THE WAR IN EUROPE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 732, 27 September 1870, Page 3

THE WAR IN EUROPE.

NAVAL FORCES. The following is from the Pall Mall Gazette : — It is only a few days — last Tuesday (July 12) in fact — since the small ironclad squadron, of Prussia lefc Plymouth on its return to the Baltic. The squadron comprised the celebrated King William, the Prince "William, the Prince Carl, and the Prince Adalbert — the first-named the most formidable ironclad afloat except the Hercules; the two next are first-class ironclads, and the last is a powerful, swift, little armour-clad gunboat, carrying two very heavy guns of Krupp's steel. The King "William deserves more than a passing word. She was designed by Mr Reed, and built at the Thames Ironworks for the Turkish Government. "When she was finished the Sultan could not afford to pay for her, so she was offered at the same price to the then Board of Admiralty, who declined to buy her, and Prussia at once came forward and offered £30,000 more. When Prussia had got her the English Admiralty saw their mistake, and tried to out-bid Prussia, but it was then too late. This vessel has a speed of fourteen knots, carries 8-inch armour, and has twenty-eight guns — four 600 pounders and twenty-four 300---pounders. The King "William is, in fact, not a vessel, but a little fleet in herself. Being very long, she is not handy or very easy to turn, and is therefore liable to the danger of being " rammed.". If she can avoid this she would be an overmatch for any four ordinary ironclads. The squadron, of which the King "William was the flagship, had orders on leaving the Baltic to coal at Plymouth, make an experimental cruise in the "West Atlantic, and then rendezvous at Madeira. Before the squadron left, however, the Franco-Prussian difficulty had broken out, but Prince Adalbert, with the squadron under his command, left as appointed for the Atlantic. "Where he went it is not easy to say, but wherever it was it was not far, for on Tuesday he was back at Plymouth again. He then telegraphed to his own Government, and having received instructions, left, apparently for the Baltic. During his absence from Plymouth, however, the Flandre, with three other ironclads of the same class, was despatched by the French Government to follow and watch the Prussian squadron, and these four are now actually on their way to Madeira, while the Prussian squadron is on its way back to the North. Even in case of war, the four French vessels of the Flandre's class would have quite enough to do to take the King William alone, to say nothing of her two powerful consorts and the armed gunboat. In the Baltic the Prussian squadron will, if it is wanted, join with six other Prussian gunboats, all of which are heavily armoured, carry two of Krupp's monstrous guns, and have a high rate of speed. The other vessels of the Prussian navy are wooden frigates and corvettes, which would be of small account as cruisers, and could never attempt to keep the Bea. The Spanish navy is even weaker than the Prussian; there are only twenty-six ships in commission now, and of these four are ironclads ; none of them, however, are more than second class. The rest are wooden corvettes and frigates of an old type. The French authorities always profess to make a great mystery about their ironclads, their number, tonnage, guns, thickness of armour plating, &c. But it is only outsiders who are mystified. Everything which the French are doing and have done is as well known not only at Whitehall, but also at "Vienna, Berlin, and St. Petersburg, as it is at Brest or L'Orient, Cherbourg or Toulon. The French have now on their list of ironclads 51 ves-

sels : 45 of these are finished and at sea, or could be at sea within a month ; six are building and not likely to be finished within the next two years. Of these vessels no fewer than 36 are wooden vessels razeed and plated with armour; only 11 are built entirely of iron ; and one, the Marengo, is com posite, with a frame of iron and sides of wood coated with armour. The most costly French-built vessel is the Couronne, which cost for hull and fittings £191,000. The moat costly in the whole fleet is the Rochabeau (late the Donderberg), which the French bought from the United States in 1867, paying £480,000 for her, of which amount £440,000 is to this day regretted in French nautical circles. With the Donderberg came also the Onondago, which was cheap at £80,000. The three most formidable vessels which the French have ever planned are the Colbert, Tridentj and Richelieu, which were begun last December at Toulon. The first two are sister ships of 8314 tons, 320 feet long, coated with 8-inch armour, and intended at present to carry 30 ponderous guns. The Richelieu is to be of the same length and armour, but of 7180 tons. These vessels will be larger than any ironclads ever yet projected. The Yictorieuse, another great ironclad, of more than 4000 tons, figures in the French list, but this has only been ordered, and not yet begun. La Galissoniere, too, is very backward in its progress, and will take more than another year to finish. Of the French fleet, 11 are under 1200 tons, 14 under 3000, and 14 over 3000, but under 5000. Taking the mean average of the speed of all on trial trips, it gives scarcely 10 knots ; the highest — the Marengo — giving only 14.5, and some, as low as seven knots. The average armour plating of the French vessels is 5£ inches, ranging from 4 inches to 8£ inches. The thickest armour, however, is a mere belt above and below the water line, and none of the French vessels have the pswerful armoured bulkhead across the stem and stern to save them from a raking fire, under which they would fall easy victims to an active enemy. The greatest weight of armour which the largest class of French vessels carry is 1800 tons, and the smallest 279 tons, and their greatest number of guns is 14. The English have now ready thirtyfive iron-clad vessels either at sea or ready for it, and five more could be added to this number in less than three months — forty in all. Others, of course, are building or launched, such as the Sultan, Audacious, Invincible, Iron Duke, Vanguard, &c, and could soon be got ready. Still, in number we should have five vessels less than the French, though in actual fact our fleet as to theirs would be as one hundred to fifty, in consequence of their greater size, speed, strength, and armament. The average speed of the whole English fleet is as nearly as possible 12 knots, the highest, the Agincourt, being 14| knots, and the lowest, the Vixen, 8.894. Only four vessels in our list — the Enterprise, Vixen, Waterwitch, aud Viper, which are mere gunboats, though armoured, and carrying heavy guns — are smaller than those in the French navy. Class for class, we immensely exceed the French in tonage, thickness of armour, and number and weight of guns. The difference on the whole of the two lists may be represented between France and England as five to eight.

'■■■. The Times of July 20 says :— The state of affairs on the Continent is Jikely to prove very disastrous to the commercial prosperity of Wakefield. The chief manufacture of the town is worsted, and an extensive business is flpne with the Continent. The immediate, result of the declaration of war has been to cause one of the largest firms in the place — Messrs George Lee and. Sons — to commence running short .time, and other firms are expected to adopt the same course. Business has also come to a sudden collapse at the adjoining town of Ossett, which is the centre of the shoddy and mungo trade. Fresh orders cannot be obtained, and negotiations are being entered into to cancel existing orders. The prospects Of the staple trade of Wakefield — the Corn trade--are not particularly assuring. A large quantity of foreign stock is brought to Wakefield weekly cattle market, but the closing of the port of Hamburg has put an end to importation in that direction. .■;; The following paragraph from the iNew York Tribune oi 22nd June last is significant in connection with the Statement that the Eastern question will again demand attention before long: — The long pending troubles "between the Sultan and the Viceroy in Egypt are to end, it seems, in war. Russia has interfered, but not as a peace-maker, and assured of the Czar's powerful aid, the Khedive prepares for war. It is well-known that he had drawn much of his armament from this country, has shipped sixty thousand Bemington rifles, and has more under contract, and has enlisted numbers of American soldiers as officers of his battalions. Such a struggle is likely to lead to other European complications of a more serious nature, and this dpeck of war may possibly become, in JD.rief time, a cloud obscuring no small part of Europe. ,; The first.battle between the French 4nd Prussians it seems took place in The circumstances are thus narrated :— -A leading Liverpool merchant has in his employ as clerks four Prussians and three Frenchmen. Shortly before the arrival of the head ■of the firm on the morning of Saturday, July 16th,- an animated discussion .was" progressing regarding the Continental crisis,' and after some caustic '* chaff " had been interchanged, the Prussians and Frenchmen came to actual fighting. They seized the massive ledger rulers and other extemporised weapons, and a serious encounter £nsued, during . which bloo4 flowed Jreely. The Frenchmen, though outnumbered by their antagonists, were superior in physical strength to the •Prussians, whom they forced to take refuge in the priyate office, the door of .which was quietly, barricaded, the obstacle to the continuance of the encounter affording time for the interference bf those whom the din of battle bro.ught quickly, upon the spot. Two of the Prussians receiVed such severe •injuries as . toOrender necessary their removal to hospital. . : 5 A:Lond.on Vtelegram dated; July 21 «ays :— The Lord May^rf gave a grand banquet, to the. Ministers last night. The guests numbered 1 230. The usual toasts were given and drank with Mr, „ Cardwell, Secretary of ■War, replied to a toast to the army, asking that the reserve forde and , militia be included , in the toast. He "referred to ihe improveiilerits made in modern vrarfape, and speculated on their effect.,; Mr Gladstone responded; to the toast of Ministers. He .alluded ■W- the' -unusual circumstances under rWhjch they^met, and , proceeded to. re-i T?iew the leading (measures' introduced; m ' the session. The . Irish {Land Bill i was characterised as a peace measure, 'an&thia EBuc.ati6n\Sill a#a blessing to| ]!EngTandj giving, as ii % did, Tr.ee fnstruc-i 4aon-4^>-aIU to ihe war, the eßrdmier regretted his. inability to epp*dSrie his !?etroßjpeet to topics of peade. :He asked* ifl '.' th e name of wounded ihijmanity and grievingpeiviHs'atibn and < religion, whether anything could more deplorable than; -/the sight of 'nations ;of i,' che highest civilisation, with insjiitutipnsneiarly perfect, -and I ' famous 'in erery department of 'histbry, and- the admiration; of the rushing into 1 conflict ancl'nSutual rßlaughter. The issue was din^cuitto' Btate or appreciate, and no intelligent]

mind could suppress its horror at the spectacle. Mr Gladstone then spoke of England's portion in the war as follows : " The first idea of England is neutrality ; her second idea is preparation for the worst ; and her neutrality is not indifferent, nor is it selfish isolation. It is dictated by the necessity of mitigating the evils of war, and of confining them within the smallest possible circle, and of retaining the power to intervene at the proper moment. Nothing will be done to forfeit the friendship of either party, and nothing will be omitted to retain their confidence, so that we may avail ourselves of the first opportunity for renewing our efforts at mediation in a quarrel the most mournful and miserable ever witnessed by mankind. A London telegram dated midnight July 26 says : — Advices from a special correspondent at Cherbourg state that the French squadron is completely formed. It is under command of a Vice- Admiral and two Hear- Admirals —the chief in command being ViceAdmiral Count Bonet Genouilley, whose flag-ship is the iron-clad Surveillante. The first division is commanded by Bear- Admiral Pathonan, whose flagship is the iron-clad frigate La Savoy^ Commandant Perigot. This division comprises the iron-clad frigate Guerriere, Commandant Duguilles ; the iron-clad frigate Ocean, Commandant Deschesne; the iron-clad guard ship Rochambeau, Commandant Bonoce ; and the iron-clad ram Tauran, Commandant Dtiperre. The second division, commanded by Rear-Admiral Diendienne, comprises the iron-clad frigate Gaules, Commandant De Jouquier; the Flandre, Commandant Duval; the iron-clad corvettes Thelice, Commandant Serres, and the Junne, Commandant. Eoubeste. The Rochambeau. above mentioned is theDpnderberg, bought in the United States. The Eochambeau's armament consists of 15 guns of 9^ and lOf inches bore, throwing solid shot weighing 475 pounds a distance of 1300 feet. The fleet is thoroughly equipped in all respects, but trained seamen are wanting. The First Division was to sail Saturday evening, and the second, probably on Tuesday. The transports would follow, the last embarking the corps of marines now forming at Cherbourg. General Devassergne arrived this morning to inspect this corps. General Eeboul goes in command of it. The. corps numbers 8000 men, and it is intended to land on the Schleswig coast to join General Bourbes' 30,000 men. The squadron is to blockade the Prussian coast, and the troops are expected to operate from Denmark. The defences of Cherbourg have been strengthened within a few days, but had the Prussian fleet attacked the place last week, it might have entered through the western pass and' burned 1 the arsenal and town, and returned through the western pass without receiving a shot. Detachments of infantry and marines are continually arriving. The transport fleet is composed of large sailing vessels with auxiliary screws, and will be cdmmanded by Vice-Admiral Laroucciere 1 Lenourny. With the transports' there will go "numerous flotilla, with batteries and gunboats, to operate on the coasts and rivers. The expedition of the corps of the Baltic ynll comprise two African divisions, including regiments' of Zouaves and two Chasseurs d'Afrique. The special correspondent' of the JNew Tork Tribune, writing from Frankfoi'tT* 1 ! Aug. 2, says that, the 'puiriic 1 mind is ' filled with distrust of .English , ; neutyality> . Nothing will Germany, unless . coal is made contraband, like gunpowder. It is believed the French are' purchasing WtrMges ;and .hbrses in England, knd pje; utmost' irritation .is felt ; these complaints also neutralise the gratitude first felt' at the attitude of the English.preßs^and. the 'people. ; Test^raay, evening I 'learned, spine parjac% jars about the German army,: which are at oiice surprising and satisfactory. Frpm r piie i regiment; alone,'; : eighfc hup.: drpfc men haye been , sent ;b'ack to Frankfort^ tlieir; presence,, at being!' unnecessary i -\- - Another regiin'en^ma^ilchfed into, TVlayetifce with five hyji'^d ;i me|i rinairmep^ /'and. in ' their pr^iija^drespt^ [services of these men were at once dispensed witb, and they returned home.' I'mention' these two cases, as Having fallen within my observation. They are not exceptional,

and, taken by themselves, these facts may appear insignificant, or, being misunderstood, might be cited as betokening an insufficiency in the supply of arms ; but their significance lies in this: They indicate not only the strength of the German army, but the readiness of the German people to take the field. Both of the regiments in question were at their full war complement, without the addition of the 800 or 500 respectively. Had not the response to the summons been general, there would have been room and to spare for all who came; nearly every regiment has a reserve of infantry, awaiting wherewith to fill up vacancies by losses in battle; this effective strength of the army can be kept up to its present point, without calling any other class to take the field. I don't err, I think, in regarding this a consideration of very great moment. It constitutes a complete and gratifying answer to the assertions in the French newspapers to the effect that the Landwehr are faint-hearted, not quick to obey the summons to action, and ' disposed to shirk duty in every possible way. Newspaper seizures are common here: a single line, recording the most trivial movement of a regiment, suffices to excite the ire of the police, and insure the confiscation of the paper. The Journal Offieiel of July 22 publishes the following proclamation from the Emperor to the people of France: —" Frenchmen, there are in the life of a people solemn moments, when the national honour, violated and excited, raises itself irresistibly above all other interests, and applies itself to a single purpose of directing the destinies of a nation. One of these decisive hours has now arrived for France. Prussia, to whom we have given evidence during and since the war of 1866, of the most conciliatory disposition, has held our good will of no account, and has returned our forbearance by encroachments; she has aroused distrust in all quarters, necessitating exaggerated armaments, and has made of Europe a camp, where reigns disquiet and fear of the morrow. A final incident has disclosed the instability of the international understanding, and shows the gravity of the situation. In the presence of her new pretensions, Prussia was made to understand our terms; they were evaded and were followed with contemptuous treatment. Our country manifested profound displeasure at this action, and quickly a war cry resounded from one end of France tb: the other. There remains for us nothing but to confide our destinies to the chance of arms; we do riot make war upon Germany, whose independence we respect. We pledge ourselves 1 that the people composing the great German nationality shall dispose freely, of their destinies. As for us, we demand the establishment of a state of things-guaranteeing our sincerity and assuring the future. We wish to conquer a durable peace, based on the true interests of the people, and to assist in' abolishing that precarious condition of/things, when all nations are forced to J employ their resources in arming' against {each' other. The glorious flag of France which we price' more unfold in the face of its challengers, is the same which has been born of Europe's civilising ideas by 1 bur great revolution;; it represents those principles ; it will inspire the same devotion. Frenchmen, I' 'go to place myself at thehead of:that valiant army, which is animated by a'love of country arid devotion Tto duty';; j Wat army knows its worthVfbrit-naS seen victory follow its' footsteps in t6e four quarters of the,globe. I take with me my son; despite his tender years, he knows the duties his name imposes upon him, and he is proud to bear his part in the dangers of" those who fought for our country. May God bless our efforts. A great people defending a just cause, is i invincible." ~;