The Sun.
London, England, 1870-08-27 00:00:00

PRICE 14
STAMPED `2,-*

FIRST WARWICKSHIRE RIFLES

The annual inspection of the First Battalion of War
wickshire Rifles took place in Calthorpe Park a few days
ago. The insPecting officer, Lieut.-Colonel Roche, was
accompanied by Lord Leigh (the Lord Lieutenant of the
county), and surrounded by the staff, consisting of Lieut.-
Colonel Bagnall, Lieut.-Colonel Bmythe, Lieut.-Colonel
•Machen, Surgeon-Major Manifold, Captain Boulton
Leigh, Captain Bullen, Captain Burke, Captain Creigh-
ton Major Chattock, &c. The battalion, under the command
of Lieut.=Colonell Ratcliff, mustered in strong force, the
total number of all ranks on the ground amounting to
860. After the general salute, the inspection com-
menced: At the conclusion of the movements, Lieut.-
Colonel Roche addressed Colonel Ratcliff and the batta-
lion. He said he had watched them very closely, and it
delighted him very much to saythat he had seen very few
to come up to them in appearance and in the manner
in which their uniforms and accmtrements were kept.
Addressing Colonel Ratcliff, the gallant Colonel said he
should have much pleasure in reporting favourably, be-
cause he considered them an excellent battalion, and that
they had shewn a spirit and an example which ought to
be followed generally.—Lord Leigh congratulated Colonel
Ratcliff and the battalion on the very high compliment
that had been paid them by the very distinguished officer
who had just addressed them.—Lieutenant-Colonel
Ratcliff thanked Colonel Roche for the _ good
opinion that he had 'expressed of dig conduct of
the battalion and of their high state of efficiency.
It would be to every member of the battalion a matter of
very great pleasure to know that so distinguished an offi-
cer had expressed so high an opinion of their efficiency ;
and he felt sure that there was not a single man among
them but would be ready to sacrifice his life if the neces-
sity arose for that devotionwhich every one in this battal-
ion felt towards his Queen, his country, and his home.

THE EXTRAORDINARY CONFESSION OF

MURDER IN AUSTRALIA.

At Bow-street yesterday, George Dyer, 47, clerk, late
of 2, Halliford-street, Islington, was finally brought be-
fore Sir Thomas Henry, charged upon his own confession
with wilfully slaying one George Wilson at the Loddon
Gold Diggings, Victoria, Australia, in 1867. The prisoner
was first brought up before Mr. Vaughan at this court
on the 10th January of the present year, from which
period until now he has frequently been brought before
the magistrate and remanded. The first portion of the time
he was admitted for dial. Communicationhad been made
with Australia,_ the result of which was that a telegram
was sent to this country, requesting the authorities to
detain the prisoner, as his statement was fully corrobo-
rated, and an officer with a warrant for his apprehension
had already started for England. The mail having
arrived with the warrant officer, the prisoner Dyer was
placed at the bar on Thursday afternoon, and the deposi-
tion.; taken on the former occasions were read over by Mr.
Burnaby, the Chief Clerk. Dyer in these documents
declared that he had struck his victim with a spade after
the latter had drawn a knife on him. Mr. Thomas
ordered the Australian police officer to be called.
Robert Fulton Homes said : I am a sergeant of police
stationed at Brighton, near Castlemaine, Australia. I
produced a warrant signed by Mr. Thomas Dennis Strat-
ford Heron, police magistrate for the colony, and that is
his signature signed in my presence. The warrant is for
the apprehension of George Dyer, for the murder of
'George Wilson. I also produced some depositions taken
at Castlemaine. (The warrant was here read to the
prisoner), and can certify that they are true copies of the
originals. I was present when the witness were examined
upon oath. I was not present at the inquest on the
body.
Mr. Burnaby then read copies of the evidence taken in
Australia, of which the following formed a part.
Evidence of Victor Henry Charbrunet :—I am at present
a storeman in a firm at Ballarat. In 1857 I was at Guil-
ford, near Pennyweight. I was with a mate named.
Hypolite Riesa, gunsmith. I remember George Dyer and
Wilson. They were working together. -.Dyer was a very
small man with dark hair (the description exactly corres-
ponded with the prisoner at the bar). Wilson was bigger
and stouter built, but not very fat. He had dark brown
hair. A bout the end of that year Dyer left Pennyweight.
I was more intimate with him than Wilson. About a
year after I met Dyer. I think Wilson said he had been
a sailor. Dyer, I should think, is 35, and had piercing
eyes, and was very excited when irritated.
Another witne-s said : I was employed in duck shoot-
ing at the time in question. I know the hole at Mia-mia
Creek. It is the only- well near there used for drinking
purposes. A tent was fixed near the spot, occupied by
two men, who peeped out suspiciously when I passed. I
passed the tent on my return, and it was stripped.
Shortly afterwards the body was found in the well.
Sir Thomas Henry finally cautioned the prisoner, and
asked him if lie wished to make any statement.
The prisoner, in a firm and clear voice : When I made
the statement, Sir Thomas, I was certainly out of my
mind. I wish to say that no quarrel ever occurred be-
tween George Wilson and me, and I certainly never
killed him or any other man. But even assuming my
statement to be correct, it contradicts in time and place
the circumstances of the murder at Miamia Creek. I
wish to say nothing further.
Sir Thomas Henry then committed the prisoner to take
his trial in Australia, and in answer to the prisoner said
that there would be as little delay as possible.

PHASES OF THE WAR.

Fuller details regarding the fighting convince us that

the armies of France were badly managed on that fatal
6th of August—a day henceforth not to be forgotten in
the annals of either France or Prussia. Prussia, and
indeed, the whole -1 Germany, will ever be proud of
it. To Frenchmen it will be a dark day forever. On
that day, if French soldiers were badly handled, th
soldiers and officers of the Prussian army covered
themselves with glory. The more that is known
of that light the more Napoleon is blamed. If
the Emperor does not in some way or other contrive to
turn defeat into victory, his impeachment is by many
competent judges considered certain. It is not by any
means certain that France will nut recover from this blow
and move in such force on the enemy as to turn the tide
of battle towards Berlin. Another Jena is not an impos-
sibility. It will take a mighty effort on the part of
Germany to push on to Paris in spite of a million
bayonets. King William ought to repeat his procla-
mation that he wars not against French citizens. But
he ought to improve it by saying that he fights not
against Frenchmen, but against the man who has plunged
two great, prosperous, and peace-loving nations into war.
Another great battle may be going on while we write. It
isnot possible that there can be much longer delay. We
have always said that a battle must be fought before Mon-
day first, somewhere between Metz and Strasbourg, and
probably within the next 21 hours the two armies will
meet, and the conflict, be it long or short, may be decisive.
If France is again defeated it is our confident belief that
the war will cease. Napoleon will abdicate. The great
Powers will exert themselves to effect a peace on a reason-
able but satisfactory basis, and France will be left to
decide between a monarciy, with an Orleans prince on the
throne, and a republic. If, on the other hand, France
should drive the armies of King William back
within their own borders, it is not our belief
that the struggle will be soon ended. Prussia
will not yield; (termany will not yield until she is felled
to the earth and made helpless. It will be next to im-
possible for France to invade Prussia. What with the
South German States faithful on the one hand and
Belgium and Luxembourg neutral on the other, it will be
easy for Prussia to guard that narrow portion of her terri-
tory which touches upon France. The neutrality of
Belgium makes the position of prussia compara-
tively secure ; and it is certain to have a powerful
influence in determining the issue of the war. In securing
pledges from both France and Prussia that they will
respect the neutrality of Belgium, the British Government
have accomplished a great and an honourable work. The
little kingdom is safe, and there is less reason to fear that
the war may become European. It is a bad sign that the
Bank of France hag. so soon suspended specie payments.
Those who sympathise with the French in this struggle
are depressed by this intelligence. Financially there
can be no doubt that Prussia is. better prepared for war
than France. It is gratifying to know that Great Britain
has determinedly set her face against any league which
might involve the nations in war. Von Beust's attempt
to induce the Great Powers to form a league for the pur-
pose of guaranteeing to the belligerents that neither shall
Rhine
lose territory is simply absurd. If France can drive
pPrrouvsisniacesb,eaynd sheondthwe Rhine lai'rraignhcte
Prussia is now on the wrong side of the Rhine, and on the
wrong side of the border, too,—NewlforkHerald.
twoill keep kepthe
them.

We are informed that all proceedings in the
Norwich election petition are stayed until th tenth day
of Michaelmas Term.

MACMAHON'S MOVEMENTS. The Pall Mall
Gazette sap that MacMahon's plan of going to the relief
of Bazaine seems so wild that it can only be explained as
having arisen from political necessities. It looks more
like a coup de desespoir than anything else. It looks as if
anything must be done, anything risked, before Paris
be allowed fully to understand the actual situation.
It is the plan not of a strategist, but of an
" Alg4rien," used to fight irregulars ; the plan
not of a soldier, but of a political and military adven-
turer, such as have had it all their own way in France
these last nineteen years. The language ascribed to Mac
Mahon in justifying this resolve is quite in keeping with
this. "What would they say," if he did not march to the aid
of Bazaine? Yes, but " what would they say" if he got him-
self into a worse position than Bazaine has got himself into?
It is the Second Empire all over. To keep up appearances,
to hide defeat, is the thing most required. Napoleon
staked all upon one card and lost it ; and now MacMahon
is again going to play va banque, when the odds are ten t 4.
one against him. The sooner France is freed from thuo
men the better for her. It is her only hope,