The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-12-23
Mhceliag aesistsr.
FOREIGN WAR NOTES.

things through the mails. TO their bus-
bands, cons or sweethearts, away sol
diering. Letters are permitted up to
sixteen ounces weight, and so they send
tea, chocolate, slippers and shirts. A
pair of slippers can be sent one in each
One woman sent a flannel shirt in six
pieces, by six posts. The last letter
contained the left sleeve, with a needle
and thread for sowing the shirt together.
Places ofshelter have been erected on
the ramparts Of Paris at short inter-
walls, for the national guard on duty.
These places have fires and are protect
ed overhead by shopping roof of iron
bars, strong enough to resist the fall of
shell. Several fatal accidents to the
national guards on duty are reported in
the journals, in most cases caused by
falling down the steep fasces of the
earthwo ks.
The Paris GaulOiS, of November II,
mentions the safe arrival, on the pre-
viOus day, Of carrier pigeon with dis
patches. The written communications
were all contained in a scrap of paper
about one and three-quarter inches in
length and nearly one aid half in
ches in breadth This morsel OF pa per
WAS inclosed in quill, which was
fastened TO one of the tail feathers OF
the pigeon, and upon it was impressed
by means of photography, in charac-
tiers 60 small that none but the most
powerful microscope would reveal the
nature OF the contents, an immense
number OF messages. The paper was
ruled into four columns. the FIST Of
which was occupied by the official de-
scription Of the document, and the other
three columns were devoted TO dis
patches from the government delega-
ton at Tours and to private messages.
NO pigeon" writes correspondent
"has come into Paris since the 2Sth OF
October-thatis fortnight ago. What
keeps them back ? Some say the Prus-
slams shoot them others believe that
hawks have been let loose upon themi
for many hawks, unknown before, have
lately been seen about Paris, and the
general opinion is that the pigeons will
not fly at this time Of year. The birds
have peculiar ways. They refuse to
fly late in the afternoon, and at this
time of year they are unwilling to
travel, especially against the wind.
However this may be, it is fact that
two dozen balloons mot counting the
one which carries this) have been
started from Paris; that l72 pigeons
have gone off in these balloons; that
only TWENTY-FIVE have returned, and
not one in the last fortnight, in which
the weather has been exceptionally
bad So we are given over to guesses
and rumors of what is being done in
the provinces; and this dreadful igno-
rance aggravates the indecision which
prevails. We are distracted, morning
noon and night, with rumors, which
are first ;imidly asserted, then denied
then repeated, then confirmed, then
doubted, then disbelieved, then revived
then crossed with other rumors, then
finally sheived. y
The Prussians always form their
camp in the shape OF a square, what
ever may be the strength Of the force
obliged to bivouac Their brigades,
aud divisions and army corps are
distinguished by electric beacons or or
binary lights covered with white or
many colored glasses, the Object OF
which is, first, to mark the abode OF the
generals; secondly to facilitate the com
munication of orders emanating from
those in command. ibis mode Of fight
ing might be introduced with advantage
into the French army, for there have
been many instances during the late
campaign Of orders from headquarters
never reaching the generals at all. The
Prussian camps are guarded by sentries
scattered on the wings and front, 30 or
10 PAGES from each other taking care
to cross each other continually, so as
to prevent any soldier or stranger from
going out or entering without
safe conduct. The sentlnels at the
outposts are generally placed checker
wise, and united to the guards (who
are apprehended in the manner pre-
scribed by Frederick the Great 10y lit
tie posts Of cavalry charged with imme-
diately informing the main body Of any
surprise. The fires are lit in the morn
ing and let out at nightfall; no cooking
is done by the Prussians when they
arrive at the bivouac by night. There
are some fires to show the general
direction Of the line of sentries,
but they cannot be seen, the
flank on the side which the enemy
might attack being masked by slopes,
The Prussians always throw up earth
works; they carefully avoid sounding
clarions or beating drums, either in
Camp or in action. Every officer or
soldier has a whistle which enables the
chief to perform the different calls and
the men to give warning Of the ap'
proach of the enemy, to call each other
and to seek their company when they
have strayed The Prussians never
use the drum and clarion except in a
conquered country, as for example The
Meuse.
THE editor Of the Cleveland Herald