WAR ITEMS

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3118, 8 February 1871, Page 3

WAR ITEMS

A correspondent of a London paper, writing from Tours, under date "November 20, says : — " The French nation at the moment care not for empire, monarch, or republic. But one feeling exists in the breast of every honest man, and that is, 'La JPatrie en danger T and on they march. Jt is no idle myth. France is in bitter earnest. ' Guerre a Voutrance 1 is not only the watchword but it is being steadily acted upon. The empty boasts of the French press make no impression. Young and old are flocking through the town, determined to drive the invader out or die in the attempt. Jn my idea the war has now but just commenced ; the levees en masse have, been most patriotically responded to, and now only guns, cannon, and chiefs are wanting. Political matters are with the nation in abeyance, and the only thoughts find discussions are embraced by the all absorbing topic of the war. The town of Tours is rendered indeed most picturesque by the various uniforms of the numerous bodies of Franc-tireurs, and presents a highlycolored tout ensemble. Proclamations posted at the corners of the streets, admonishing the inhabitants as to the seriousness of the present state of affairs, and enjoining them to be prepared to erect bairic.ades, and defend the advance of the Prussians even at the cost of their lives, and denouncing as a coward and a traitor the man who does not respond to his country's call. Outpost engagements are of every day occurrence, but they are unimportant, as no precise details aie given. Prisoners are daily arriving here, and many of them are mere lads. I saw some the other day who were in a 6tate of great trepidation, as they imagined they would be shot in reprisal for the manner in which Prussia now carries on the war. Most of the prisoners, particularly the Bavarians, seem most dissatisfied at the length of the campaign. They say thoy were willing enough to take Alsace and Lorraine, but now they are anxious to return home." The " News of the World" sa>s :— "The Germans have established at Versailles the most effective battery ever planted before a besieged city. .They have accumulated there vast stores — presumedly of fresh meat, flour, vegetables, and the like, for the use of the Parisians as soon as they surrender The food question is an important one for mankind wherever located, especially in the city of Paris, as it on previous occasions overshadowed all other considerations. In 1793 the great trouble was that the Constitution, which had been drafted with so much care, could not be gut to work ; likewise that there was no bread. Probably, the latter was held to be the overwhelming misfortune. In 1848, the situation was summed up in the popular demand for ' bread or lead.' If history teaches anything, it is that the gay Parisian will put up with almost anything but short commons ; hence the accumulation at Versailles of stores of all kinds, labelled, ' For the people of Paris when they agree to surrender.' The object is to make the hungry stomachs within the walls tho sure allies of the Germans. Gome out to us with the keys of the city in your hands, and you will be treated in -the most sumptuous manner. The value of Alsace and Lorraine, even the imperious exigency of sacred soil, it is believed, will shrivel up into absolute insignificance beside a loaf of bread, in the oppresension of a hungry man long condemned to horseflesh, and a scanty supply of even that." The St. Petersburg!* correspondent of the " Daily News," writing on the 25th ult, say 8 that the Russian journals were then orcupied chiefly in discuss ing the articles in the foreign papers on Prince Gortschakoff s note. The " Moscow Gazeite" says: — "The calm i and dignified tone of the despatch of the 19th of October can have offended no one ; but were this tone even rude, wou'd war be made on Russia for that r It is said besides that Russia professes an heretical doctrine on the value of treaties. Let us admit it; but has it ever been heard that States can make war for such and such a manner of regarding things? In the international sphere there is no censorship, either preventive or repressive. How, then, proceed against Russia if its appreciation of certain things is really false ? The treaty of Paris does not say a single word on the value of treaties in general, and it prescribes no form to the contracting parties in which to express their opinion or formulate their right ß." Mr Mill, the correspondent thinks, was right in saying that it was much more difficult to judge of the moral question involved in the declaration of Russia than at first sight appears, In reading ever the articles in the Russian journals, one meets a good deal of sophistry and special pleading but also sound practical sense, and arguments which are hard to refute. On the other hand, the Russians find a considerable amount of fault with the arguments and views of the foreign press. Tho following statement of the quantities of arms and munitions of war shipped from. "New York to France up to November IG, 1870, has been pub-

lished:—Periere, date of shipment, September 3 —2500 guns 'and carbines. Lafayette, September 20—6000 guns and carbines, and 3,000,000 cartridges. Ville de Paris, October 8—90,000 guns and carbines, and 8,000,000 cartridges. St. Lawrence, October 20—60,000 guns and carbines, and 7,000,000 cartridges, Pereire, October 29—50,000 guns and carbines, and 9,000,000 cartridges. Avon, November 2 —80,000 guns and carbines, 11,000 boxes of cartridges, five Gatling batteries, and 2000 pistols. Ontarii), November 7 —90,000 guns and carbines, 16,000,000 cartridges, and 55 cannon. Toial, 378,500 guns and carbines, 45,000,000 and 11,000 boxes cartridges, 55 cannon, 5 Gatling batteries, and 200J pistols There have probably been oilier shipments which have not been reported.