THE WAR BETWEEN FRANCE AND GERMANY.

Press, Volume XVIII, Issue 2491, 25 April 1871, Page 3

THE WAR BETWEEN FRANCE AND GERMANY.

[FEOM A COEBESPONDENT.] Heidelberg, Baden, Feb. 6, 1871. For a few days rumours that Paris was about to capitulate were flying about, much to the ease and comfort of the German mind. Notwithstanding that such a result might be expected any day, the announcement that Jules Favre had gone to the head quarters of the King, suddenly raised the hopes of the people. The excitement for further news was great; and every hour was expected to bring the joyful intelligence that at least preliminaries for peace had grown out of the conferences which had been held between the Chancellor of the North German Confederation and the Parisian Minister. At length, early on Sunday, the 29 th January, we ,were in possession of the result of these conferences. A telegram from the Grand Duke of Baden at Versailles, to the Grand Duchess at Carlsruhe dated midnight 28th, stated that, late at night, a three weeks' armistice by land and sea, had been concluded on the following condititions :—The whole of the forts round Paris to be given over, and occupied by the Germans ; the guns of the enceinte to be dismantled ; the army to lay down arms and to remain in Paris (a sufficient number of the National Guard to be armed for the maintenance of peace); the city to pay a fine of 200,000,000 francs ; a National Assembly to be elected, and to meet at Bordeaux in fourteen days, for the purpose of nominating a Constitutional Government able to speak in the name of the country. The truce did not extend to the east army, operating against Belfort, and in its neighbourhood ; Bismarck knew, that to include this in the armistice would be more advantageous to the French than to the Germans, and this judgment was specially confirmed. General Yon Werder, had been successful in driving back Bourbaki's .army on the 17th after the three days' fight. For this he had received a letter of thanks k from the Emperor-King, and the grand-cross and sword of the order of the Red Eagle. This movement had been effected before General Manteuffel, who had been sent down from Amiens to take the over-command, could come to his assistance, and he kept the enemy in check until the reinforcements from Paris arrived. When these reinforcements came up there was no longer room for doubt ; several arrangements took place, all having the effect of driving the French towards the Swiss frontier ; those of the 30th, 31st January, and Ist February were decisive. In these ceveral villages were stormed, a great number of prisoners, and much war material fell into the German's hands. The French army was divided, a part retreated southward, the other part, numbering over 80,000, went over the frontier upon the neutral territory, where they had to lay down their arms and become prisoners. The return gives nineteen guns and mitrailleuse, about 15,000 prisoners, including two generals, two eagles, several hundred provision waggons, many weapons, and munitions of war. This is likely to be the last great act of the French army in this war ; for it is not probable that hostilities will be renewed after the armistice. Had this part of France not been excepted from the truce, it might have proved a strong centre for the French to operate from, in the event of a renewal of hostilities. Bourbaki's defeat was helped on by Gambetta's obstinacy in insisting on a certain plan of his own, which the General considered faulty, and which had the effect of keeping him too near the neutral country. On the 25th, the fortress of Longwy capitulated, and increased the number of prisoners by 4000 ; and the number of French fortress guns in the German hands, by 200. February 18. Of all the many considerations arising out of the capitulation of Paris, that which naturally takes the first place is the revictualling of that great city. It was soon discovered that an error of eight days had been made in the estimated quantity of provisions on hand: and this naturally caused great alarm, as it was impossible to bring provisions in until the railroads had been restored and arrangements made. The Emperor at once ordered that several millions of rations should be issued from the German army stores. This of course gave instant relief, and helped over the time necessary fox the 1 organization of a system of supply.

The English Government immediately offered that if berth pr.r- : \s agrrci-l !n making a request, they would •'. ;-.;j at ;':. usposnl of the Parisian authorities supplies from the Army aud Navy skuv.-. This having been eagerly accepted. English ships laden with the means of life were soon speeding on their way with all the swiftness that steam and sail could give towards tin. , famine-stricken city. The people of Londou. under the leadership of the Lord Mayor, sent over many thousand pounds worth of necessary provisions. Tn;der3 and speculators were not backward in getting together i ample stores of necessaries ; for the market had no limit, save that of supply. The. feeding of upwards of two miillions of people *rom day to day, demanded all that could be got together. "Very judicious arrangements were made that only absolute necessaries should be at first sent in, especially flour and biscuit. Hitherto, any luxuries that have passed must have been, as it were, smuggled in. Although each day was a long and weary-waiting for the hungry, and every hour of the last importance, relief came with all possible speed, and it is now several days since the bread shops have been freely open to all who can buy. Butchers' meat is still rational, and only to be had by written order. The Lord Mayor's Fund Committee have a good organisation in Paris for the distribution of their gifts. Some correspondents of the Londou journals have asserted that these supplies had been sold to the people ; but the Lord Mayor having enquired into this, has given the statement a direct contradiction. The supplies from the English Government are of course under the control of the Paris authorities, and are sold or given away as necessity requires. It is said that the poorer part of the inhabitants are comparatively well off, as they can procure all they want from the public establishments ; but the real distress is endured by a respectable class of persons, whose gentleness is unable to compete with the rougher ranks of society. In the eight days from the 3rd to the 10th February inclusive,the railways took into Paris 9600 tons of flour; 450 tons of rice; 900 tons of biscuit ;3GO tons of fish; 3 700 tons of fuel; 2000 tons of other provisions, and 7000 head of cattle. In the depot at Brest the cattle plague broke out in great strength, the affected beasts were killed, and their carcases placed in condemned ships, which were taken out to sea and sank. The elections took place on the Bth, and passed over very peaceably. Many of the leading men have been returned by several constituencies. The returns give hopes of peace, and are thought to be favourable to a monarchial form of government, certainly to peace. The Imperialists are nowhere in the race. The " Eeds" are in an uncomfortable minority; their party about as likely to have their own way in the Assembly as the soldiers they would fain raise to carry on the war, are likely to prove a match for the German soldiers. The time of the original armistice expires to-morrow, another five days have been agreed to. This, in itself, is a sure sign of peace, as the Prussians would not have extended the time had peace been doubtful. The Assembly has met, no reports of the proceedings beyond the preliminary business have reached us yet. The terms of peace have not been made public, many rumours have been circulated in the newspapers as to the amount of money indemnity. Very heavy sums have been named, and the English press has severely criticised them as unreasonable in the extreme. They possibly may be put out as feelers ; I think they will be found far in excess of the sum demanded by the • Germans. The cession of territory has been agreed upon in principle, though the amount is not yet publicly defined. Alsace, and part of Lorraine, with Metz, will be insisted upon. The refusal of Jules Favre to discuss this question early in September, and his notable declaration not to yield a foot of territory, or a stone of a fortress, has unfortunately resulted in a terrible sacrifice on both sides, without altering the terms one iota. The extended armistice will expire on the 24th instant; before that time we hope to have the proclamation of peace. Soon will this sad and disastrous war belong to the past. Belfort capitulated on the 16th. To finish up the war, the Germans have done a generous act; they have allowed the garrison, 12,000 strong, in consideration of their brave and well sustained defence, to go out with all the honors of war, and be free to go where they please. The prompt liberality of the English people towards the Parisians in their saddest hour, has produced a warm feeling of respect and gratitude towards England, which is already toning down the angry feelings so lately expressed against her neutral attitude. I fear it is otherwise with the Germans. They have always jealously accused England of sympathy for the French, to their harm ; and this act of benevolence towards Paris will be twisted so as to confirm their suspicion; for, if what England has done to help their sick and wounded all through the war, is not sufficient, as it has not been sufficient, to allay their petty wrath, it is not improbable that they will take care to misunderstand her present overflowing charity. Garabaldi has resigned his command, and his seat in the new Assembly. A very noble act is just recorded of his son Menotti. A short time since the first German flag was taken at Dijon, the colors of the 61st Prussian Infantry Regiment. This was reported officially to have been taken by him, after some half a dozen officers who held it in succesion, had fallen. He has written to General Mantenffel to discover this, and states that he found the flag amongst a heap of dead and wounded Prussians, who had fallen in defence of their colors. This is said to have made a great impression in his favor at the German head-quarters. A severe shock of earthquake was felt here at 5.26 a.m., Feb. 10. In the neighborhood of Melibocus (an old volcano —about 25 miles north of this town), and in other parts of the j Odenwald, very many slighter shocks have been noticed. I. L,