The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-08-24


would be the last to take up arms in defence Of the
country.
At MANNHEIM.
On the Frontier Line Of War-From Kiua
Williams Headquarters mt Mayence-GIo-
riOus Combnts and German vicssry-BuIie-
tins. Newspapers and War Maps NIL
Sides--WOunded Men from Both Armies-
German Resolution, Confidence and Hope.
MANNHEIM, August Z, 1870.
To this place determined to como, as being nearer
TO the whole line OF frontier from Trier TO Rastadt
than the fortress OF Mayence and after considerable
waiting for conveyances and frequent stoppages on
the wayside, have succeeded in reaching here.
left the royal headquarters at Mayence; night
they were moved forward and at present writing are
to be found at Kaiserslautern, which is about half
way between Mannheim ana saarbrack. As
write i recOect that all these things and names,
indeed The whole events and theatre Of the struggle
may be, and probably will be- changed by the time
this letter reaches you; hence 1t is that although
am constrained more or less to go into detail with
regard to the present situation, yet think 1t will be
better to treat Of general items and matter charac
tersc OF the people and the than to repeat the
bulletins which, while l am writing, the telegraph
conveys to you.
For he last two days those bulletins nom the
Prussian headquarters have nearly taken breath
away, snch has been the rapidity with which they
have heraded forth, to the great Joy Of all good Ger
mans, victorious cOmbaBs. The French were allowed
The advantage In the first affair at SaarDruck, but
since then there has been crumb OF comfort for
them. wissembourg, Woerth, Bitche and speichereu
are recorded as advantages against the French
side, and, besides this, the French are falling
back or retrearng. The enthusiasm here, as
in IN
consequently completely roused though 1t is quiet
abthe while. All around me l hear the positive
belief asserted that the French Will never cross the
Rhine. and that the Pruss1ans will dictate peace in
Paris. mach Paris |" con to PARISH Is still the
cry Before you get this letter there ore people here
who think and say that the will be ended. They
are confidently looking the entry OF the Prussians
into the French capital by the 18TH OF August Napo-
icons fete. give this belief az being significant Of
the prevalent feeling and opinion.
Every bulletin that comes and Is spread abroad IN
little slips OF printed paper Is received with a
"hurrah" and bought and read by the people. All
classes seem 10 be thoroughly alive 10 the issue and
the tdmgs Of the moment Every one has his war
map Of the "Kriegsschauplatz'' and follows up the
marches and c0mbats therefrom. 1t may he that all
this may continue TO the end SO, or 1t not. The
measure adopted against the press prevents me
from speaking OF AFFAIRS with certainty, and hence
/ am constrained to narrate merely what see and
hear around me In the neighborh0Od Of the opera
lions.
PRISONERS AND THE PEOPLE
On my way down to this pace / saw the French
prisoners taken Ut the first AFFAIR claimed by the
rrusslans, or the capture OF Wissembourg. The
prisoners were most remarkably hospitality treated.
Both soldiers and citizens displayed their wonted
good nature IN this treatment at every moment. At
the stations the ladies' turned out to give beer and
OF comfort seemed On their side the prisoners were
rather depressed, and explained TO those who could
ins ,na tSea were SURPRISED nd 60 can
tured They distinctly stated to your correspondent
that only 400 OF their force commenced the encOun
ter with an entire Prussian corps d'armee ana that
they were not opportunity reinforced. One train
full Of them was under command Of Bavaran OIL
dimes In box. In one Of the coaches, near which
was standing, the sentinels gun accidentally went
Of and Of course there was lively scampering In
consequence. 1t was at first thought that prisoner
had fired upon some officer or suicided himself from
despair; however, the ONCE in command rushed
ana cursng, 1t was proved that the explosion hao
occurred merely through chance. otherwise 1t
ou nave e sck ON the sno and should nave
had u record a general massacre OF the lnnocentS
then and there present The people tried to get at
the sentiments OF the prisoners; but for State
reason4 well on the score OF the difficulty OF
using the two languages, there was no drawing rom
them anything very important or interesting; they
confined themselves to q species Of mutlsm and TO
eating tue tlack bread and German beer which the
junaj7auen handed in to them without stint. 1t
ia quite singular spectacle TO witness the natives
MS they are fighting this war In such deep earnest,
but apparently without any hatred against even
Napoleon himself, certainly with none against the
BY the way, I must mention little matter that
struck my attention this morning in connection
with this i,ermapic sentiment towards the French.
l happened to pull out the drawer OF secretary In
my room and found written In ink on the bottom Of
gan:-"rne French ARE, are 9ne-half crazy and
little credit to Germans to see how selr-possessed
and good-natured they show themselves, even under
the present circumstances, when their land is at
trrked and invaded as they are firmly convinced
the ground Of mere personal and dynastcal am
billion. From Darmstadt l passed through the
venerable Old city or Worms, and after many an up
ana down reached Mannheim, on the Rhine. II APP
peared rather strange, although not unpleasant to
$780, and by the side OF two tracks OF railway but 1t
only after that guse that our destination could
CONSEQUENCES OF THE WAR;
Mannheim has lost its shipping ana trade for the
tine being 1t is rather a nice CITY, with some fine
new buildings but as 1t is very near the fighting and
the armies It Is bound to become general rendez-
vous for the sick and wounded and to lose its pre-
sent fresh appearance. Already there are several
hundred wounded soldiers, OF both natonalities, in
the city hospitals, and numerous hospital wards,
on on ne
ercise places'' and grounds surrounding the town.
In the course OF few days they may be all filed with
sive baltic now daily expected. The surgeons and
employees are already at their respective posts. This
evening i inspected them, IN company Win
general surgeon, who remarked that they were con-
sructed precisely after the pattern OF those used In
our war. He had no need TO tell me, for the
fac stnue was visible-au except the white wash
ing, which was lacking. The wounded on hand
were visited. AS they were slightly wounded the
inspection was OF short duration. Several had
suffered from Turcos and mitrailleuses, but
l did not observe that any especial dread
was entertained OF those two machines.
The TurcOs were complained OF as being
uncivlized Instruments or warfare and, as to the
famous mtraleuses. their mssives were exhibited
with certain ar OF triumph a. not being so deadly
aiter ali. The TurcOs were made prisoners, for I
have myself seen some OF them as well a. about 1000
genuine French red pants, although 1t Is maintained
That tho Turcos themselves accorded no quarter on
the battle field.
During my visit to the wounded In the hosptals I
observed that the Germans bore their pains very
manfully and resignedly, and looked very much like
lighting material adapted to win victories they
from Nnr Drr,oo