The New York herald., 1871-01-17
Count Bismarck Indicts the French
Republic for Violations Of
the Usages Of War.
Special Prussian Circular to the
Foreign Governments.
CHARGES, SPECIFICATIONS AND PROOFS.
GERMANY SEVERE BUT JUST.
TELEGRAM TO the new YORK HERALD.

correspondent OF the HERALD In Berlin writes
BY special telegraph letter from the Prussan
capital, under date Of this Monday morning, the
following important matter. reporting Premier Won
Bismarck's latest Cabinet circular, addressed to
the Ambassadors OF Prussia ABROAD on the sub
ject Of French violations Of the usages Of war. l
transmit the communication to New York by
special cable telegram
BIsMARCKs CIRcULAR-REPLY TO THE FRENCH.
The HERALD special writer In Berlin says:-Count
Bismarcks circular addressed to the Prussian rep
resentatves at foreign courts in answer to the
French despatch OF General Cnaudourdy on the
subject Of the treatment OF French prisoners, and
their conduct under parole, has been published.
Premier Won Bismarck says that he doubts the
genneness Of this paper since he believes that the
gross msstatements which 1t contains could find
credence only in country nnamed and maddened
by the worst passions.
Count Bismarck repudiates the idea OF any viola
ton OF the convention and usages of war on the
part Of the Germans. He asserts on the contrary,
that the French have been guilty of such violations
and that, too, under circumstances which preclude
the possibility Of mistake In making the charge
against them. He says that the French
troops have fred on German bearers of
nags Of truce in twenry-one cases. and that
several Of the Prussians were thus killed and
wounded. After the battle OF weissenbourg 1t was
quite apparent that the French wounded even the
French military surgeons were entirely ignorant OF
the existence Of the convention and 1t was conse-
regulations and rules Of guidance. After the
French had been duly informed OF these rules it
could not be observed BY their conduct that they
had been or had attended to them They continued
to fire on the field hospitals Surgeons
serving on the Prussian ambuances were wounded.
According to the testimony OF DR.. Burkhardt,
a Swiss physician In the Kings army. q French
army physician confessed to him (Burkhardp that
he (the Frencnman had himself SHOT with his re-
volver many Prussian prisoners. Numbers OF the
French tireurs assumed the cross Of the Geneva
Convention, as if they belonged to the Sanitary
corps, when they were compelled to retreat defeated
In battle After such instances OF agrant disregard
Of the very principle and rules OF the Geneva Con-
Count Bismarck been compelled to consider and
ask each other how far they are bound to regard
that instrument in force towards France.
Besides, says the Prussian Premier, the cases
which we're mentioned in my last circular, OF 27th
September, 1870 this subject other nfractons OF
conventions OF international law and of the general
usages of civilized nations have been perpetrated by
the French Explosive balls were used by them In
the battle Of Woerth. Colonel Won Deckendorn was
wounded by OF these missiles, as was Lieutenant
another explosive. Lieutenant Oertzen, who
was captured near strasbourg recollected
having heard the French commander &C
cusing the Baden troops of ha7ing used
explosives and also that he uhe Frenchman) then
threatened to permit retaliation-even violation
Of women-tn consequence and for revenge. The
Germans did not use explosive bullets. They had |
bullet consisting OF sixteen sharp-edged pieces
which they tred but the make and intent of this
missile were openly submitted to the representa-
proved OF by them before they were placed in the
hands OF the Prussian soldiers in the field.
OUTRAGE AT SEA.
Count bismarck goes on to instance. The French
man -of.war DessaIx burned three German ships at
sea- instead Of having them first condemned by
prize court.
VIOLATIONS ON LAND.
The German prisoners In the hands OF the French
have been, and are, badly treated. They are
insuficiently fed, and confined In cold and damp
prisons
In Germany nothing Of this sort has occurred
The French rurcos committed the most beastly
outrsges both on the wounded and dead Prussians
To this they were urged on by the urterances sr
French newspapers. The Independonce A1oertne
expressed its 'pity for the poor Turcos" for men
who had just cut of the ears, noses and heads Of
the German wounded.
At yilleneuve, Servi and Autun French peasants,
soldiers from behind the hedges and trees on the
waysde.
The French government promised a reward to
every French ofiicer escaping from his parole, and
thereby breaking the laws OF honor and OF war.
INFERENCES.
Such proceedings, says Count Bismarck, are only |
possible under q dictatorship OF French rulers who
excite the viest passions Of the people and who |
,crush ont" the liberty of the press. Tor the very
purpose OF decclvng this people to the real
state OF affairs existing In their country, ana who
by SO doing loose popular Jury which they do not |
desire to keep within the bounds OF International |
law aud the lines of the usages Of European war.
RESULTS.
Thus says the Prussian Premier In conclusion, we |
are compelled to prosecute the war against France
with a degree OF severity which is neither cha
racterstic OF the German people nor In accordance
with our former usages in the years 1854 and 1868.
blndf IA shn tn he rOu