best of spirits, and yours ever,

"T. SP,

WANT OF DIRECTION IN FRANCE.

The correspondent of the Independance Beige, writing
from Tours, expresses great dissatisfaction with the
management of affairs throughout France, and draws
but a gloomy picture. From every side come appeals
from Prefects, or other authorities, for arms or men.
In Beauce they are calling loudly for help, declaring
the place to be quite.undefended, and at the mercy of the
Prussians, Normandy makes a similar demand, but
Normandy is more energetic, and has the sea to fall back
upon, while Beauce and the Loiret are completely helpless.
M. Cochery, the former deputy, has been appointed chief
director of defences, and this has given offence to Gen. Reyon,
the military commander, who threatens to resign. At
Lyons M. Challemel Lacour is endeavouring to effect a
reconciliation with Tours, and has set General Mazure at
liberty, fearing the uprising of the population. There is
nothing new in Government quarters, but General
Cambriel is spoken of as a man of energy
and ability, who may take the chief command.
A Minister of war, says the writer, is expected
in a balloon. May one only fall from the sky !
In the department of the Eure there is a general sauve qui
pent. The inhabitants having neither troops nor artillery
dare not attempt to fight. The Mayor of Pocy-sur-Eure
set a shameful example by disarming the National Guard
to save the town from the risk of pillage. So long as the
Government fails to punish such defections severely, they
will repeat themselves. It is said that six Uhlans took
Vernon, but this is not authenticated. The towns where
the working classes are in the majority are the best for
national defence. From St. Quentin they telegraph to
Tours—" The enemy approaches ; we are making
barricades ; can we have some troops ? In waiting, we
shall defend ourselves with the National Guard and the
pompiers." Meanwhile, at Tours, men are angrily
asking how it . is that the Government of
National Defence, having been warned for many
days of the enemy's advance on Normandy arid
Beauce, has not been able to organise anything
for the protection of these provinces. The people, with
few exceptions, are full of ardour : but, too long accus-
tomed to depend entirely on the Government, they are
waiting for the authorities to take the initiative. In some
parts, tired of waiting, they are forming leagues which
may lead straight to federalism. We want a man at
Tours. And let him come quickly, whether by balloon or
any other route.

THE ACCUSATION AGAINST GENERAL
DUCROT.

The correspondent of the Daily News at Tours remarks :
—The serious accusation against General Ducrot of having
broken his parole is devoutly believed by the Government
here to be a calumny. The General is shut up in Paris,
where he cannot see the English papers which, from a Prus-
sian source, publish the imputation upon him, and cannot
reply. The name of Ducrot is a very common one
in France; and there is a possibility that there may
be a confusion between his name and that of some other
officer. - General Ducrot was -educated at the Orleans
College, and some of his old friends there had a circum-
stantial account from him not long ago, which I
myself translated from the papers of the day,
of how he escaped from Sedan 12 the guise of a bullock-
driver without giving any parole. I observe the Prussian
allegation is that he put a " Jesuitical interpretation "
upon his engagement, a phrase not apt to describe a posi-
tive breach, but rather suggestive of a part capable
of being understood in two ways. There are in
certain not very high strata of French society loose
notions current about the value of a parole. Out of a
thousand and more officers released on parole at Sedan four
only came lately to Admiral Fourichon, at Tours, and
offered their services, saying they were willing to run the
risk of being shot if taken prisoners. But the admiral
told them that the Government could never countenance
such a breach of honour. It would be sad indeed if the
time-honoured, humane, and civilising relaxation of the
strict rights of war, which consists in giving captured
officers a certain amount of liberty on parole, were to fall
into disuse.