Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-04-05
An EngIishman's Observations OF
the French and German Com.
hatanfa.


An EngIishman's observations OF
the French and German Com.
batants.
Under the above ead-lines the Cleve-
land Herald publishes an extract from a
letter received by citizen of that city
from friend in London, Benz amin
Scott, Esq, Chamberlain of that me-
tropolis. We quote a portion to show
the difference between the German and
French soldiers in discipline and moral
training Both were equally brave, but
both were not alike in other elements
necessary for success on the field of
battle; .-,.-.....,..
My DEAR SIR: / had short run on
the continent during my annual vaca-
ton, and visited the bloody battle-felds
Of eastern France, was at Sedan the
day after the Emperor left for Cassel,
and Witnessed some of the horrors incl
dent to that fearfuland decisive struggle,
and saw thousands of wounded men and
prisoners carried away. / visited also
Saarbruck, Spicheren and Forbach, and
also Weissenburg, Woerth Froeschweiler
etc., and at a distance saw the shells ex-
ploding over devoted Strasburg. / need
not dwell to. you on the horrors of war,
as they have been too recently brought
home to you; but you may expect to hear
from me my impressions respecting the
combatants, formed on the spot. Invent
out strict neutral, my sympathies being
rather with France than with Germany,
as / knew the former and had never Wis
tied the latter country. returned full
of admiration for the Germans, and de-
sire for their complete success.
The contrast between the two armies
was most striking On the German
side was order, spbordination to au-
thority, discipline, and a marvellous or
ganization; on e'French side all these
were wanting-no respect manifested by
the men toward their officers, no regard
shown by officers for the well-being of
their men, privates crowding into the
same carriages with Generals, and blow
ing smoke in their faces, curses uttered
by both parties, and il is said not few
shots vindictively fred by men at their
officers on the battlefield. Both armies
fought with bravery, but the generalship
was all on one side. The Germans went
TO work with feeling of serious regret
that war was necessary, and that it must
be continued until a permanent peace
was secured; the French manifested
spirit of levity, which was well illustrated
by the conduct of the Emperor and
Prince Imperial when they commenced
the war at Saarbruck. The German
knapsacks on the field Of battle were
found furnished with books of serious
meditative character; those of the
French, / regret to say, both officers and
men, contained photographs and prints
of the most disgusting character, with |
which they had intended to debauch and
demoralize the homes of Germany, had |
they carried out their intended march
to Berlin. All is now finished. The
Germans, as you will learn ere this,
marched out of Paris yesterday and the
Of peace are definitely signed.
May this be the last great war of the
country. IL so, / trust that the nations
will be too wise before another genera
ton has passed to resort to so violent
remedy, worse than almost any evils it
NAV be called upon to redress. :