The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-09-20
PRUssIANs Nv ACTION.

PRUSSIANS Nv ACTION
Mr.. Friedrich Kapp writes to the Nation.
from Berlin, an interesting letter, from which
we make few. extracts:
Our most competent judges say that che
chassepot is decidedly superior to oar needle
gun. and that the former In the hands Of our
Soldiers would already have ended the war.
The French are too inexperienced, and too
quick in the handling Of this tremendous
weapon. AS when used, 1t "klcks' badly and
hurts, they fire too high or at random. The
represented by the French, but Its value has
been underrated By US, for Its wounds are
fearful, and the appearance OF the soldiers
killed by the mitrailleur Is CHASTITY. Its eff
cheney is in some way limited, as its bullets do
not spread. For this reason it was rejected by
our military men when offered to them some
wears ago. Some Of our men had nve or sly
bullets In their breasts, running parallel WIN
each other. If our soldiers are Inferior
in point of arms, they are superior
in cool bravery and exact aiming. In the
battles around Metz we have lost as
many men. Ii not more, as in the
two battles OF Leipzig and Waterloo together.
We must loose more. as we have always to at
tack In the open field. while the enemy gene
rally only defends his fortified positions. IN
the whole Bohemian campaign OF 1866 we lost
5000 men-about 6o0o by cholera and 1000
killed and wounded. In this campaign the
battle of VIonvIlle, on August lG, alone cost
us more than 5000 men. Some battalions
were almost annihilated, two and even three
cavalry regiments were reduced to one, and
the death oil one-third OF the officers seemed
the general rule In order to detaln and to
retain the enemy on bis retreat from Metz, the
cavalry OF the Guards had for hours to bear
the brunt OF the battle. As sure death was
numbers. the single companies drew lots
which should first attack the enemy. Not the
60O-snto the valley of death rode the 5000.
Light and heavy brigades were reduced to
one-fourth OF their original number. Not less
brarely fought the infantry Of the Guards at
ST. Privat, which was the key to the enemys
position on the 18th Of August. The rihemen
iSchutzen) lost oil their officers, the majority
Of them killed, and the remaining 400 men, OF
Among the killed at the same place
was Prince Felix salm-salm, Major OF
the Fourth GrenadIer Regiment Of the,
Guards. the same officer who served
during the Lost war in the United States, and
whom President Lincoln encouraged with the
words that his quality as prince would not pre-
vent his promotion if he behaved well. He
MaXlmllian. AtSt. Privat he fought and fell
IKE hero. Salm's wife, we'll known to the
former ARMY of the Potomac, is one Of the most
efficient nurses In the field, and nobly works
In the hospitals. OF Berlin boys, the, son OF
Secretary Count Itzenputz was Killed, Wnlle
Bismarck's son was severely wounded near
Metz, both serving as priVates IN cavalry
regiment. Sons Of men OF science, IKE young
Langenbeck and young Grimm were s!sS atsS
h,f u E4LQ
Infantry announce the death Of II OF their
comrades killed in the battle OF the 10th, where
the 7oi likewise lost l3 of their ofhcers. In
short. every day. every newspaper brings us
rho sad news Of fearful havoc among our
troons. The loss Of rank and hle Is always IN
proportion to the above NUMBERS: ana. sun
worse, we lose in our priyates the mower oi
the nation, While on the French s!ae lhe eau. S,.
Gated classes do not serve in the army. our
Young men are not the proper opponeh's ~
ZouaVes and Elrcos. ,.
II is a blessing for humanity tnat seIel-
ejehts OF these Africans have been extlrpaseu.
the favor which other French prisoners regu-
iarly ask from our keepers. is to be Kept sepa-
rate from the zouavas and iurcos. IN Lnes
ginning the latter were Iecelrea ID tne ptlVate
hospitals. but they have committed sncn out
RACES that thew now are sent to the royal nos
nJfols They attacked the stewards in most
rowardly manner, and grossly insulted The
U nurses who tended them. Here 10 Berlin,
and in neighboring town, two SICK Tureos
triad to violate two Sisters OF Mercy. For
these reasons they must now be watched ike
wild beasts By armed sentrtes.
.dThe French officers taken prisoners general
Il behave well. During daylight they are al,
lowed to 90 free. When they first arrived
thew put on airs, but since they have been
threatened that they would be confined to
their rooms, they strictly obey every order:
Our soldiers even have 70 salute them hrst
when they meet them in the streets. IL strKes
nrIsoners cares 30 little for their subOrdinates
That they rarely ask for the condition OF the