The Republican journal., 1870-08-25
From the New York Herald.
RUNNING THE GAUNTLET.

RUNNING THE GAUNTLET.
Commerce has hut Just began to decline.
under the retardin@ influences of the Euro
pcan war. The German steamships. which
formerly piled between New York and ports
now blockaded by menacn@ squadrons have
been withdrawn from service. and because
of the marine imbecility of Prussia are no
longer able to continue upon the lines so
largely patronized by Americans. The last
steamer from Europe, which will arrive via.
the Bremen line was the Union which
came into this port on Saturday.
She had perilous passage, as far As the
| dangers Of Il warlikc eve ut sea can be meas
ured. When the Union left Bremen war
had been sounded throughout Europe, and
its proclamation was over tortv-eieht hours
old: il was therefore very hazardous in at
| tempting such 4 movement rs putting to
sea from that closely scrutinizcd port in
! the presence of one of the most powerful
fleets on the high seas. Yet the French
cruisers were not Obstacles. and the Union
left Bremen with large cargo of emigrants.
who, instead Of remaining on board for the
passage, would have preferred to return to
their homes and TO take part in defending
Germany from the Gauls. Transportation
| to the interior was, however, Impossible, be-
cause the authorities had established q land
blockade, scizing railroad lines, roads. hotels
and all the conyicnces of travel. The pas
sengers who came over on board the Union
represent that Germany is ripe tor war; that
her granares are full that She has abundant
crops and all that substance which is ncccssa-
ry to feed and provision AN army either Of
offence or defence. They say that Germany
is all enthusiasm; that the women and
children even, are aroused to the highest
| pitch of patriotism. and that the universal
cry is '.Down with France. Death TO Napo-
| leon"' The excitement is described rs sur
passing any American understanding
Among the passengers were 10 rmigrants,
and many Of these were children and women.
Two hours after her departure 4 telegram
was received from the authorities at Berlin
directing that all the seamen and people ON
1 the Union, who owed service to the govern
mcnt should be detained and properly ac-
counted for. Ii was lucky that this order
arrived when it did, Tor had the Unoin been
dccimateu in her crew. in such a crippled
condition. ii would have been impossible to
proceed 10 sea. She started, however, and
rs she steamed by the mouth of the Weser
she sighted the German iron-clad fleet which
was then sinking craft and rendering the
waters of the Wescr impossible for ships of
war. She also saw the same movements ut
the Yada. Again ii was u fortunate circum-
stance that the Union passed out Us she did,
for this blockade would have prevented her
departure from Bremen. At Bremen when
she steamed out where the North German
LloyG'S ships Dcutchsland Rhine, Donau
| Ohio and llansa, which are laid up and must
remain idle wastes until Napoleon and Bis
mark shall have concluded the present strug
Gle. Thus an immense capital is wasting
| owl lnyipo 1-nlu,Il, ,o,t and iI,t
one Of the few evils that may alllict commerce
from this war can be seen. These vessels
are not suitable for every use, but can be
| aNaible for gunboats alone; but it is probable
that Prussia will require little naval strength
in addition TO her navy. which is 4 miniature
| concern, compared with the naval strength
Of Franco. Still She has an iron-clad fleet,
and the one al the mouth Of the Weser is
composed of the following ships: King
William, Crown Prince, Frederick, Carl.
Prince Adelbert, and the Yada.
Leaving the mouth of the Wcscr, the Tn
ion, instead o-going to southampton, immc-
diately headed for the northern passage. in
order TO avoid the French cruisers then smell
inc about the English Channel She cluded
the French, and though the captain had
heard Of the departure OF Napoleon's squad
ron from Chcrbourg, he pluckily told the
Gauls to 60 where the bad niggcrs 60 The
captain was now at sea, and he proceeded to
disguise his vessel. He painted Il red stripe
around the Smokcstack, to initiate Williams
IL Guion's vessels, and having thus got under
false -coors he had y Jolly passage. All was
plain SAILING until OFF Montauk Point when
u strange steamer, moi showing her colors
was seen, and the Union wa Ilscreetly turn
ell on Il safe course under all steam anu s0Gn
was out Of reach The Union is now at the