The Sun.
London, England, 1870-10-07 00:00:00

THE SUS, LONDON, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1870.

will be blamed for the way in which he conducted the
siege, and may even be severely censored, not only.fer
making a large portion of Strasburg an unsightly-06*d'
ruins, but alsO for inflicting much suffering upon
defenceless inhabitants. In anticipation of these
charges, I may state what ' I know from di-
rect personal knowledge to be the view held
by the general himself. His own desire was to
do nothing that would protract or embitter the
war. He was anxious to act in the way most conduciv
to the re-establishment of 'peace. The bombed. Julep t
which Strasburg underwent in the first inFtanee was
simply designed with a view to demonstrate to the citizens
that the risk of refusing to capitulate at once was alike
serious 'and palpable. Nor was the damage done by this
bombardment so great as has been alleged. It fell upon
the public authorities far more heavily than upon
the inhabitants. Private , houses suffered but
trifling injuries. Unfortunately one of the first
buildings to be struck and set on fire by a shell was the
new Protestant Church. The building forming a part o
this church was that in which 'the famous library was
contained. Again, it must be noted that the blame for
this piece of vandalism rests upon Governor Uhrich
rather than upon General Werder. As I have mentioned
in previous letters, the latter gaire twenty-four hoursi
notice of his intention to bombard the city ; but the former
omitted to communicate the intelligence to the inhabitants.
Nor was the bombardment protracted. No sooner was it
perceived that the garrison had determined to hold out
than the siege was conducted with direct reference to the
destruction of the fortifications. But these have been so
constructed as to render it impossible to direct a fire
against them, which would not at the same time destroy
the dwellings immediately behind them. Indeed, the con-
clusion to be drrwn from the fate of Strasburg is, that a
large city should never be fortified. Thb inhabitants of
Strasburg say that if the Germans would raze the fortifi-
cations, and make their city an open one, they would hail,
annexation to Germany with enthusiasm, and would never
regret their severance from France.

DaT,ll

herseif."

Queror

EXTENSIVE PURCHASES OF ARMS FOR

FRANCE.

A correspondent writes :—" During the past few days
most extensive negotiations have been proceeding for the
purchase of arms, ammunition, clothing, and provisions
for transmission to France. At one of the principal
exchanges in the City the commission agents who gene-
rally undertake such business have found it impos-
siMe to execute the orders offered to them. In the
largest transactions, which were of a gigantic cha-
racter, a deposit was demanded, according to the usual
rule, but it was at once intimated that the solicitors acting
for the French purchasers were prepared to pay all
amounts in full at the time the contracts were signed.
These terms have naturally given an immense stimulus
to the operations of the contractors, who have sent repre-
sentatives to the manufacturing centres to ferret out
such surplus stores of arms as may remain,
and to effect purchases in a wholesale manner.
Arms now regarded as almost obsolete have been readily
treated for at prices far beyond former averages, so that
manufacturers have abundant opportunities of reaping a
rich harvest. Cartridges cannot be obtained in sufficient
quantities. The variety of bores which necessarily pre-
vail in the miscellaneeus weapons which have of neces-
sity been accepted, present an almost insurmountable dif_
culty, and there is reason to believe that, according to
present arrangements, loose ammunition will be served
out to the soldiers for whom it is intended, and that they
will make it up into cartridges for themselves. As an
illustration of some of the orders which have been given,
it may be mentioned that on Saturday last
one agent alone received an order for 50,000
Chassepots, but not being in a position to
meet such a demand at so short a notice, an offer
was made, which it is fully understood has been accepted,
for the supply of 5,400 Tower cap guns, at 30s. each ;
18,000 Sniders, at 455. each; and 9,000 of the new
Russian guns, at 90s. each. All these arms are, ac-
cording to the contract, to be fitted with bayonets com-
plete; and the order also comprised 17,000 Colt's
six-chamber revolvers, at 50s. each. In addition to
the above orders there has been received a requisition
for five millions of pounds of gunpowder, and the
contract has been completed, as far as can be ascer-
tained in a matter where all parties are desirous
to preserve secrecy, at the great price for this
quantity of about 3s. per lb. The public will not be
surprised to learn that the orders for percussion caps have
been proportionately large. With respect to stores,
equally extensive requirements are in the markets for
boots and other kinds of clothing; while for dry provisions
oatmeal, flour, and the like—there has been similar de-
mand. A further noticeable feature in the different con-
tracts is a stipulation that the place for debarkation for
the materiel shall be a certain neutral port in the Mediter
ranean."—Daily News.

THE FRENCH PRESS ON THE SITUATION.
The Parisian press, though scattered through the pro-
vinces, is not silenced, and the whole of the French
journals, in fact, now discuss political news more freely
than they could under the Imperial regime. They are for
the most part very resolute in their tone, though they do
not attempt to deny the gravity of the situation, and
openly admit that peace would be advantageous to France.
The Journal de Fecamp, a provincial journal, speaks very
strongly on this head. " Peace," it says, "is
the desire of France. France, conquered and humbled,
desires it. All resistance is henceforth powerless. It
will only add a new hecatomb of a million corpses to
the million of corpses which rot unburied at Weissem-
burg, Reichsoffen, Jaumont, and Sedan. We are con-
quered, crushed, as never was nation at any period. Let
us cease to blind ourselves by new illusions, and to
place too much hope in an impossible defence.
We have been honourably conquered. Our army,
which exists no longer, has made heroic efforts.
It has commanded the respect even of its conquerors.
Honour is intact. We are conquered. Let us humble
ourselves. Let us have the dignity of misfortune. Let
us submit silently and modestly. ' Peace, peace, univer-
sally called for by all Frenchmen, can alone save the
future of France by husbanding her resources and men at
the present hour, in the face of the misfortunes of the
country we must have the courage to bow the head and
demand peace."

The Courier du Havre says that the Revolution needed
by France consists of Peace, Liberty, and Morality.
" Peace This is the cry which rises at this
smoment
from millions of hearts in the five quarters of the world,
as well in France, oppressed and fallen, as in Germany,

intoxicated with her unexpected triumphs ; wise Eng-
land, and in practical America; in provident Russia, as
in loyal Spain, and in Italy, which ought to think of

The Siecle, which is located at Poitiers, says that if M.
Favre's interview with Bismarck was practically useless,
it was indispensable on some grounds. It was necessary
to force Prussia to break silence, and to exhibit all her
pretensions in the face of Europe, to disclose the hypo-
crisy of the professions of King William and Bismarck,
to prove to France that it was against her, and not
against her ex-Emperor, that Germany, hurried on by
its veterans, was making war to the knife. The
visit paid to the rulers by the representative of France
and of the Republic has attained this end.
Meanwhile, the situation is clear and well defined. Europe
knows on which side lie justice and right; it is for her to
take speedy measures, for the consequences of the fresh
struggle which is about to begin are incalculable. For us, I

our duty is marked out. To put the Prussians to flight,
that is our business, and our business alone. We shall
at once free France and Germany, both equally oppressed,
and the Republican flag will float over all the dun-
geons of the despots." The Siecle, however, strongly
opposes the immediate election of the Constitnent As-
sembly. There should be no elections before the close of
the v. ar. Good citizens have but one thought, war
l'outrance• To expel the Prussians from the soil of
France is one of the first considerations. It is not the
time for deliberation, but for battle. The Siècle quotes
with approval the address which M. Keller, formerly
deputy of the Haut - Rhin, has issued to his
electors. M. Keller rejoices in the delay of
the elections, and says that had they offered him their
suffrages he should have replied ' the best votes will be
given by your guns.' The Siecle concludes by declaring
the election of the IGth to be both impolitic and dangerous,
impolitic with regard to the Republic, not yet firmly
founded, and dangerous with regard to the foreigner who
remains to be expelled.

The Liberte is even more indignant. In an article
headed " -Impasse," (an inextricable difficulty,) it
attacks the Government in no measured terms, and ad-
vises them to study the fables of La Fontaine, and learn
from them the superlative value of common sense. The
Patrie prefers to credit the statement of M. Favre rather
than that of Count Bismarck. It does not expect the rest of
Europe to take up arms against Prussia, but whle the
armies of the Confederation aro exhausting them-
sclve:l before Paris, the general ill will of Europe
may make itself felt in many ways even by the con-
The Liberals of Germany, like Jacoby-and Vagt,
apposed to the continuance of the war. Let the

—.-
French lie firm, be patient, and above all united, and they
may see the disunion which the Prussians expected to find
in their ranks in those of the enemy.
The Constitutionnel does not think a general levde en
9nEse would be desirable. It fears the disorder irre-
parable, from large masses which the authorities

have neither time to regulate nor to---
arm.
Thcic is an absolute dearth of military experience—a
sort of mania to repeat the events of 1792, and a
fascination in historical traditions which encourages illu-
sions and calls forth schemes more grandiloquent than
efficacious. They talk of the country people rising lik

usually bad aiming, nobody was hit ; that the
other battalion stood, but . at once t 9n the
squadron .labout 100- men) --putting itself into mo-
tion for a.• charge, broke also without firing a
shot. though armed with the fusils a tabatihre, which fire
quite as fast as the chassepot, and took refuge in the
houses and cellars of the village, out of which they were
in

ly cases drawn by the legs, and that with numbers
revo:se'l—that is to say, 100 infantry of good troops, E 0
' ought to have repulsed the charge of 500 cavalry.

Th._y do not think Macifahon is a good man to command
an army, though a good and brave officer at the head of a
corps in line. Bazaine they. regard as a better com-
mander. The Emperor Napoleon 111., no soldier at all,
in regard to whom it was absurd for him to undertake
strategetical command. - Trochu has yet 'to prove himself,
being hitherto known only as a subordinate, and as a good
writer and a military critic. Changarnier, besides being
inextricably shut up in Metz, they regard as too old for
much use. They said their royal princes were all excel-
lent soldiers and commanders, the Crown Prince, Frede-
rick William, the Prince Frederick Charles, and the
Prince Royal of Saxony, each at the head of a separate
army, and all under the supreme direction of their King,
also a complete soldier, with his staff of masterly strate-
gists, of whom the silent Moltke is the chief. I asked
whether they regarded the surrender at Sedan of so large
an army a justifiable military fact, and whether, in the
circumstances of the country and the capital, it ought
not rather to have cut its way out at the expense of half
its numbers. It had struck me as rather an inglorious act.
They answered that it was not so. There was no other
resource left.

one man, of the people arming themselves with scythes
and reaping hooks. Victor Hugo is a master of this kind of
talk. The Constitutionnel believes it would be wiser to arm
first the men who are aiready at the diposal of the autho-
rities, to supply them with munitions, and to form a good
artillery.

The correspondent of the Nord says :—" It is necessary
tobe able to choose between partial enfejblemont and
total ruin. To be conquered is not necessarily
to be dishonoured, and a nation cannot wish to commit
suicide in consequence of a defeat. Honour being intact—
and the enemy himself renders homage to the energy
of the defence and the heroism of our soldiers—national
interests must form the principal element of consideration
in determining the course of action. Is it the interest of
France to submit to the fortune of war, reserving, in
view of eventualities more or less distant, the possibility
of repairing her losses and rising again ; or ought she
by pursuing a struggle a l'outrance, to condemn herself to
an absolute destruction of all her resources—to annihila-
tion without a furure ? It is evident that this latter
course would be preferable to a shameful peace. Rather
death than dishonour is the feeling of nations as well as of
individuals. But if an honourable peace can be obtained,
it is none the less clear that it ought to be the object of
all efforts."