New-York tribune., 1870-08-22
TRIBUNE WAR LETTERS
pRUSsIAN WAR NoTEs-lV.
BY GEORGE RIPLEY
-, . pdvste Journal.

TIE crown ,,enpr rn THE BATTLE-THE GERMAN
Orp.I PARLIAMENT - BISMARCK = TIE
FRENCH PROGRAMME 80
Sr,TTGART July 90 - This oity has recovered ns
tranouillity after the excitement OF yesterday. AZ
,Ioel in the afternoon the Crown Prince OF Prussia
,soortad IN the station by large concourse OF
tbs inhabitants; he was accompanied by the KING,
ond q numerous body of officials, both civh anu
military. every standing-pace in the vieinily was
occunied by dense crowd; ladies waved their wite
ket-handkerchefs from the windows; ana tho an
rang with acclamations the COMMANDER
of the south German troops departed 1or inc So
war. In personal appearance, Prince ri'ue 1.
NyilIiam is rather below the middle hlgh'i
his form is of manly proportions tnOusn .o'
large. the expression of his race Is nhiiu " - ~
teIligent his bearing indicates hrlnness anu SCI,
respect in spite of an air OF youthiunesS anu '0nu'
N ;nspire confidence in his fitness for the moment
-. h;cb he has assumed. He is in his
b year His military experience is confined to the
.or yy;tb Denmark in 1884, in which he held a com
,o,d and 10 the war with Austria in 1866, IN which
ba was at the head of the second army. During the
last oampaign, he gained reputation for signal
courage but his talents a strateglst were eclpsed
by those of more experienced generals His appoint
ment has been received with universal satisfaction
He possesses the popular qualities which give lniu-
enoe among men, and of his energy and devotedness
there is no doubt.
The last regiments of Wurtemberg troops which
remained in the city, marched through the streets
yesterday, on their way to Darmstadt, from which
place they will speedily reach the frontier. For sew
er days. the railway has been put In requiston for
the conveyance of soldiers and with the admirable
organization in the Kingdom of Wtrtemberg, there
has been no delay in the service The men were in
complete military equipment, and presented for
midable appearance There was no disorder in their
ranks, no noise, bravado, no untimely gayety, no
drunkenness. 1t was a long procession of fathers,
brothers. lovers, departing for the fight in defense of
their homes. There were many tender leave-takings.
No one could witness the tears of the women and
children, who followed the soldiers to the last
ment, without emotion. The wild and mournful
strains of military music, from full German bands,
enhanced the plaintive interest Of the scene. "'
We continue to receive daily reports Of incidents
along the lines of the frontier. While waiting for
the first great battle every scrap of news is well
coined with avidity, and even trfes assume import
ance as foretaste of coming events My brief rec
ord may be of interest as illustrating the approach
Of the decisive day. On Saturday afternoon July
81 a slight skirmsh took place in the direction of
FOrbach A Prussian uhan was wounded by O
ricOchet shot, but several lives lost on the
other side Beside the bad aim of the French, they
said to fire at impossible distances often from
twelve to fourteen hundred PAGES. 1t is stated that
The troops in very imperfect state of prepara-
lion, which partly accounts for their inactiv-
ty. In the camp to the rear of Forbach, |
several regiments are destitute of shoes, |
and were obliged to wear the wooden sabots |
IF the country. Nor have the artillery yet been able
70 supply their want of horses. No alarm is now
'elt on either bank of the Rhine. A good deal has
oeen said about the operations of the French gun
BOATS but at present the river is low to render
Them entirely useless. The country between the
Rhine and the French frontier is SO strongly occu-
pied by German troops, that it is believed by many
hat the seat Of will be transferred to the French
territory But all such speculatiOns are premature.
can only say that the preparations for defense have
advanced with almost miraculous rapidity during |
The last exciting fortnight and that Louis Napoleon
will not find the pOwerless and distracted enemy
which he counted when he rushed needless into the
war.
The meeting of the German Federal Parliament IN |
Berlin has given occasion to many scenes of pro- |
found interest In the session of the second day |
Count Bismarck presented summary view of the |
situation commenting with caustic severity on the
alleged causes of the war; and exposing the deeetful
pretensiOns of the Imperial Government. specta-
tor of the proceedings of the occasion gives dra-
matte sketch of Bismarck in q letter to a Vienna
journal:
"The President had already closed the session. and the
members about leaving the hail. when he rose, and
requested them to again take their seats the Chance
the Confederation had communication to make to
the general muTmur heard, and the crowd
urss, iuto the galleries in order to gain better sight
Bismarck then made his appearance, his cheeks pale and
iepp fur-ows under his eyes. broad-shouldered,
boned figure In the uniform Of cavalry Colonel
dark blue with yellow The yellow OF his uniform collar
strangely with the deadly paleness of his face
He took his place to the left Of the President Near
DOrtfOO, In this |
as concealed the fate Of two nations. He searched for
the kew and opened the little brass lock- Then drew
ont few sheets papersheets ia which lay the dread
full war that to destroy many thousand nVes ana
bring so many families to ruin. He gave nasty glance
at the first and then began to speak There was the
stiffness OF death Count Bismarck orator, In the
nsa sense of the term. He speaks without hueney ana
with little pathOs He has nothing less at heart than
this His words come out IN broken lor'n' nc eA
rsses what he to say only in snort sentences NO
often bestates He makes pauses and then hesltales
aoaip His language never flows in living stream HIS
cbos which read as If they from single gush
are alNavs fragmentary when they fall from his lips
Won see that abors as he speaks one VINO hearu INN
dav for the first might believe that the burden OF
,h felings which weighed upon his heart almost took
vav his breath that every word was wrung ouV from
-, soths of his inner man Yet he always speaks in
tnts vav While he expresses himself with the utmost
saty in private conversation, his language becomes
s,o and difficult soon as ne addresses Pupo aese
n, What he said TO the excited and eager members OF
he House s already known to every one that reads the
newspapers 1t the keenest and most subtle crit
, 81 the pretenses on which the French Government
aA cone to war slight vein Of irony ran through his
hole DISCOURSE the effect OF which on the nearer was
.S.ood nv the subdued tone Of its delivery. Not q
the countenance Of the Chancellor was altered as he
one sheet after another and decaredits contents
"A mockng contraction Of the mouth accompanied the
oons which he made against the cabinet Of Napoleon
No trace Of approval Of dsapprova betrayed his per
nna interest the subject In the same quiet business