The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-10-01
FOREIGN NEWS.


The Waf-ImpOrtant Complications
Since eur last the war between France
and Prussia has assumed new and startling
phase, it being no less than that Russia has sig
nified to Prussia that her war ON France, having
become war of conquest for the expansion Of
Prussian boundaries, Russia is compelled to in
terfere and insist that Prussia shall respect sub.
sisting treaty stipalations in regard to the bal
ance of Prussia. In short, Russia declares var
on power taking sides with France; and in
proof OF her earnestness it is found that Russia,
during the past week or two, has quietly massed
some 100000 men on the borders of Prussia.
That this momentous movement causes the in
tensest excitement in Berlin, Vienna, London,
Sc, may easily be imagined, and cabinet meet.
ings and cour,ers flying in all directions are the
order Of the day between all the capitals in
Europe.
This attitude of Russia must necessarily
change the whole aspect of the war. Her pow.
er is such that Prussia nor any othes~ angle
power can successfully encounter the odds. On
peace footing her army numbers some 100000
men. In an emergency, she can in month have
a million of men in the field. Possibly the atti.
tude taken by Russia may be the means of bring
ing about An, earlier peace than il France and
Prussia alone were left to fight It oat. MI
Thus far, the efforts Of che French xsiament;
tif the organization at Paris and Tours can be
called such.l to obtain terms of peace from Prus.
sia have wholly failed. Jules Favre has return.
ed from his visit to King William and Bismarck,
and reports that nothing short of the cession of
oil the Rhine provinces, the dismantiing of Stras.
bourg and Metz, and the surrender of Paris will
satisfy them. The French viii tight to the last
extremity before yielding to such, tesnA 80
strasbourg capitalized on No s27th, Tod on
the Gath Metz still holds ont, BAsine dSclasing
that he will never surrender until sedsred by
his Emperor (he continues staunch Bonapait-
ist) to do so. az .
The condition of Paris during the diego Il
anomalous. The streets are almost deserted: :
many shops are closed; soldiers in plenty but
few ceviisns and no women on the streets. At
10 p. NJ. the cafes are vigorously closed, and by
II the 'boulevards are deserted. Ambulanees,
with wounded soldiers, are continually passing,
and we hear grim rumors of houses and whole
streets being mined. Carriages passing the lines
of the Notifications are forbidden to 90 off the
walk for fear of occasioning explosions The
dread Of spies has not yet died out each man
looks at his neighbor with suspicion.
Perhaps the most curious sign Of the siege
was the number Of foreign flags flying about
Paris. Every foreign resident in Paris hangs
out the flag of his nation. The number of flags
with the stars and stripes that meet one in every
street, gives vivid idea of the regard in which
the French capital is held 6y the Americans.
The English flags are much fewer. It is sup
posed that all houses covered with such flags
will be respected by beth belligerents. The red
cross flags of the Society for the Wounded are
also very frequent. If any one sets up private
ambulance in his house-that is, allots one or
two BEDS to the wounded, he may hang out the
red cross flag. Among all the flags the Ameri.
can is the favorite. and Washburne is perhaps
the most popular man in Paris.