Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-08-20
WAR SPLINTERS.

| Until the battle of August 6 the French
newspapers continued to assure the peo-
| pie that Prussia was utterly unprepared
| for war; that her conscripts only entered
the service on compulsion; and that there
was deplorable want of supplies iol
| them; while the whole Rhine region was
so destitute of provisions and stores that q
few weeks of war would produce endless
restitution there.
Bonaparte is not only troubled to reach
the Rhine but to find the rhino TO pay his
| bills. twenty-five cent frame notes are
issued, and specie is passing out of circu-
lation. His credit ought to be able to
stand a month of campaigning.
The preparations for the defense of Paris
are progressing rapidly. The beautiful
iron gateway at the entrance of the Bots
de Boulogne at the end of the Avenue de
fimperatrice is removed. Blocks of trees
have been cut down. The wall of circum
valuation is nearly finished. uniting the two
formerly open spaces, and pierced with
loopholcs. The great ditch is dug across
the road and draw bridge is ready to be
thrown across it. Earthwo rks are also in
process of construction in front of what
were the gates, and will now contain the
only entrances, guarded by sentinels in
stead Of Custom House officers. Some of
the big guns are mounted and the little
ones are craftily concealed in unsuspicious
corners. Many of the barriers are entire
ly closed, and the people throng the ram
parts, holiday-making and commenting
on the novelty of the thing.
A correspondent who had talk with a
German and Slovenian about the war
writes: 1.-The substance of what the Ger
man told me was as follows: The cen
trail idea in Germany at the present time
is the unity of the German race. Every
thing that can contribute to this is impor-
tant, and everything that stands in its way
is nimical to us, and we are ready to COM
bat it. Napoleon knows that if Germany
is united France becomes second rate
power. He, therefore, is ready to fight
to the death against the union of Germany.
France wishes weak North Germany, an
Independent and not powerful South Ger
mary, an Austria divided and struggling
with internal intrigues and countless par
ties. With a creature of her own on the
Spanish throne, and Italy not united,
France might hope to play the first part in
Europe. With united Germany France
cannot avoid becoming the satellite of
England or of Russia. Most likely the
latter.
The Slavonian told me that for his race
the victory of Prussia would cause the
whole Slavonic race to rally around Rus
STA as its only anchor of safety in this cri-
sis; that they would prefer to preserve
their local peculiarites, but that if it were
necessary to taae sides the whoie Siavonio
population Of Austria and Turkey would
take the side of Russia; by SO doing they
would, at least, save their race, if not
their local individuality"
The origion of the Order of the Iron
Cross, which has just been received by
the Prussian monarch, is as follows:
'In March, 1911, Frederick William III,
of Prussia, father of the present sovereign.
instituted the Order OF the Iron Cross, for
peculiar military or civil distinction in the
war then carried on against Bonapartc
just at that time, Prussia, long depressed,
had taken a place in the van, and her
troops were part of the great German
Army of Liberation. The so-called Con
federation of the Rhine" of which Bona
part had been head had been dissolved.
Frederick's motto was Honor and our
Country" and this was also adopted by
Alexander of Russia. Frederick William
had invited his subjects to pour their gold
and silver ornaments into the public trea-
sury, whence they would receive iron
ones, fashioned in the same form, to pre-
serve in their Notwithstanding past
wealth and present patriotisnl-and the
call has been nobly responded to. Brace
let's, necklaces, rings, brooches, crosses
rolitaires, earrings OF gold, and jewels
were taken to the treasury, and there ex-
changed for similar bUoux, beautifully
worked in bronze, and inscribed II have
gold from iron, 1878" From that time,
until the war was ended, golden orna-
ments were never worn, and hence arose
the beautiful Berlin bronze ornaments, so
well known and SO highly priced through
out Europe, as well us the order of the
Iron Cross of Prussia"