The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-09-03
THE ELBE AND BALTIC.

Hamburg Preparing for a BlOckade-The
French irOn.Cisd Fieet-Fire ON The Batteries
ut Kiei.
lHamourg august i5) correspondence of London
1imesl
II is difficult FOR an EnglshmaR thoroughly TO aI,-
preciate the change of feeling which the last two
weeks has witnessed In certain portions the North
German Confederation. After the war of 1866 Ham
burg submitted to the arrangements then inau.
gurated, but the submission was not made with u
good grace. anu would have been Withdrawn at any
moment II such withdrawal had been feasible. TO
say that the H6nburgers were discOntented h not
too strong term, and for this feeling there was
one especial reason. hamburg owes ItS prosperity
and ITS Importance to commerce, and all It's sympa-
lhies weEe opposed to the system OF mill.
other portions OF the Confederation, il was
compelled to adopt. The military service
never POPULAR had been handed over 10 those
whose tastes had led them to adopt o military life,
or TO those whose habits and character unftted
them for more SOBER regular and industrious pur
suits. The burden imposed upon the inhabitants
was very light one, the expense but small and the
result apparently all that was required. But after
the battle OF KonIggraZ things were considerably
altered. The PrussIan system came into force and
every man, unless exempted from peculiar and in
dividual reasons was bound to undergo certain
period OF military training 70 community like
Hamburg sucl a regulation was exceponaly OBJ
jectlonable, and though those who have lived all
their lives under the Prussian system, who
have gone through the routine prescribed for every
Prlssian citizen capable OF bearing arms speak IN
the highest terms OF Its effect, physically, morally,
and mentally, nothing could reconcile the Ham.
burgers to system which admitted Of no evasion,
and was enforced upon all alike, Consequently
Tor the last four years strong antiPrussian feeling
increased by the contributors which Hallays has
ton Contributions which Compare Individuality asu VITA
the small expense entaied by the old system. But
II the Hamburgers were anu. Prussian they were
still Germans, and hated the French az nation as
heartily as any oil their fellow countrymen and the
insult offered as they believed, TO the King OF Prus
sia was regarded as an insult offered to themselves.
Consequently no town has reJoiced more in the vic
tories beyond the RDine, no town has entered more
cordially into the war, and though no town pro-
baby has made greater sacrifices than Hamburg
has made, and will still have 10 make, nowhere
probably, have those sacrifices been borne more
Willingly. month ago ana the connection with
Prussia was regarded with aversion and discontent;
now the Prusslan national song. II am Prussan,n
no S appae W Dp and sarss the
The blockade, which commences to-day, adds but
little to the inconvenience resulting 10 Hamburg
from the war. Though the idea OF bombardnent,
agreeable TO certain French minds, Is here re-
gared with little solictude as the inhabitants OF
Berlin display al the prospect OF French occupation
OF the Prussan capital. the harbor shows that the
present moment IL not prosperous one. SO far as
German ships were concerned, the blockade has
existed from the first. German ships were AFRAID to
out OF the Elbe and the immunity ot merchant
captains was not diminished by the fact that two or
three captures had been made by the enemy. What
trade there was was carried on in neutral vessels,
ana that trade viii continue unmpeded for the next
ten DAYS. Moreover the blockade mas long been ex-
peCted, ana now that 1t has come the successes
which have attended the armies on the Rhine encou.
rage the IIamburgers in the belief that Its contlnu-
ance can be OF no very long duration.
Meanwhile OF the two fleets or rather three it Is
extremely difficult 70 learn anything. The French
squadron declaring the blockade consists lar as
IL knoNn OF eight roiclatis and three smaller yes
sells, while the French feet IN the Baltic are seen
every anu then cruising about at times indlv-
dualy, II we may trust Information from private
sources exchanging shots with the batteries at Kle.
Some Pr'issan men-oi war are known to be IN the
North Sea, probably In the Jahde Busen and brush
between them and The biockading leet Is shortly ex
pected
IL Is probable that the coasts owe much OF the i'm
yph tn tha !nrpc dnas
for which special service has been nauguraied
and which have been employed to an extent little
agreeable TO the enenys Dcets.
We nave yet To learn whether they Will AFFORD suf
cient protection In OF attack. hitherto they
have been more lnconvenient to the Germans than
10 the French. The fishermen, pilots aud others in
terestcd have in all cases duly received warning OF
the dangers winch M the present monent attend
careless navigation, put ia two Instances AZ least "a