THE FRANCO-GERMAN THUNDER CLOUD.

Inangahua Times, Volume IV, Issue 30, 18 June 1877, Page 2

THE FRANCO-GERMAN THUNDER CLOUD.

The Germans appear determined no! to conciliate Alsace-Lorraine. Under the new French military law, aoklioru who have served then ierins are liable to be recalled to their colors. There are some oOOOi families, ia Alsace-Lorraine, in each of which a member how elected after the cession to remain French, has serred his time and returned, and the German authorities, have now ordered them all t< , quit the province, if unmarried, in forty, eight hours, and if married, in fifteen days or to renounce their French nationality The order, ;if carried oat in this rigorous weather, involves unprecedented ciuolty and is entirely unjustified by the practice of other States. There ate thousands ol Germans ia London, Manchester, and Glasgow at this moment who are by statute German soldiers, liable at anj moment to be recalled for service, yet it would be a brutality to expel them An appeal has bceu mnde to Prince Bismarck to repeal the order, but it it difficult to believe that a decree which in other day* might have produced an immediate declaration of war can have been issued without his sanction. What is the difference between action like this and the arrest of all British officers on leave who happen to be travelling in Germany ?— Spectator, Germany has absolutely no justification of any sort for violating the very conditions on wheh the annexation of Alsace-Lorraine was acquiesced in, and, as we have* said, we learn in pleasure that Prince Bismarck has intimated a desire to retrace the illadvised steps which have been taken. $ othiag* however, that he may now do will remove the ill effect which has been produced on the public opinion of Europe j but we have every confidence in the self command and com* mon sense of the French Government under the very trying circumstances of the ctae*-'Stcmdara.