New-York tribune., 1870-09-09
TRIBUNE WAR LETTERS.
THE HORRORS OF WAR.

THE HORRORS OF WAR.
TIE SLIGHTLY wouNDED-THE SUSPENSE OF
FRIENDS-SCENES IN THE HoSPTrALS--TIIE
SPLENDID DISCIPLINE OF THE PRUssIAN
ARMY-THE DISPOSITION OF ALSACE AND
LORRAINE.
lPRoM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
FRANKFORT, Aug. 24.-The inhabitants OF
this and the other cities daily gaining experience OF
the horrors OF Close upon the heels Of victory to
lows the ghaStly shadow OF suffering One day teie
gram arrives annOuncinga great triumph. NeAt NOR"
ing train arrives fed with victims whose hVes nv
indeed been spared, but whose fate IA hardly noio
able than that Of their comrades who are saiu =, -,
a hollow mookery 10 call the human wrecks "" - ,r
been forwarded by rail "the slightly wouhueu
manning is that they had been shot through reg VI
arm have saber cuts head or shoulder OF ,
their bodies BY comparison they may oo ioS' 'o'
hurt than the others who cannot oear 'uo i"eU
~ removal and who will probably Ihger ior
few hours I'm agony before yielding up 'her hNes ie'
q, ~ oDnooranee the wounds which the surgeons pro
popnoe an -bt are In reality very severe Perhaps tne
IN, ch these soldiers had to undergo before engaging
the army or exhaustion caused ny the long journey
fter The action may have Frustrated them more than
those among their comrades who fell at an earlier period
OF the campaign whatever the reason there no
doubt OF the fact the wounded who now arriving
seem in much plight than any have yet seen
Many bear the impress of death on their faces They
have that desponding and worn look which indcatesa
want Of power 10 up and conquer their woes by
sheer force Of will. Another symptom Of the same kind
Is that the deaths hospital becoming relatively
more numerous.
Next in sadness TO the appearance OF the wounded Is
the demeanor OF the bystanders who come to witness
the arrival Of every train Women constitute the larger
prnportion OF the spectators 1t Ia neither ie criosy
nor morbid taste which leads them to the station ana
makes them eagerly the features OF the wounded
soldiers They are anxious to II among the sufferers
no ia dos IN
rapidly that OF Germany the troops have no les-
ure writing letters. Hence there are few among
those remaining behind who know what has been the lot
husband son, brother. They condemned to live
state OF horrible suspense 1t great relief when
they find tho we-remembered face among the crowd
II wounded soldiers. They are glad to know the
worst even though the knowledge they have acquired
be the Of satisfactory. cannot help thinking
that If the sovereigns ministers and legislators who
plan and precpitate had personal experience OF
military hospital after battle the number OF declared
friends Of peace would be multiplied. The sight Of
bdtteelds not sight equally impressive and fraught
with equally valuable lessons. When the cannon
and the troops charge excitement which contagious
renders all forgetfl OF the mischief which
wrought 1t is not strange then that those who have
witnessed these spectaces should speak Of them with ad
mrHon and insensiby acquire morbid taste for them.
In the military hospital. however there is neither
excitement compensation Rows Of men lying
side 10y side dis6gured by mutatiOns and groaning in
agony, present picture in which nothing is glorious
attractive. Yet this is what really Nor is it
less illogical than sad TO stalwart men, who have
been shot down in the most approved scientific STYLE
being the objects Of all the which kindness can
suggest ard Of all the skill which the highest medical
training afford. Instead OF shooting men, and then
striving to heal their wounds might it not be better to
dispense with the shoOngi Reflections like these may
wholly misplaced, II worse than superhuOus to
those who delight In reading the details OF brave doings
"a ha Of
OF consumnate strategy Yet II the amount Of hdeous
suffering which have the result Of these bloody
encounters Of armed hosts could be brought before the
eyes OF the world frequently and vvidy as the feats
Of the cOmbatauts the Society would make many
converts, and modern civilization would become nOber
IN character, while its blessings would be lasting and
more genuine.
In particular the leaders Of the German army are
'uNngiO set good example The discipline which
prepares The soldier to conquer in fights is not relaxed
ono '01 Gfter the triumph has been achieved. An
ample OF tIis occurred few days ago st Laudan.
soldier was arraigned before military tribunal
charge petty larceny. The charge being brought home
10 him he was found guilty. The sentence expul
sion from the army and the consequent loss OF all claims
which he those depend ent him might have TO
pcDsaon rewards military service, and mpr son
ment for twelve months If the theft had been com
mitted oil the field he would have been shot. When the
King Of Prussia arrived at POrbach OF t1e nhabi
ants complained that his soldiers had treated them badly
Tie King Immediately appointed commission TO in
VosigItc tle case and TO infict punishment on the
vrongi0ers Everything has been done which could
hgnteu the harsps of the people inhabng the terri
tory occupied by the German forces. 1 have good
grounds eor stating at the scrupuous respect shown
by the Germans for private property and private INFER
est has already Produced extraordinary changoin
thc temper OF the pc pie At first the Alcians regarded
the invaders as wolves an human guse. They had been
assured that she Germans would deyastate the country
and put IT, inhabitants to the sword Believing the
~. us made 90 thom on authority which they Ge
vustorusI 90 respect, they thrown into dismay
when thor dreaded enemies became their masters.
~. Gr .u ,uisc was 20 fad that their lives in
no darx.r Tho s.couI WAS to learn that not |
Only were they allowed to retain their possessions,
hut that fir prices given for whatever they had
to sell Ttcy remembered that tho French soldiers
vcry indifferent plyInascrs and the contrast between
tcir former projectors and their masters was thus
rendered an tie more striking. But difficulty re-
mains The people in the conquered territories are pro-
iouudly ignorant Of tire value Of German money. They
have fear that krcutzers ard groschen tokens
of 10 mo worth than buttons. The German, the
other hand cannot reckon In francs and centmes Thus,
although there may perfect good faith both sides
and pcrfe readiness to buy and sell, the question OF
relative values proves be which ia fertile in dis
putcs An attempt has been made to remedy this OWL
The amounts which the two countries represent I'm rea-
ton 10 each other have been officially declared Some
time will clapse. however, before the peasanry will un
dcrsiaud this.
THE BATTLE OF GRAYELOTTE.
AFTER THE COSTEsT-THE HARVEST OF DEATH |
VALUE OF TIE MITRAILLEUSES.
IRON OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
CAMP OF 33D REGIMENT, ON TIE FIELD OF
rho 10 1a In p .fad