The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-10-03

STATES lie was an Eaglishman and Englshfnan
| IKE, q rev civil words from men IN high POSITIONS
seemed TO have completely turned his brain. Gin
his opinion there never was Frcnchman who spoke
the truth or ala ciyi thing nor was there ever
Prussian who told an untruth or was not model
OF politeness. He was dining az table dhote
crowded with French ladies' ana gentlemen, nearly
all refugees from the ruaanly iudeness ana rohber
like proceedings OF the Pnissians and yet he mad
the gooe taste during the wno,c OF the dinner to
hold forth in the loudest Of tones upon the inlamy
OF the French army ana the heroic conduct OF tue
npaer Their recent MT national misfortune. only
wonder ne was not throttlea by the trenchmen pre-
sent. Under similar circumstances Germans would
! have murdered him, Americans would have lynched
| him ana Elglishmen thrown him out or the VIM
dow. Aud yel tins Is the Kind OF men selected BY a
respectable paper 70 give an Impartial account OF
PRussIAN PRETEXrs AGAINST BELGIUM
II Ia to be feared that the matter OF which gave
you some notice in my last letter will soon turn out
TO DO an accomplished fact. allude to Prussia
Little BY little, line upon line tre after tribe, the
German newspapers are raising up among the Ger
the Rhine passes for public opinion, In favor OF the
| occupation OF the country. Inch by Inch the thin
Prussian ike, by asking the Belgian government to
| allow the French wounded and prisoners on parole
natara seausi 20 this s was insisted that the
| French wounded were allowed to pass through the
country the German wounded ought 70 have a simi-
protest that the leave given to the French wounded
70 pass through the country was only given because
the Prussan authorities insisted upon the permission
being granted. II was however, the old story OF
the wolf and the lamb, and, might have been ex-
pccted. the lamb got the worst OF the discussion.
The leave nj last reluctantly given and almost
before could pe elegrapned to Berlin the wounded
Prussians commenced passing through Belgium az
the rate OF eight hundred and a thousand day
IL was IA regular case OF mo c0mpuls0n, only you
mustr Then as q matter OF course, and ns the
Belgian government had very truly foretold would
be the case, the German wounded, many OF whom
were very slightly SO, aud the French commenced
to dispute whenever they got chance. The Belgian
people are entirely French In their sympathles. The
very name OF Prussan is abhorent 10 them for the
yianies they committed in this country LII 1915, ana
not yet forgotten by the grandchildren OF those who
were, IN those days, the sufferers. Whenever there
Prllssian soldier the Beigans took the part OF the
former. This was made cause OF complaint to
Berlin ana thence to the king OF the Belgians An
lnq ury as mentioned IN my last letter, insti-
tued into the matter by the Belgian authorities aud
found TO be al rubbish.
THE INVASION PRACTICALLY COMMENCED.
Then the Prussians, by way OF Keeping their
wounded III order rs they passed through the coun.
try have been accompanied by a certain number OF
Pruasian officers and soldiers. BY degrees but
with that speed which distinguishes all that Bis.
narcK does the number OF their unYounded officers
ami soldiers was increased, until at last it seemed
a. II the Prussan INVASION mad already commenced
Presently To the unwounded Officers were added
more and more unwounded soldiers, and within the
last few DAYS these have come and gone with
scarcely the preteAt OF conveying wounded men
across Belgium, which was looked upon pleasant
Joke or the past. At present they come and go re-
man and depart, "a II seemeth good 20 them. Prus-
sian Officers swagger about the hotels In Belgium
and seem to make themselves quite at home. Some
OF them are engaged in making maps OF the coun-
try. They talk without reserve OF taking Belgium
so soon as they have finished with France, aud
laugh at the idea OF England, Russia Italy Aus.
trla coming to the rescue. After France Belgium,
after Belgium Holland, after Holland Eng.and,u Is
what they say: and their "nalf fun'' seems 10 me
very like 'whole earnest And am very lar from
being the only one in these parts VINO believes that
there Is sorrow IN the horizon for Belgium.
THE BELGIAN ARMY.
The Belgian government itself evidently thinks
that II Is well TO be prepared for the worst Their
gallant little ar1ny-and YET why should call an
army of 10000 little one would he difficult to ex-
drilled force it is. The men arc small but active,
stout fellows. The VARY is very well mounted
French mounted arm Their artillery is after the
model as the frlssians-s.ecl mounted breeci-
loading guns. well horscd, and admirably worked.
and believe they would fight Ike men in the de-
leuce or their country Their hatred VI the Prussans
Is more a religious faith than national feeling.
They nave not forgotten how when the forces Of the
unltcd Powers were in Belgium in 1915, the only |
troops that behaved BADLY 10 the people were the !
Goths that are turning the 1arest and most
industrious provinces OF France INTO a bowling |
wilderness During the fortnight lived on the Bel
Belgian soldiers. and | only saw bat one drunken
man among them: they are always out at
cheerful, jolly ana civil, 50 unlike the
great hulSing, skulklng Prussians. who, out of
unpleasant animals ever any one had 10 deal With
III the house where | lodged at Boullon there were
two Belgian infantry soldiers billcted upon the
owner. Never were more willing fellows. They
were always anxious to make themselves useful in
some way or other, and were either PLAYING with
the children, he ping the COOK, assisting the groom,
or working In The garden
PHusslAN SOLDIERS AND OFFICERS.
Here In the Chateau lie Bellevue there are half n
dozen Pruss ans biileted. They TO divide their
time pretty equally between sleeping, eating,
smoking and biasp9emIins , never saw such great
at fighting, but on duty are most offensive. The
only man q Prusslan soldier seems to have the
slightest respect Tor is his own officer and rne latter
certainly does treat those under him like a hui
man being. As write these lines irussan sub
Lieutenant is blowing up one OF the men quartered
here Tor neglect OF duty Mercy upon US how the
talks! His tone and manner TO the soldier il
the latter was n2ger slave. How the men stand 1t
how the superior officers allow It. Is wonderful.
Surely this Is discipline carried 10 an extreme. But
1t does not answct, al least mol rs regards others
These same soldiers, that never move muscle when
abnsed ana sworn at by tler officers, the yercst
tyrdnis in the word towards a they don't fear. An
hour hence have 10 doubt but that the men nave
just stand perfect storm oil abuse Will be plea
sanity thieying IN or about Sedan
VILLAGE or PURSUANCE Sept. H. 1870.
ACROSS THE FRONTIER.
continue this letter AZ Pousmangc, pretty little
hamlet about twenty yards on the Belgian side Of
the frontier ana nave Just shaken ny the hand ana
wished bon chance 10 two old Partisan friends, both
officers in q crack light cavalry regiment, who
made prisoners the I'd OF this month with the resi-
OF MacMahon's army but who would no. give their
parole not To escape nor not TO serve against Prussia
during the present They were III consequence
kept as prisoners 0i war. and were TO nave
been marched of tomorrow nom Sedan to Prussia.
there TO be incalccra!e. They managed however, 10
escape and after wandering about the hills FOR
some time are now on belgian territory, and free.
They ore disguised IN blouses, With caps like com.
but what they stand upright IN hut have managed
10 keep by them money enough 10 help them once
they get free.
ESCAPED PRISONERS or WAR.
They tell me that or the 1000 men that sur
rendered with Mac AahcD at least 20, 900 have man
aged 10 escape, and II great number OF them have
found their way back to Paris They were very
anxious to learn the news, not having seen paper
for weeks, and were quite astounded when / told
them OF the republic in France being an accom-
plisned fact. What ~ change does trouble and mis-
fortune make in q man. Four months ago saw
London.
come to see the great race or the year. the Derby
run. In those days there haraly two greater
s'swel,5' In the modern Babylon. aud | question
whether either one or the other would have
walked, could have walked, ten miles
to save his life. Here they are certainly very thin
for as they tell mo- so long US they were prisoners
the prtssIans gave them nothing to eat except half
u pound OF biscuit each every second day. They
have neither OF them cnangc OF Clothes nor do
behave they can have had q baIh Tor fortnight