The New York herald., 1871-02-12
BarbarOus Practices Of the Middle
Ages Revived.
TOWNS AND VILLAGES RANSACKED.
Points Of Resemblance Between the Siege Of
Paris and the Siege Of Dybbol.
THE PRUssIAN FLANK MOVEMENTS.

Ol eVentS III tne pfcSenC extensive
theatre of war, and to compare the manner in which
the present war Is carried on with that which
characterized
THE DANISH INVASION IN 1864.
The points OF resemblance are very numerous, and
che peculiar features which have now become pa,
tent to all the world of the Prussan system and it's
mode OF working an attentive observer would al
ready have discovered having been all present In
The Danish Prussian war. II Is indeed only owing 70
the circumstance that Denmark is such o little
country, In such taro corner OF the world, and the
tact tina; 1t the first crude experiment of Herr
Bismarck, that the incidents OF the campaign failed
TO attract general attention. but the logical
sequences OF the system which now strikes not alone
France with amazement but all the OF the world,
were In all respects fully developed IN 1854. when
Denmark was last invaded, and even to certain
extent far back as in 1s4s, when the German ar
mics for the first time tried to
SPOIL THEIR LITTLE PEAcEABLE NElGHBoRs OF
sCHLEswIG AND HoLSTEIN.
believe that more detailed proof OF the above
assertion may not be devoid OF interest, inasmuch
as 1t VIII appear that what now takes place in
France is not OF accidental nature-the natu-
raj consequence OF the passionate bitterness which
animates the combatants on either side-but that it
Is the very essence and spirit OF the Prussian mode
Of warfare.
UNFORTUNATE FRANCE
is astounded and indignant OF the heavy acquisitions
levied by the Prussans on the country content
with the necessary provisions and forage they de-
mand that supplies of all kinds-often mere super
1ulties-be furnished by the Inhabitants, who thus
suffer In an intoerable degree more than the ordi-
nary burdens Of war. The same was the case In
Denmark, not many years ago. When the enemy
took possession Of town he forthwith imposed
contribution Of bread, meat, forage Ac., but added
frequently reluisitlon Tor cigars, WINE and other
luxurles and not seldom one for such articles as
CLOTH drilling, sole leather, &C.
1T is A GENERAL COMPLAINT IN FRANCE
that the Prussians rob the peasant Of his horses,
thus disabling him from tilling the soil. This pro.
ceeding was rather OF frequent occurrence In Dem
mark, too. Every now and then small detachments
were detailed from the town garrisons for regular
organized horse hunting expedition. II the farmers
got wind OF such q raid In time they generally
managed TO secrete ther'property but If the Prus-
SLAMS swept down upon them unawares they lifted
tile horses they wanted without troubling them.
selves whether they were private prope rty or not.
MAN EARTHwORKs.
1t has excited very general and deserved indigna-
tion IN all parts OF the civilized world that the
French peasants have been compelled by their con-
querors to labor on earthworks constructed against
their besieged countrymen. A similar feature OF
during both tue German wars. At the slege OF
Fredericla in 1s4e, which by the by was conducted
tien CHIEF Of sIan to General Bonin a
large number Of Danish peasants were ordered to
w0rn On cae A segc Az Tue
German working parties well aware Of the fact Of
the presence among them OF great many OF their
own cOuntrymen. similar instance occurred after
the engagement near Velle in 1854. The Germans
forced everybody they could lay their hands upon,
among them Gil the students Of neighboring col.
lege TO assist throwing up earthworks and digging
trenches.
REVENGE ON FRENCH TOWNS AND VILLAGES
Ia n n
that the Germans in France revenge themselves on
entire towns and villages when any part Of
this occurred In Denmark during the s'' first
prised and captured at the village Of Norre Snede
by party Of Danish Dragons. In consequence there
S ae Swn r was ns hHx1 nay Scupd oy ;n large
Inhabitants shamefully misused. in 1864. when the
war was mostly centred about Asen and Dybbol,
but few surprises were attempted on the part of the
Danes but a single descent of a DANISH reconoi-
trng party on the Jutish coast was avenged by the
demolition Of q neghboring farm.
SHAMEFUL BEHAVIOR OF THE PRUssIAN MILITARY
AUTHORITIES.
Our attention Is also called to the shameful be-
havlor OF the Prussian military authorities, which
punish by heavy pecuniary fines all French towns,
where their troops have been harassed or annoyed
ON their march. Thus, we learn that the town OF
Orleans has been mucted In the sum OF 600, 600
francs because . German soldier had been killed
there In street row. This feature or the Prussian
system rs also not unknown here Randers, a town Of
ii 600 inhabitants, was ordered by The German COM
Of punishment for or rs lies less freddy altitude towards
the invaders. The Inhabitants refusing Or unable to
raise the sum demanded, the shops were Quilted and
and their contents carried or to Germany.
REylyING THE BARBARoUs PRACTICES OF THE
MIDDLE AGES.
it is looked upon in France as revival OF the bar
barous practices OF the wars OF the Middle Ages
the Germans are accustomed to seize upon the per-
of citizens Of substance ana note and send
them TO German prisons as hostages The PrussIans
Sa sn Standing ann ne n
prominent citizens were seized upon Immediately
after the occupation Of town and transported to
conclusion of the war. Even citizens who had been
deficient in poieness towards their csnquerors
were occasionally put under arrest on bread and
water; but this last instance was, however, among
the more rare cases.
Finally the French complain that the German
troops. IN spite Of their much vaunled discI-
pline, occasionally evnce an ill.regulaed predlleo.
whom they are quartered. This "approprativeness''
was not entirely unnoticed In Denmark. Even
In the ranks OF the Elizabeth Guard, a Prussian
corps deHte. persons might be pointed out who
were not above little private plumber, in addition
to Inc more extensive operations carried on in pur.
suance Of higher orders.
PRUssIAN PRACTICES.
When WE consider s al liI, thus we rather wonder at
that no war ia our time has been carried with
more humanity and more forbearance than just this
DanO-Prussian war. The English journal Is right,
however, to q certain degree, and especially wheli
we compare the Danish campaign with the afro.
clouS war WHICH uOW uctdstutcS DeduIllul
France. The system Of the Prussan mode OF
warfare was undoubtedly the same In Denmark as
now IN France but its practical execution was dif-
ferent then. The inferior subaltern Authorities
charged with It's execution were net then hardened
in the service and experienced q certain amount Of
shame in doing what tney looked upon unncces.
sary barbarity. ana EXAMPLES were not wanting OF
German officers who when ordered out on "a horse
lifting raid, woulc The night before ride In tile
country aud secretly acquant their former hosts
with what was on the taps, IN order to enable them
TO take the NECESSARY precautions. Even the be-
hayor OF the common soldiers toward the native
population was on the whole rather friendly, and
not untrcqucntly the Prussan soldier would be
lend hand To their farmer hosts at harvest time
and assist them In housing their corn. On neither
size were the passions wrought 10 such pitch as
now in France. A CONSCIOUSNESS that Denmark was
suffering an unprovoked wrong was rife among the
German soldery and made them reluctant 10 add 10
IL the literal and execution OF the standing
orders.
PLANK MOVEMENTS.
how n, fna nlnva m pn eta s. t,a