The Sun.
London, England, 1870-09-24 00:00:00

SWISS FEELING TOWARDS FRANCE.

The special correspondent of the Independanee Belge,
writing from Berne, on September 16, says that more than
20,000 Germans expelled from France, who had during the
preceding week passed into SWitzerland, had not only
been very well received by the people, but had been cared
for at the expense of the Confederation. The greater
part of them passed by Neuchatel, and among these was
an old woman 106 years old, who had lived in Paris since
the age of 25. All the emigrants were not entirely Ger-
man. There were Hungarians, Austrians, and German-
Swiss, among them. One of my friends who had lived in
France for nearly twenty years, being concerned in a large
commercial establishment, and though he had married a
Frenchwoman he was expelled, first from Strasbourg, and
then from St. Etienne, where he had business, his life
being in danger ; and yet he had always lived on the best
terms with his French neighbours. Such facts as these,
which have unhappily occurred all over France, have
produced a painful impression in Switzerland. As for the
struggle itself, opinions are pretty equally divided. In
Tessin, owing to St. Gothard, in East, and Central
Switzerland, on account of the iniquitous origin of the war,
the sympathies are ivith the Germans. In West Switzer-
land, on the other hand, all wishes are for the French
Owing to identity of language and ideas. But since the
proclamation of the Republic there has been a change in
the feelings of German Switzerland, and it may even be
said that to-day the Confederation is unanimous in its
goodwill towards France. It is only natural that the new
Republic should be welcomed by her elder sister. People
here are apprehensive of a too great development of the
power of Germany, and, above all, of monarchical Ger-
many. In this respect the annexation of _Alsace and
Lorraine would be looked on with disfavour. If
too strong, Germany would become arrogant and domi-
neering, as France was, and the Swiss would pass from
Charybdis to Scylla. For my own part I believe these
fears are groundless, as the Germans are pacific by
temperament, and more modest than France ever was,
but this opinion is not general. Pell mell among the
Germans expelled from France thousands of Frenchmen
also took refuge in Switzerland after the Republic was
proclaimed, some flying from the war and the others from
the Redp. To-day a first detachment of 800 Strasburghers
arrive in Switzerland. Our town has undertaken to lodge
500 of these unfortunates.

GERMANY AND THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON
COLOGNE, WEDNESDAY.

The attitude of the German press has been so remark-
able during the last few days as to lead almost to the
conclusion that the diplomatic leaders, who have
great control over the press, are .- in doubt as
to the proper course to take after their suc-
cesses. One day the newspapers inform us
that the Emperor will be restored; the next day they
declare that Germany will never attempt such an
enterprise. Yesterday they assured the world that
Germany can have no dealings with a Republic ; to-day
they are equally precise in affirming that it matters not
whether France be ruled by one set of men or
another so long as the Fatherland gets what she requires.
In short on one point only are they at one—and
that is, territory, territory must be given up. Even
on this point there is some quarrelling about the item of
Metz, some organs urging that a town so purely French
ought not to be annexed, but only dismantled; otheys
urging that without Metz Germany would never be safe.
It seems quite certain that the Prussian diplomatists axe

much embarrassed by the establishment of a Repubilc,
and would willingly bring about a different result, if they
could, though they may not be disposed to go the length
of restoring, or trying to restore, the Emperor. Indeed,
the papers are very hostile to the ex-sovereign just now ;
so far from treating him as still the ruler of France, they
seem to have received an order to counteract the decidedly
bad effect of certain declarations that the Emperor will be
restored, and they are accordingly writing away with much
vigour about the wickedness of the man who played for such
a'very high stake and lost it. The Nogne Gazette, for in-
stance, improves the occasion by declaring its belief • that
France will never accept the Napbleons again in 1870 as
she did the Bourbons in 1814. It appears to us im-
possible, on account both of the German and of the
French nation. True, if the French have not
had enough of the troubles which the despotic
Government of Napoleon 111. has brought upon
them, if they have determined to give the
throne either to him, or to little Louis baptised with fire
at Saarbruck, we must let it be. We will not mix our-
selves up in the internal affairs of France. But we
regard such an event as altogether impossible. No
Government in France has fallen so disgracefully as that
of the Second Empire. Napoleon 111. had ceased to
reign before he was deposed. As soon as he was taken,
the first and best politicians of Paris constituted
themselves as a Provisional Ministry, or as a GoVernment
of National Defence, and no hand was raised, no shot
was fired, not even a good word was said for the dynasty.
It is to be regarded as a moral impossi-
bility, that the man to whose military incapacity the
French ascribe their defeats, can ever, or at least at the
present time, return to the Tuileries. And equally
impossible is it that we, whose country has
been filled with blood and tears through these
senseless adventures, can lift a finger 'to set him or his race
on the throne of France." The article, which looks much
like a regular manifesto, proceeds to speak of the position
of the Provisional Government, and insists that, not being
recognised all over France, it cannot be accepted as the
exponent of the national will. It adds that Count Bis-
marck, with perfect justice, refused to receive M. Jules
Favre at headquarters as the fully endowed Foreign Minister
of the country. If this statement be correct; there
is at once an end of all hope from the negotiations now
going on. The war must proceed until France can find a
Foreign Minister whom Count Bismaick is willink to
receive. -It would be interesting to know why M. Favre,
in such a case; was received at all. It seems to be a
lamentable waste of time.

The Cologne Gazette then proceeds to speak of the
terms, remarking that Germany will have all German
soil, all that is really such, but not one foot more. The
Westphalian Gazette speaks to much the same purpose.
It remarks that Germany will have Alsace, and that strip
of Lorraine which speaks German. Meta must be dis-
mantled, and then the city will be restored to the Freneh,
to whom, it undoubtedly belongs. "Metz would never
become German ; it would als;vays remain a thorn in Ger-
man flesh."

THE BATTLE BEFORE PARIS,

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

PARIS, SEPT. 20TH, 1870.

General Ducrot, with three divisions, attacked the
Prussians yesterday, in the woods of Clamart, Verribres,
and Meudon. The enemy opened an overwhelming artil-
lery fire, The Gardes Mobiles mistook the 16th
Regiment of the line, who were thrown out
as skirmishers, for Prussians, and fired into them,
when a retreat was ordered. The enemy gained the
heights of Meudon and Saint Cloud, and his artillery
opened on the French, who were composed chiefly of
Gardes Mobiles and reserves, whose retreat became un-
manageable, though it was protected by the guns of Fort
Montrouge. The Gardes Mobiles who arrived
in Paris declare that the Zouaves ran away. The Prus-
sians are on the heights of Meudon. The troops of '
Generals D'Hagues and Caussade, who were with Ducrot,
behaved badly under fire. Those of General Ducrot
behaved well. There has been no communication from
Paris to the outside by telegraph, or railway since one
o'clock yesterday. I shall try to send this by private
hand. Jules Favre left on Sunday for the headquarters
of the King of Prussia, and has not yet returned.

[The above letter is of as late date as anything that has yet
been smuggled out of' Paris. A previously written epistle
is also enclosed in the same parcel. It is dated Sunday,
and says that the Mobile Guards were about to elect
their own officers, the complaints of the inefficiency
of those already appointed being just. General
Baron Ambert, a chief of section for the defence of the
capital refused to say " Vivo la Rdpublique !" alleging
that the Republic had not been confirmed by the nation.
He was arrested by National Guards and taken to the
Ministry of the Interior. When our correspondent wrote
the General was still there. M. de Keratry, the
Prefect of Police, was likewise arrested on sus-
picion by some persons who did not know
him. It was some time before he was able
to prove his identity. The Prussians were concentrating
100,000 men at Versailles. The palace will be turned
into barracks. The English, Russian, and Austrian
Ministers have left for Tours; but the others remain in
Paris, and have informed the Government that they will
continue to do so. Strasbourg is resolved to hold out
whilst man or cartridge is left. General Uhrich has been
wounded. In. a postscript our correspondent adds that
General Ambert has been dismissed, to be replaced by a
Republican.]