The Washington herald., 1914-08-09
Letters Of American Ministei
to France, Mr.. Wasbune.
During the Franco-Russian
War, Furnish Striking Test
mony Of Obstacle to Be
Surmounted.

mVny VI ODseaCfe ~ De
Surmounted.
by Mr.. washburns in q letter to the
Secretary, and February 5, with ths
siege suspended. provisions commenced
to come into Paris Speaking Of the con-
, ditions up to that time, Mr.. Washhurns
wrote: The lower classes OF the city
have, during the last month Of the siege.
I suffered untold miseries Of cold and hun
ger. and with q patience and fortituds
which does them credit. Indeed the suf.
Iering OF all classes has been very great.
| and II might be said that all classes
have sustained the sufferinzs and priya,
tons OF the siege In q manner tina
must excite the wonder and admiratios
OF the world - While there haI
been q great deal Of hostility against m,
among 4 certain plumber of the popula,
ton Of Paris during the siege. and WhilI
have been assailed In the clubs and n
the newspapers on account Of my pro
lection OF the Germans, have no caus
whatever for complaint against the gov.
eminent Of the national defense, but hav,
been treated by them with the creates
kindness and with all the consideration
due to me as the diplomatic represent
alive Of our country"
Paris LiEht-Hearted Again.
February 3. the day before the 90
| cupation Of Paris by 5000 Germans. Mr.
Washourne wrote: Provisions are nov
plenty and cheaper than before the siek.
me great want here now Is the mean
OF Iocomotion. the greater number OF thu
horses having been killed TO. food dur.
ing the siege. =" Paris has already
become again quite Partisan, and durina
| the last few pleasant days the street,
have been filled by the same bright
hearted population, presenting that cheer
ful aspect which SO peculiarly beIonxs
to this historic city"
One day later this same briSht heart.
eohess was again blotted out by the en-.
trance Of the Germans who were IN -
| main~until the final ratItcatton ~ ~,
peace treaty with Germany. This en-
trance into the city Is described dra
matically and at length by Mr.. Wash
ourne ina letter OF Ma-h !, lSn, in par
as follows:
Sir: They have come in. At 9 o'cIocI
this morning three blue hussars entere,
the Port haillot, proceeded I'D the Ave
nue. OF the Grand Army and walked thet
horses slowly down the magnificent ave
nue. OF the Champs Elysees with car
pines cooked and fingers upon the triS
the side streets and proceeded sIogly
down the avenue. But few people wer,
out at that early hour In the morning
soon after, six made their appearance,
by the same route. and every few min
utes thereafter the number increased
Then came in the main body of the ad
vance guard, numbering about 1000 men
consisting OF cavalry and infantry, Ba
yarian and Prussian. forming part Of
me Eleventh Corps, under the command
Of Gen. Kamichi
BY this time the crowd on the Chann,
ElySees had increased and met the ad.
vancins Germans with Kisses and insult.
portion Of the German troops thes
matted and with great elaboration load.
ed their pieces, whereat the crowd, com.
posed Of boys and 'roughs,' incontfnentIy
took to their heels According TO a pre-.
vfous understanding among the French
all the shops and restaurants along the
route had been closed, but notwithstand.
ing their vigorous assertiveness. that ne
consideration whatever would Undue,
them to look upon or speak TO the 'Prus
SLAMS found. on going TO the Champ,
Elysees at $50 o'clock, a large nunbe,
OF them attracted thither by a curiosity
which they were unable TO resist. II
walking down the avenue TO the poin
where the main body of the force had
halted, in front OF the Palace OF Indus
try. notwithstanding the vehement pro
testattons that had been made that NJ
Frenchman would look at or speak 10
German soldier, l counted a body Of
twenty-five French people-men. women
and children-in the most cordial frater
nization with the German soldiers
1t was not until about hal
past l o'clock in the afternoon that tn.
Royal Guard OF Prussia in four soHI
bodies surrounded the Arc Of Triumph
Then a company Of Chlans, with thet
spears stuck in their saddles and orna
mented BY the httle nag OF blue an,
white, headed the advancing column
They were fol. owed by the Saxons. Will
their light blue coats. who were succeed
ed by the Bavarian rihenen with thsi,
heavy uniforms and martial tread Aft
erward followed more OF the UhIans an.
occasionally a squad OF the BisrarcI
cuirsssters. with their white Jackets
square hats and waving plunas. recall
ing TO mind. perhaps. among the NOR
Intelligent French observers, me ceIa
orated cuirassisrS OF the NansoNsty an,
Ii Tour Maubourg, in the wars OF IN,
nrst Napoleon.
And the Line Continues
Now comes the artillery. with 10
pieces OF six. which must have extorte.
tne dumlTdIlOn OF all military men oy iC
splendid appearance and wonderful prs
ctsion OF movements. Next fell into lin
the Royal Guard OF Prussia, With tibet
shining casquss and ghttering bayooetI
which had been mAssed around tn
world-renowned Arc of Triumph, erect
ed land with what bitter sarcasm
may now be SaidD to the glory OF tn.
grand army. / witnessed this entry from
the balcony OF the apartment Of Mr.
Cowdin, at the head OF the Champ
Elysees. great many French psooE
were on the sidewalks on either side q
the avenue. At irst the troops vsr
met with hissss. cat-calIs, and all sorN
OF insulting cries, but as they poure.
thicker and faster and forming BY CON
panies as they swept down the avsnu
to the strains OF martial music, IN
crowd seemed to be awed into siIencS
and no other sound was heard but tn
tramp OF the soldiers and the occasions
word OF command
The only disturbance I saw was occa
stoned by some individual advancin,
from the sidewalk and giving his ham
to German caValFyman, whereat In
crowd went for him; bot his baeks1i
seemed 20 powerful that the discontanr
soon dispersed without innicting any In
turtes- Ny coachmAn was o
thoroughly penetrated with fear Of tn
'PrussiaEs that he utterly refused q
harness his horses during the day, and
as 1 have been obliged to Be upon mi
feet most Of the time since morning. yot
can well lima CINE ny fatigue as I ~
dawn m Urita this dignafeh in fha sw.n