New-York tribune., 1870-08-16

they make all their noise observe tnat tne
curriers' work the new buildings opposite seldom
leave their work TO look unless the band IL larger than
usual, and then they seem Indifferent % IT, Here
! comes a queer set. One fellow, far g0ne ia sing
ing "Allos enfants" to his bottle, which he every
large round loaf balanced on his head where VIII stay
till his companions take ID into their heads to knock II
| of, and so they 20.
| THE PRUSSIAN ARMY TWO WEEKS AGO.
| THE DIFFICULTY OF OBTAINING NEwS-How THE
PEOPLE TREAT THE sOLDIERs-TIIE FEELING
OF THE PEOPLE OF FRANkFORT-THE PRUS-
SIAN ARTILLERY.
IRON OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
FRANKFORT, Aug 1.-The difficulty in obtain
ing news of the is rihng compared with that Of
sitting the truth from the startling which circ
late from mouth to mouth We're to accept true the
greater portion Of what hear should I'LL these letters
with intelligence decidedly sensational and utterly worth
less In emergency like the present it is impossible
to place implicit confidence in the men who have
the character of being wellnformed and coolheaded
Men who perhaps buadered before, have gravey
told me the most improbable tales Of movements made
and battles fought For the moment their patriotic
ardor has intoxicated them, and they readily believe In
that which accords with their indications and their SYM
pathies One test BY which try the stories which are
relates to the number Of the German troops which
are slain in the encounter If, as generally happens,
nothing is known to the loss ON tho German side while
specific details given about the slaughter on that OF
the French conclude that the story either
invention else the distorted and highly cOlOred YER
sion of simple and comparatively Insignificant fact
/ make this statemen. in order 60 explain why
my catalogue of is so ounmportaut Moreover.
that explanation will form suitable preface TO the few
remarks shall make about tho reported attack upon
Saarbruc. AS write the story goes that the attempt
OF the French gain possession OF that place has been
trumphay repused and that the loss to the attacking
party is considerable 600 French soldiers Being slain
That engagement has occurred is the only thing open
fla Tha aStIf boua fl mot only
doubtful but appearances favor the supposon that the
victory of the Germans has not been thorough If there
had been matter for congratulations the official report
would not have abruptly ended with the words that de-
tails had to hand 1t ia unfortunate that the Ger
authorities should resemble the French in one OF
their worst points. To withhold from the public inform
alton of unsatisfactory kind is the policy Of the CHEZ
OF the Prussan Ministry it Is that Of the French.
Owing to tho dislike on the part Of the authorities to give
publicity TO circumstances Of every hue and neture the
mongcrs ply their misoheyous trade and succeed
in making their negbDors miserable without or
happy with Dut reason.
Although my recent lette-s have been dated from
Frankfort yet have done in order to seek in
formation than merely to walk along the Zeil. The
tire suspension OF passenger traffic on the railways
renders it FAR from easy TO make long excursion. Nor
does journey in the direction of the frontier produce
much fruit On the French side large cities within
sight Of the frontier, whereas the German side the
most important places several miles distant. 1t is
possible Of course to gee close to the frontier from the
German ride, but to return is not easy and TO dis
patch letters is simply impossible. Until decisive
move in the one or the other direction be made the
lection OF q suitable point from which to watch the
course Of events Is matter OF exceeding difficulty II
still appears to be the general belief that in the neigh
borbood Of Mayence great battle will be fought and
the report still obtains credence that the headquarters Of
the King OF Prussia will be In Frankfort Preparations
have certainly been made for his reception but th3 day
Of his coming is uncertain. Many expect that hs will
arrive tomorrow. The same persons, however, have
been confidently looking for him each day during
the past week While the King fingers in Berlin, his
troops are proceeding rapidly to the front The number
OF men now massed between Mayence and the frontier
must be enormous.
Before the several trains leave the frankfort station
their occupants are well cared for by the inhabitants
The quantity Of provisions collected for tho use Of the
troops very great No less than 10000 pounds weight
OF sausages have been distributed during the past five
days. This is In addition to their ordinary rations
Liquids IS well Solids provided for the soldiers by
the citizens, while cigars are added to make the
entertainment complete. 1t said that the beray
the Frankorters has been doubly welcome On the
side it demonstration Of sympathy with the for
which Germany has taken the field while Oh the other
1t Is accepted AS token OF friendly feeling However
unpleasant ID might have been It would not have been
wholly unnatural had the citizens of Frankfort assumed
an attitude OF abstension from any manifestation OF
are still green, and their aoquiescence in the existing
state OF things due much to necessity as TO anything
eise They endure what they cure. They speak
about thegood old times the ancient poets did about
the golden age which had passed away While this is
not only true but pardonable, IL is misrepresentation OK
tbs truth to magnify this feeling OF dissatisfaction into
longing to be enancpated from the Prussian yoke at all
hazards. The Emperor OF the French never made more
palpable bunder than when he pictured himself being
hailed by the citizens OF Frankfort as their lberator
They are sngulary attached their city, and they ell
tertain firm conviction that they are superior TO other
Germans; nevertheless, they true Germans in sent
men In disposition and in manners II they do not adj
mre the Prussians they assuredy detest the French
Inc present war Instead OF detaching the Frankforters
from their allegiance has already had the effect OF
dezng them more disposed than any period TO
show their sincere attachment the Fatherand, and
more ready 10 make any sacrifice in order that may
| preserved unimpaired.
| Several batteries OF artillery have been transported
over the railways during the past few days 1t is sup
posed that this IL the In which the German army is
least strong. The campaign OF 1856 certainly demon
sraed that the artillery OF the Ausrians was in every
respect more efficient than that OF Prussia Had II not
been tor the the inferory OF the Prussans
In this respect would have been still more marked But
victors al sadowa had no objection to learning useful
lesson The shrewd eyes of the military authorities dis
covered at glance that 1t defective, and instant
steps were taken to repair deficiencies One OF these
lated TO the weight of field pieces The Prussian guns
were far 100 cumbersome for service IN the field They
are now much lighter and the have been trained to
handle them with rapdy. 1t Is probable that the arti-