The New York herald., 1878-12-30
BUSCH'S BISMARCK BOOK.
Berlin Letter to the London Times. j

Berlin Letter to the London Times.l
An English translation Of Busch's prince Bis
marck and His STAFF being announced the correction
OF certain inaccuracies in this remarkable book may
not be out of place. Herr Busch referring state
ment of your Borlin correspondent in February 1871
gives understand that he instructed to con-
tradict the same The statement touched upon the de-
mand OF indemnity OF ten miliards contradicted
by Herr Busch In correspondence dated Versailles
February Z. which was printed in the Cologne
Gtzsfte OF February IL. The language held upon
that subject in DR.. Busch's book being identical
with that used in the correspondence adverted to,
there be no doubt that both from the same
pen. 1t is therefore. proper to repeat that. how
ever warranted Herr Busch 8 denial may have been
on the day Of its issue, it cannot be assumed to
allude to the preceding date. when the ce
transmitted. About two years after the event
Prince Bismarck, at Parliamentary dinner. told
his assembled guests that he had originally asked
much higher sum than the five milards exactcd.
Prince Bismarcks interesting communication ap.
pearing in lengthy article in the German press,
evidently written by one of the guests present.
copied into the 7vmes reference being made to the
previous contradiction. No denial elected ut
that time, either in Germany in England. Herr
Busch reprnting in his book summary of his ver-
sailles correspondence without mentioning subse-
quent disclosures this repeated allusion to the
second chapter OF the tale IL rendered necessary In
the light afforded by Anal explanations see more
over. that there occasion to look prcju-
diced source for statement which, when first made,
was correct.
FEW INACCURACIES.
Busch declining to allow English gunboat to go
up the Seine during the siege to fetch the British
residents in Paris In this case, too. chronology is
all important. Ii, in the first instance, Herr
Buschs assertion refers to comparatively
recent date. in this second one his affirmation
is only correct when restricted to the Introductory
stage OF the matter. As may be remembered the
Pheasant gunboat, in consequence of Mr.. Odo
Russelrs representations. did go up the Seine
and fetch British residents. 1t would not be
difficult to point ont other minor inadvertancies.
According to Herr Busch Prince Bismarck
induced Count Moltke TO proong the arms-
tice in the night of September !. whereas
the official account Of the war. published under
Count Moltke's control says the reverse. The
writer who published the sensational article in the
ISfn Journal advocating the murder OF a Prussians
was net Thomas Grimm, Herr Busch tells
u.s. but Timothe Trimm. The Chancellor cannot
possibly have asserted that Paris should have been
taken by storm September Is. the first encounter
the city having only occurred on the 18th. The
German journalist taken pr soner by the French was
not Herr Kreiscr as are informed but DR.. Kayss-
ler, the editor OF the iosf. And so The second
edition OF the work is mpaticntly awaited. not so
much for the additions IL may contain for what
the editor may have To say In reply to those CRITICS.
ing the propriety OF tho publication.