The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-10-08
NEW YORK HERALD SATURDAY, l87oTRIPLE SHEET

a German doctor, who has not washed himseif
should say, for several years. The village OF Re-
cogne is mere hamlet but as 1t contains the only
house In the shape OF an Inn or hotel the ral-
way station OF Lbermont IT mas good many
visitors particularly at the present time when vast
quantities of stores ore being sent into Belgium, and
across that country into France for the OF the
wounded. Conveys OF the latter, 10 the number OF
900 and 1000 day, have also been through this part
Of the country on their way, irFrench, to the am.
balances established at Namur, Licge, Brussels ana
Client; II Prusslans, their way back to Germany.
But, Notwithstanding the great care now being
shown them. there Is too great reason to fear that
The loss 81 life both sides has been far greater
than was ut first believed Tic most distressing
part OF this fearful to The uncertainty
thatregns with regard to the fate Of so many thou
sands OF individuals.
There Is tonight in this hotel the Prince de Saba
gun, French nobleman who has, however, many
connections, friends and relatives in the German
army. He has been upwards or ten days trying to
ind out what has become Of his brotncrn-law.
Baron stolberg an officer in the Prusslan hussars
but without success. The Baron was known to have
been shot in the neck at the battle or Sedan ana to
have been obliged to retire from the Held. He has
been traced to one OF the ambuances near DOncheTy
ana thence as FAR as La Chapel, small village on
the French frontier, between Sedan ana Boullon.
He was seen and spoken to BY soldier Of his own
regiment within the Belgian frontier. and said that
he was on his way to Bouillon. But he never ar
rived there, nor has he been heard OF at any of the
villages on the frontier. Az regards the Prusslan
army. Baron StObcrg's case is perhaps an excep-
tonal one at any rate as regards an ofcer Of rank
But among the French troops there thousands OF
similar instances. in which the tate OF even
generals and colonies is as yet uncertain.
who had tried to gain some a0n n fssesuay'
about her husband In every place where his regi-
ment had lett wounded man, from Wissembours
TO Sedan. 1t was only after nearly mouths fruit
less search that through the kindness OF Prus,an
ono n, sue found that her husband was prisoner
In Bavaria. The French nave certainly wonderful
way OF not doing things In order. TO this day they
have no lists made up OF WHO were wounded, or
Paris scores Of officers ana men who were supposed
10 be Killed are turning up every day. and as 10 O
correct list OF those vino really did ra during tbs
campaign, that Will be made up al the day OF ulg.
ment, but not before. What would have become uf
the French wounded had not been for the succ0ur
afforded by the International society goodness bniy
knows. Their army seems to have iaAen the deid as
utterly unready TO do anything Tor those that icn
1t Is possible 10 imagine. they had few surgeons
bat no. nearly elouEn; ana as for me mems N
moving tnelr wounded, 1t would have suilceu for
sham hght at Chaons, anu even would have been
too little for that.
But 1t seems all OF piece with what they have
done from frSt to last. Never did army tagc the
wanted, except arms ana ammunition, Us did the
French. You may recolect how, IN one OF my last
CbtcrS rom SbrlSDOufs, nctOrs siO nad been IL
on tAe frontier, pointed out the great inlerioty OF
the French TO the Prussian artillery. Not only was
this tue case as regards the guns, but especially
as respects the horses Every man who has ever
owned horses knows that they ought never to DO
lest single day iii the stables without exercise. and
that, if not wanted for actual work, they ought to
be ridden out gently by the grooms for at least an
hour daily. The English, Prussan, Austrian, and III
every other army except the French, artillery anu
Cavalry horses, on Sucn days as they are not ut dr
are walked out for at least an hour and af Dy The
men VINO have charge OF them. BAT 1 can safely
assert that during the time Macnahon's army was
at Strasbourg. although there were ~ least $4,000
horses ia the camp, they were never once taken from
their pckcs, except to drink or course, when Tile
time for haru work and exe-t,on arrived, these ami
mails were found 10 be worth nothing, and hence
move their guns rapidly to either front or rea. and
cOud never get them out OF tle way when a retreat
was necessary, But Frenchmen have certainly
curious ideas about the management OF horses.
remember General Michael Wno commanded the
brigade OF heavy cavalry, consisting Of the Eighth
and Ninth cuirassers, in MacMahon's army, argu-
ing with that troop horses would be in far better
health they were never cleaned. And vet this ON
Ger mad been all his iiieor az least, all his probes
sonal u!e--a cavalry officer and had commanded
some or The smartest cavalry regiments In the
French army. Like but too many OF ms colleagues,
done in Algeria must be right; and because the
Arabs OF the desert lett their horses nncleaned by
brush or currycomo. he believed that alt horses
ought to be similarly treated.
Before leaving this part OF the country and the
negnDoring frontier 1t may not be unintercstng TO
| nose upon the vast numbers OF French pris oners
WAC Bavc escaped from the Prussans and are now
on their way 10 various parts OIL France. am
sured upon g0od authority that Of the 10000 prs
oner5 taken when Sedan capLuated al least a third
have got away ana are making the best OF their
way 10 France, through Belgium; and this number
might have been greatly increased had not the
Parislan newspapers, With their usual rrepressbe
mpuIsveness, talked not merely OF the number that
had escaped but Also OF the way In which these e.
capcs mad been effected Of course the whole tue
OF escaped prisoners has rolled through Belgium,
aud would nave been very much greater had IL not
peen talked about, Or rather written about and
boasted OF In the French press And now, having
nothing better to write about, these journalistic pa
trlols are busy telling the world at large where
Paris Is most vulnerable and what steps are being
taken to have the various defects the folti1ca.
tonS rectified Well may the Prussian officers laugh
and declare that so long as they can o btan Pa
rIs!an newspaper they have need OF a single spy
within the capital or France.