THE POLISH REVOLUTION.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1863, 2 May 1863, Page 5

THE POLISH REVOLUTION.

[From the Home News, February 26, 1863.] Our intelligence from Poland shows that the rebellion continues to spread, although the surgents have received occasioiml checks. The movement may now be regarded as a great: national one. But the iaterventiou of Prussia has rendered it v much more serious affair than j a contest between a sovereign and his rebellious ] subjects; and (luring the week an idea that a Eumpeau war may arise out of it has been -gaining ground— at least in Paris. The France of February 24, has an article headed " Europe and Poland," in which the question is con Bidered from the twofold point of view of European treaties and of the liberal ideas prevalent in Europe, and it is shown that an enslaved Poland would be a violation of and opposed to both. La France does not consider a general war will result unless the independence of PolaDd should be demanded. France, however, it ■ays, does not seek any occasion for a new struggle, but calls on Bussia to confer on Poland liberal institutions, and to repair the present disasters of that country by magnanimity instead of aggravating them by rigour, and counsels that she should coustitute a free Poland and thereby reclaim to herself that eenerous and valiant iace. Of Prussia, the Conslituliotiel says, the voice raised by Europe : against her conduct is still only a warningthe Prussian Government will hardly desire that it should become a threat. The Opinion Nationals stales, wish reserve, that the Prussian Government had refused to yield to the representations of the Fiench Ambassador. A pstition in favor of the Poles, bearing 2000 signatures, has been presented to the French Senate. The Times correspondent at the -French capital writes :— " Of the determination of th» French Government to interfere in fovor of Poland there is, from all I hear, no doubt. They naturally enough hope that this intervention wilJ not be otherwise than diplomatic, but if notes and remonstrances are of no avail, and if Prussia is resolved on playing the part of auxiliary to Russia in her iniquitous attempt to crush the Poles, people would not be surprised if a French army were to make its apperance on the Rhine." The Paris correspondent of the Daily News says that, though there is not yet iv France " a present sense of war," yet the people are quite aware that they are not likely to see a war coming till it is close upon them. " Unless the Prussian Government," he adds, " lowers its tone, it would not be surpiisiDg to see a French army on the Rhine, and a revolution in Prussia before Easter." The Morning Post of yesterday, February 25, contains in a leader the following remarks on the crisis; — "The Polish question has always been a European difficulty, and never since the signing of the treaty of Vienna has it assumed greater importance than now. The principle of non-intervention' is now so generally acknowledged and so universally adopted that the course which has been taken by the Prussian government in forming a convention with Russia has excited the astonishment and indignation of all. That convention has been entered into between the two powers with the object of crushing the revolt is notorious, although with the particular stipulations contained in it we are not as jet made acquainted. Earl Russell was unable to give to the House of Lords, the other evening* any P rec ' se information respecting it. It is, however, certain that the Russian troops are permitted to pursue the insurgents into Prussian territories and arrest them there, and that the Prussian government daily surrender to the Russian authorities the fugitive Poles who fly for refuge across their frontier. This intervention on the on the part of Prussia invites the interposition of other powers, and will, if persisted in, necessitate it. The language of the French journals during the past few days have been most ominous ; and regulated as the press is in France, it is impossible to doubt that it accurately expresses the feelings of the government. If intervention by any of the European Powers should follow ou the ill-tdviaed course adopted by the Prussian king, and if he should find his territories threatened by a powerful foe, the blame will lie exclusively at his own door. In every European question England must possess a manifest interest, but in such an one as that which may now be raised the interest which she feels is secondary to that of France, whilst the difference which separates her from the field of action offers additional reasons for abstainingjhom active interference. If in truth an offensive and defensive alliance has been entered into between Russia and Prussia, the independent and in the highest degree honorable attitude assumed by Austria will tend to impair its effects, whilst it will afford an additional inducement for the iuterposition of France. A Franco-Austrian alliance would be fraught with the greatest danger to Prussia, and would all but insure the independence of Poland. It would, however, be idle, as it certainly at present is premature, to speculate upon the results of a state of things which we earnestly hope may never come to pass. The communications which have passed between the several European cabinets have been of the most pacific nature, and framed with the sole object of restoring harmony." It is generally believed that the French Go. ▼eminent have already addressed a note to Russia and Prussia on the subject, and that England aad Austria, either jointly or separately, have followed^ or are about to follow the same course. Several communications on the subject uave already been interchanged between the French and English Cabinets. The Liberal party in the Prussian Chamber of Deputation have introduced a resolution declaring that it is in the interest of Prussia not to side with any party in the Polish difficulty, and that therefore, either of the contending parties entering Polish territory should be disarmed. The following survey of the present position of the patriots is compiled from the best in for* mation at our command. First, as to their political status. In spile of the grand duke and his 45,000 men, in spite of the Marquis Wielopelski and his police, a secret committee sits in Warsaw and acts as a provisional government, and under the noses of the Cossacks its proclamations and decrees are, by its own agents, posted on the walls. It boasts of an ofliciel seal, and it makes use of its own types and presses, it has an exchequer, and it has sent abroad its own emissaries, one of whom, we believe, is now in London. Moreover, it has appointed a military commander for Warsaw, who will act in case of need, and the leaders of the Other provinces have been appointed by this body and with each commander is a civil officer whose functions are those of a governor. The names of six of these commanding officers ate, we believe, no secret in Polaud. Iv Lithuania, Volhynia, and the Ukraine, there are also leaders, among whom is one of the princess of the house of Sapieha ; and at least one piiest, Sisnus, has taken an active part temporarily as well as spiritually. All classes are represented in the patriot force, aud among the leaders are Baron Heidel and Count Tyzkie* wiez, both wealthy landowners. The other leaders are chiefly military men, one of whom, Langiewiez, served under Garibaldi. The reports that have come to hand show that all classes, nobles, burghers, peasants, have furnished recruits to the patriot forces. Married men and lads under 18 have been requested to remain at home, a fact which shows that those who head the revolt are not disposed to exhaust their resources at once. The military position of the patriots is mure remarkable in many respects than their political position. They are not only in arms in every province, but they appear

to be acting on a well defined plan. First, they hold nearly the whole of the southern portion of the kingdom, thus keeping open the Galacian frontier, a point of immense impor tance, because Austria hitherto has acted a judicious and honorable part, and has refused to he the mere tipstaff of the Czar. But there are exceptions to the general statement touchi ing the possession of Southern Polaud. The ! Russians still hold Zamoso, a strong fortress, the frontier towns of Stolnica and Micchow, and Sandotnir, and the interior towns, and Kielce, Radom, Lubin. These posts are sur rounded by hostile bands, aud their communications with Warsaw are either cut off or pr<carious. Along the Prussian frontier the patriots are strongly posted and numerous, cutting off Warsaw from Posen and from Thorn. Moreover, the three great roads leading from Warsaw to St Petersburg by Wilna, to BrestLitewski and Kobrin, and through Wladiinir and Woliuski to Kiev are also occupied by the patriots in many places. They occupy the railroad to St Petersburg, and the military road to Brest Litewski, and further eastward the marshes Pinsk on one side, And the vast forest of of Bialewiecz on the other. To the South they intercept the roads and railroad from Warsaw to Cracrow, Sandomir, and Zaraosc. They hold points of passage on the Bug and Vistula, and north of the Narew they occupy important posts in the province of Grodno. The plan they have hitherto followed has been that of avoiding general actions, aud hanging around the Russian garrisons, giving them little rest, aud harassing every detachment sent out to clear the roads. This they accomplish, sometimes by occupying position at places favorable for defence across the roads, at others by flanking the roads from the forestc and swamps and heights. Their arms are rifles and guns, seized on the frontier or supplied by other modes, and the scythe mounted as a pike, and used to cut or thrust at discretion. They have captured considerable sums of money, aud freely obtain provisions. A letter from Cracrow on the 15th February states the journal the Czas of that city has been prosecuted for having endeavoured to disturb public tranquillity. The last accounts from the Polish insurgent provinces state that at the approach of any Russian troops to a town the entire population, including the Russian functionaries, take flight, to avoid the fate of the inhabitants of Tomaszow. On the Bth February about 50 insurgents armed with scythes, and who were escorting two carts laden with arms, stopped to hear mass at the village of Darmiewo, near Maliow. Having been at tacked by a party of Cossacks, they defended themselves bravely and finally routed the Cossacks, who lost 17 killed and 15 wounded. Unfortunately, the scythemen, on quitting Karmiewo, went astray. They were again attacked by Cossacks, reinforced by infantry, and again fought desperately. Tha Russians lost 70 men in this affair and the scythemen 23, besides 18 severely wounded. Among the killed are two young meo of noble family, one named Steinkeller and the other named Pomaski. The latter was a pupil of the Polish Military School at Genoa. General Nazimoff, Governor-General of Wilua, forwarded a despatch to St Petersburg announcing that the insurgents had been dispersed at Siematycbe with tbe loss of 1000 killed, while the Russians lost only one killed and a few wounded. The insurgents say that General Manioukine summoned tbe commander of Siemaiycbe to surrender on the 7th. The proposal was rejected with disdain by the small band of 300, who resolved to fight and sacrifice themselves fur (heir country. The general then advised the women to quit the plare with their children. They replied that in Poland womeu never abandoned their husbands under such circumstances, and that they would die with their childteu beside their natural protectors. Tbe Russian general then commanded a discharge of CoDgreve rockets, which set the town on fire. At the same time the assault was commaoded, and after an unequal contest, which lasted four hours, the gallant defenders were exterminated. They began the murder of the unarmed inhabitants and the pillage of the town. The Russians commenced with the castle of the Senator Baron Fanshawe, whose family has supplied the Russian army with many generals. These horrible scenes lasted all night. Nothing is to be now seen of Siematyche but a heap of ashes. The insurrectional force in the government of Plock is very much reduced. It is commanded by Sigismond Padlewsky, late an officer of artillery in the Russian army. The Russian journal the Invalids contains the following: — " It is announced from Radziwillow that a corps of Poles from Galicia, more than 1000 strong, and well armed, have eutered the kingdom of Poland. This corps destroyed on its passage all the Russian guard-houses on the frontier. Two Russian officers and some privates were killed. Some agitation was being observed in the districts of Iwientziany and Lida, in Lithuania. A despatch was received at Wilna on the 10th February, from Suticutriany, announcing that a band of about 150 insurgents had shewn themselves in the neighbourhood .of the Podbrodze Railway. The governor had, adopted measures to disperse them." In a Vienna letter of the 17th February we read : — " The Warsaw correspondent of a Prussian paper a few days ago stated that the Austrian governmeut bad privately sold aoine thousands of muskets which were in the citadel of Lemberg, and also that they in secret had given assistance to the insurgents ; but both assertions are totally unfounded. Some of the Prussian papers have recently spoken of the Archduke Ferdinand Max as a pretender to the throne of regenerated Poland, but people here laugh at a report which is as absurd as it is false. During the last few days Prince Gortschakoff has been exceedingly polite to the representatives of Austria and Turkey at the Russian court, and it must, therefote, be supposed that he has some object of importance to attain. With the French minister he is cooler than he used to be, and at St Petersburg!] it is whispered that the Russian court is satisfied with the present policy of France iv the East. For a long time Prince Gortschakoff and Lord Napier could not agree, but recently their relations have been somewhat more satisfactory. The refusal of Count Rechberpr to accede to the Russo-Pius-sian Convention has so much annoyed the St. Petersburg Cabinet that it would not surprise me if the Emperor Alexander should make a direct appeal to the Emperor Francis Joseph, and try to persuade him to renew that alliance which was so long the bane of Germany and Austria. At present there is no reason to believe that the Emperor of Austria is inclined to renew the Holy Alliance, but he is surrounded by people of reactionary principles, and it is therefore impossible positively to say that his majesty will uever follow the example given by the Prussian government, It is obvious that the Russians are trying to drive the insurgents into the centre of Poland, in order to get them within a ring of bayonets, but as long as Austria remains neutral they will not be able to do so. Tbe Russo Austrian boundary line is some 500 English 'miles long, and the insurgents will therefore always be able to get | into tbe rear of the Russians, unless the latter are able to keep garrisons in all the frontier twns and villages, It is to be supposed that the insurgents in Polaud were aware of what was intended, for as soon as it was publicly reported that Prussian and Austrian plenipotentiaries were about to go to Warsaw, they began to send large detachments to Lithuania, Vollhynia, and Podolia. The Russians boast, and

with reason, of their strong position in the kin»' dom of Poland, but in the above-mentioned pro vinccs and in Ukraine they have very few points d'apptii By private letters from Poland, we learn thHtiheinsnrrection was not have broken outuntil a fter'tbe3id March (19th ofFebruary,OldStyle), on which day some 20,000,000 of serfs will become free men. Ii is lure believed that there is a secret understanding between the Polish and Russian serfs, but we have no proof that such is the case. In my opinion, the Russians will succeed in quelling the insurrection, but certainly not until torrents of blood have been shed. Tlie wounded Poles, the majority of vyhom have been carried offto the woods, must be in a most deplorable state, as they have neither bandages nor medicines. The political ferment in Rou mania, Servia, and Montenegro is increasing, and I am inclined to suspect that Piince Goit schakoff is trying to bring about a general rising in European Turkey, in order that the at. teption of England and France may be diverted from Poland." " Information coming from a reliable Polish source,*' writes the Paris correspondent of the Morning P»tt, ''sajs that the revolutionary elements of Europe are rapidly joining the insurgents. Wjthin the last few days, Hungaiiaus, Italians, and some Greeks have contrived to get into Russiau Poland, and are now fighting. lam assured also that alarming reports as to the language of Russian officers have reached St. Petersburg. The loyalty of some regiments is very doubtful. I should add that this news comes from Polish authority. The sympathy for Poland is decidedly on the increase in France, but government, as far as I can learn, has no desire to encourage this feeling in favour" of a revolutionary movement. | The press, however, is allowed to speak ©ut prelty freely on Polish affairs. All the Polish youths have now left the various schools for the scene of action, and there is news of three having already fallen victims to their patriotism. The Siecle says: — "We are as yet unacquainted with the fate of three young Poles, delivered up to Russia by Prussia. One of them, M. Kopercynski, was educated at the military school of St. Cyr; the two others, M.M. Pronzkowski and Drikowski, belong to our civil schools^ The young men in France are indignant at the* thought that these three marched into Siberia with fetters on their hands, between two files of Cossacks, unless some one • dressed in a little brief authority ' take a fancy to do away with them at once." The Berlin papers announce that the Russian frontier town, Dobrzn, was actually occupied by the Prussian military for eight hours during the night of February 18ib, in coniequence of a rumour that the insurgents were about to direct an attack there. In a letter ot the 2lst February, the Berlin correspondent of the Times says:— Between Polish accounts and Russiau bulletins it is not easy to get at the truth, or to reconcile their often very conflicting reports. The Dziennik continues to announce Russian victories, very complete and almost costless. Thus we read that, near Mlawa, great success was obtained by a Russian detachment, which killed 30 rebels Colonel Eiugieri routed Langiewicz's band, killing 100 and taking their baggage and three wooden guns, only three Russians fell. Such reports disagree strikingly with the desperate brrrery the insurgents are said to show. As regards the wooden cannon, a letter from Warsaw gives an explanation. In the Hungarian war, Bern, deflicient in metal artillery, had wooden guns made, which were mounted and transported on the front or back of a country cart, instead of a regular carriage. Such cannon will bear firing five or six times, after which they are worthies* and thrown away, and of such do the Poles no make use, abandoning them when spoilt. Those the Russians lately took are said to be three thus left behind. The reports from the Polish side are extremely favorable to their cause, but must of course be received with a considerable grain of allowance. In Warsaw it was said that Langiewicz had already 15,000 men completely armed and uniformed, including a large number of cavalry Great subordination and implicit obedience were asserted to prevail among them. The same letter mention a skirmish to have taken place neav the railway from Warsaw to St. Petersburg, between the first and second stations. The insurgents got the best of it, and took a detachment of Cossacks prisoners ; but not knowing what to do with them, they stripped them to their shirts and let them go. Several of them, wounded, bad been taken into War- ! saw. The scythe (set straight on its handle) is described as a frightful weapon in the hands of the Poles against the Cossacks, whose lancopoles it cuts through in a moment. Doubled edged and sharp as a razor, in skillful hands — and the Poles regularly exercise themselves iv its use— it will take a man's head off at a blow. On the 16, detatchments of the Hussars of the Guard reached Warsaw by the St. Petersburg j iaii. The Grand Duke Constantine drove out to meet and receive them at the station. Notwithstanding his orders of the day, there are proofs that the Russian troops commit excesses against peaceable inhabitants. Some of them on their march through destroyed the property of Count Polletyllo, in the Hrabieszower district, and completely plundered his palace. The Count himself was wounded, as were also many of his people, in resisting the ruffians. The same outrages are said to have been committed on the estate of Count Walewski, brother-in-law of Wielopski. A letter of the 19th February, Myslowitz, speaks of a- large body of insurgents chiefly young men, having established themselves in a regular eutrenched camp at Ojcow, and says that their numbers increased, many Italians, Hungarians, and Poles, from distant places going to join them. At Smolin, about seven miles from Myslowitz, deserters stated that guns and shot were being cast, and the rebels sought to prevent the expon of corn, straw, and oats. There is mention made of a collision near Michalovice, between Cossacks and Austrian Hussars, in which some of the latter were woanded and a number of the former taken prisoners to Cracrow ; but, if there be truth in this, you will doubtless hear of it from Vienna. A despatch of last night's date, from Warsaw, says that the insurgents have been badly beaten at Rudka, on the Bug, and that 400 fell ; also, that at Miecbow, 200 were killed and many prisoners made, the Russians losing only 30 men. To-days Czas tells cf fresh fights in the neighborhood of Miechow and Woodzislaw, and that on the 19th Langiewicz had cut off the retreat (near Stobnica) of a Russian torce, and was driving it to the Austrian frontier.''

The Nvrd of February 23, asserts that there are now in Poland upwards of 80,000 Russian infantry and cavalry, and about 200 guns. With reinforcements which will shortly be there the army will present a total of 120,000 men. It seems, however, from various accounts received from Poland, that the reinforcements have hitherto been unable to proceed further than Lithuania, where the excitement is so great that all the force at hand is- needed to prevent au insurrection.

Tbe Posen Journal gives the following episode of tbe insurrection : — "A handful of insurgents, composed entirely of the youth of the nobility, has been surprised in the neighborhood of Pletchew. A frightful carnage took pliice. The chief of the little group, who had just arrived from Paris, encouraged his companions to the attack, despite the shower of balls and grape-shot, but soon fell killed by two balls in tbe breast. Several of his companions, however, with the courage of despair, threw themselves on the Russian ranks, and cut a passage through."

i Are

A report has arrived of one of the insurrectionary chiefs, Kurowski, having ooinmiited suicide, but the source from whence the report comes does not lend it confirmation. A ridicnlotis rumour regarding the Polish insurrection is put in circulation from Berne. This is that a portion of the Polish refugees, counting the restoration of the Polish throne as certain, have beteriuined already to offer it to Count Walewski. The Polish origin of the Count everybody knows; and we believe be may claim through his wife a relationship with the family ot the last King of Poland. But the Poles, should they need a king, and have a chance of electing him, will hardly turn their eyes to the French miuister.