The New York Herald Newspaper, August 18, 1870, Page 8

\ “pefor’a Zouave never steals so ioug as he has money } \ Mere were very many, certuuly a third, wio iD- )\ garda bis food for the future, as well as for the pre- EUROPE. Bpecial Despatches by Mail to French Mnster in Strasbourg and the Mareh for Haguenan. An Army of Observation Un- der Peculiar Discipline. The Brush at Saarbruck and the Weuntled French. LACK OF MORALE IN THE FRENCH CAMPS The Fortress of Metz---Lis Interior Contro! snd Command, Sweep of the German Military Wavo to tho Front. A Prussian Marsh by Day and by Night. Waval Operations in the Baltic. By the European ma) of the 6th of August wo are enabled to continne our special written history of the progress of the war between France and Prussia Our writers report MacMahon’s march trom Strasbourg to Haguenau. They also announce the first action of the contending troops near Saar- bruck, and chronicle the incipient demoralization of the French soldiers. We have special accounts from tho. Interlor of Mets, with a correspondence from various points of Germany. The latter shows forth the success of the vast Teutonio military wave Which had swollen for the destruction of Bonaparte. England's neutrality was maintained in a state of national alarm, as will be seen by our report of her continued naval preparations. MACMAHON’S ARMY. Master in and March from Strasbourg—On the Boute to Haguenau--loreo ef the Corps ef Observation—How the Troops Appeared— Zouaves and Turcos—Camp Moraic and Courtesy. HuapQuaRTERS MacManon’s Any Corrs, Britaspouns, August 3, 1870. } ‘This has been a stirring day in Strasbourg. Ever mince three A. M. troops have been deflling from their various encampments, and taking the road al- most directly north to Haguenau, asmall town about twenty miles from this, to which the headquarters of Marshal MacMahon’s army corps proceeds to- morrow. I do not know whether you will find Haguenau (pronounced, by the way, Aguinau) on the map. I have by me five different maps or the mortheastern and eastern frontiers of France, and 1 can only flud the place upon one of them. But you can easily pick tout when I tell you that it 1s on the line of rail that goes from tls place to Wissem- bourg, and so to Landau and Manheim, The whole of the French army, seven corps in all, will (with the exception of one corps, which 1s to be left at Colmar, to the south df this, and to act as an army of ebservation upon the Prussian corps under the Crown Prince, which, as I sald yesterday, 4s massed behind the Biack Forest) then be upon the frontier, the left upon Thionville, with outposts to the very verge of Luxembourg, the right upon Ha- guenan, with outposts there upon Carlsrune, FRENCH TROOPS IN THEIR WAR PAINT. ‘The troops that marched to the front this morning consisted of the Third division of infantry of this oorps Warmée and ail the artillery The former consisted of two brigades under Generals of Brigade ‘St. Hérilier and Lerebre, General of Division Raowt commanding the division, ‘The Brigade St. Hériller (it 1s the custom tn the French army to call brigades after the names of the generals Who command them) 1s composed of the Eignth Ohasseurs a Pied—one battaton—and the Thirty-sixth and Forty-eighth regiments of the line, in ali about 4,800 men. The Brigade Lefebre was composed of the Second Turcos and the Second Zonaves, about 4,400 men. And thus General Raoult’s division of infantry Bumbers some 9,200 men. The troops were for the first time fairly in their War paint, and avery ugly paint it is with some of them. ‘he first regiment to pass through was the Second Zouaves, consisting of three battalions, of 600 men each. The Men had stowed away their red baggy trousers, ant wore those garments made of brown cotton or linen, The regl- ment was composed of three batialions, making together about 2,400 of all ranks, The men certainly looked very ready, but they also looked exceedingly rough, In plain English, I never in my life saw such adirty looking set of vaga- bonds, I do not mean to say that they were coyv- ered with dust or mud, which in dry or rainy Weather may happen, and must happen, to any sol- dier; but they looked unbrushed, unkempt, each man carrying on his back an immense load of dlf- ferent materials, and each zonave seemingly dressed as unlike his neighbor as ne possibly could be. I should also nave liked to have paid a dollar for every man in their ranks who had washed his face to-day if any one would have pald me a cent for every man among them who had not touched water as to his outward person for the last twenty-four hours. I a have been a considerable gainer by the bar- iD, HOW THRY Go. A French infantry soldier is always heavily laden on the line of march, in my opinion far too much so. Besides his knapsack he Carries one-third of 1 tente dabdris, or smali tent, under which he’ siee including both canvas and poles. To this is added three days’ rations, ninety rounds of ammunition, a heavy bianket, a sull heavier cloak and his share of the cooking pots. How men can march, and, still more, how they can march and figut under such burden, is a perfect marvel, Moreover, 1¢ follows, a8 a natural consequence, that if they can do even tolerably well with such loads upon em, they must do very much better without hem, and the point is whether it would not be wiser to weigh them down less and let them have Founerena less comfort when they get to their lourney’s end. But I am quite sure that of the two ousand odd hundred Zouaves of the Second regi- Ment that marched out of Strasbourg to-day tue ‘were not a score who had noi added greatly to the » loads they had to car Some had flrewood piled mn their Knapsacks, others strings of onions, cab. sor other vegetables. Some had large stone bottles of the famous local beer, others had bought to buy, and they are all weil off, comparatively, at resent) Jarge strings of sausages. Many had live Rwis tled by the legs to the top of their jacks, the latter in uearly every single case ing cousiderably higher than the top of the bearer’s hesd. Potatoes also seemed to be a favorite possession with many, and geome of them carried on their heads bags filled with flour, ve bles, coffee, bread of a finer quantity than their rations, or what not. These were,however, only the provident members of the regiment, and every Zouave takes a pride in being provident as re- it. Per helr officers tell me that they have known tho n go through months of a heavy campaign in Al- la, carrying, a3 @ matter of course, the third of a 1, the tliree days’ rations, the blanket, the great jeoat, the pack, tle cooking pots and ali that they are obliged to carry, and in addition to these always “purdening themselves with extra weight of some gort or otner. - Apart from these, the provident men of the’ corps, ? ta for fancy articles, living and ee Pe ee des of ith a live cat pereres a Se Seen a his pack, and not a few tame berate at thrashes, blue birda, and in one instance a parrot—in the same proud poat- tion, Twoor three hid sogh, one had » monkey, which it was said had already been through moro cam] than one in Algeria with ita master, and a third sitting, partly upon his knapssek and partly upon his head, a very young kid. Whata \7@, Feck.ess, daredevil body of mien they looked as they swept past in yi er act ee cts pie ale} ut, w my ideas, ulierly unsol- dierlike | Wah DISCIPLINE AND UNIFORM, ley seem to have a will of their own, do these Wild sons of Gaul, and beyond that will they obey no living creature. Their discipline 1s like their dress and general appearance—soinethiag quite apart from that of all troops I have ever seen or that the’ modern world has ever heard of. And Part of thelr will seems to be that when ol oe even on the line of — march, their oiticers are not to bother them or interiere with them tn any way whatever. ‘To-day, as they marched through Strasbourg, their officers ‘did not seem to take the slightest notice of what they did, Notthat there was anything positively wrong in what they did do, but yet a more unso.dleriike look- ng body, in the eyes of those who have been accus- tomed to soldiers in clyillzed land, it was Impos- sible to imagine, In fact, they looked as if thelr chassepots and sword bayonets were quite accl- dental, and that they were a mob of men fying from a great fire or from @ tremendous earthquake, carry- ing with them whatever they had been able to out of the rulns of their houses. THE MORAL. Yet they cannot be all ruiiians, or, rather, in many cases the ruitianism 13 more assumed as part of @ conventional bearing than real, 1 dined the other night in company with a dozen Frenoh oilicers, three of whom, two lieutenants and a sub-lleutenant, void me they had gone through their career a3 pril- vate soldiers, corporals and sergeants in the Zouaves, in one of which corps tiey nOW hold commissions. It would be impossible to meet anywhere three more ‘kind! ried or truer gentiemen, without a parti. cle @ roughness which I speak of in their men} or more given to the amenities of life. Lam told that itis not every oficer, eyeu although he may bea good and trac man tn other corps, who 1s fit to govern or officer the Zouaves, and’ that unless the men like and yet fear an oillcer hes better any- where than at their head, There is one regiment of Zouaves here still; they don’t march until to-morrow, when the division they belong to, the Fourth of this army corps, leaves Ree ‘Their colonel is a very fine-looking man of about forty-eight or ifty years of . He has on his breast the Legion of Honor. The French military medal, the Crimean, the Itallan and the Mexican medals are all fine decorations. He has served up- Wards of @ quarter of @ century in Algeria, and looks as if he waa dried up ani rendered ag hard as iron by the sun, His men are very proud of him, Pen ee go anywhere and do anything for him, as am told, save FIGHTING AT HOME. 1 The other day two Zouaves, both more than threes juarters drunk, had first a dispute and then a fight. ‘hey belonged to different regiments of Zouaves, and when the cause of their dispute was investi- gate: 1t was found that the one nad insisted upon the other admitting that the colonel J mentioned above was the very best soidier of the French army, Tue adversary was quite agrecabie to say what the other wished, but wanted to make ono exception in favor of his own colonel; but this was not enough, and so the dispute waxed hotter and flercer, uatil they drew their swords upon each otner. CURIOUS COMPOUND OF HUMANITY. They are strange beings, with a curious mixture of good and bad in them, are these zouaves. As I sald before, they are unlike any troops in the world, and b pw an army, as it were, of theinselves. They could no more be used as other French infantry are used than you couid make cavalry do the work of artillery, or get the chaplain to Work as doctor in the hospital, We have had for the last ten days about eight thousand of them here in Stras- bourg, and only one was eid for anything like & serlous Offence, although they have all been ‘on the drink,” more or less, since they arrived. Tne man of whom I speak was orderly at the door of a superior officer of the commissariat. mounted artilleryman came to the house with a letter from one of the generals, and asked the zouave to hold his horse while he mownted upstairs, The zouave did so, but ihe other remainimg too long away he began to be bothered at having to hold the horse. What did hedo but walk it away, take off the saddle and bridle and sell {t to the agent of the government for purchasing horses, thus selling the sates ment itsown property. The money, of course, ie and a score of friends got drunk with for a week, and it waa only on their return to camp when the money was spent that he was made prisoner. On his trial he contended that he had not stolen the horse, but had merely made it over to any depart- ment of the same service. AT METZ. The Imperial Guard Marches from the Fort- reas—Napoleon Said to Bo Sick—News from the Front—Napoleen Points the First Mitrail- lensomHow “Specials? Get Along With the Policeihe Prince Imperial a non Ball—Fever for War and Victory—Wounded Men oes the Front. Metz, August 4, 1870, When the inhabitants of this fair city opened their eyes this morning they stared at each other witn astonishment. More than half of the Imperial Guard had stolen away during the night and early morn. Before the Messins had extricated themselves from the arms of Morpheus the troops were far advancea on their road to Boulay. Metz has now the appear- ance of a deserted city, and a dark, dismal, leaden toned sky.adds to the general gloom. Around the Prefecture @ considerable crowd had collected at an early hour in expectation of the Em- peror’s departure, but his Majesty has not left, and he will not do so to-day. A report is current that he 1s unwell, but 1 trust sincerely that such is not the case; anything calculated to damp theardor of the troops, who are eager for the fray, would be most lamentable at the present moment. SAARBRUCK, The Saarbruck affair was not of any serious con- sequence, and cannot be taken as any test of the respective merits of the rival armies. The French in number were about 60,000, the Prussians, according to a Frenchman (an eye witness), about 10,000 Ho says that the imperial troops had fifty or sixty killed and that the Prusstaii loss must have been very con- siderable. The most Important result of the engage- ment is that the mitrailicuses were tried for the first tume in real warfare, Eighteen rounds were fired with terrific result. They did their work splendidly. As a destroyer of human life they deserve to be deco- tated, The Prassians were on the heights above the town. The heights were carried anda some forty houses in the town were burned. The action was commenced about ten o’clock and terminated about one o'clock, the Prussians stiil holding the railway station. The Emperor pointed the first mitratiiense that opened fire. The Queen of England fired the first shot at Wimbiedon when the National Rifle Asso- ciation held {ts first meeting, some ten years since. It is strange that in a civilized age—the nineteenth century—two of the most powerful sovereigns in the world should have encouraged their people with their own hand to take good aim for the destruction of human life. Butl must not moralize; Iam out on the warpath. “Arma virumque cano.”” LIFE OF THE “SPECIALS.” We are called vicious here—awfully pugnactous— with the exception of newspaper correspondents, who have become wonderfully mild since the chasse aux rédacteurs during the past fortmight, Last night there were eight correspondents sitting in a café drowning their griefs with mazagrans and kirsch- wasser. Six of them had already gone through the baptism of arrest. A correspondent of one of the English fllustrated papers 139 in despair. He at- tempted to sketch an old woman and was immedl- ately surrounded by gendarmes, Another who had made a sketch of some airty boys fishing at the mouth of a dirtier drain, asked a gendarme on the following morning, where he could find Monsieur le Commissaire de Police. What do you want him for? asked the gendarme. “I wish to tell him thatIlam Qn artist, and desire to make some sketches in the town.” “Why, you arethe man who was sketch- ing in the drain yesterday. We have had our eyes on you already,” exclaimed big boots, the bristles of his cropped head standing on end, his eyes starting from their sockets, and the long waxed points of his mustache‘fourishing themselves about frantically as he spoke. The artist suddenly discovered that he was the possessor of seven-leagued boots, and bolted. He Is “still running.’’ You see we are pretty narrowly watched. THE IMPERIAL BAPTISM BY FIRE. If we have gone through the ceremony of “baptism of arrest,’”’ the Prince Imperial has done that of fire, He was present at the engagement and displayed much coolness. There are plenty of stories afloat about his Imperial Highness. Among others that, seeing a cannon ball coming towards him, he took off his hat and bowed. The bali must have been an ill-conditioned sort of a body, for it does not appear to have stopped to thank the youthful impertal war- rior and bow. WAR FRYER. We are ail more or less bgtten with the war fever, I came across an old gardener a few days since, seventy-two years of age, fn straw hat, shirt, one brace and pair of cotton trowsers. whic the imagina' if duly stretched, might believe were once clean and striped blue and white, -He remem- bered when the Prussians were here long ago; how they devastated the country and abused the women. He was an old soldier, and would go again to fight if that would secure the punishment the Prus- Stans. His wife spooks venerable, good oid soul!) looked with admiration on her worst half and bis paseiotiens but 1 cannot divest my mind of the idea Lat the toothless old gentleman, if he went with tho aruy, would follow closely in footsteps of the Prussians atthe beginning of tuis century—at least so lar as looting and raping concerned, We are on the eve of great events. The French army is ready to take the ica. The parks of artillery are complete, the ambulances are ready, the coinmis- Sariat department is tn @ state of efficiency. As the moment tor deadly strife Approaches the enthusiasm Of the troops augments, spirit of the army is exvellent, Throughout the land there ts but one belief, and thatis—victory. The shots which have been tired between the outposis have given freah courage to the French, who pat their Chassepocs with delight, That rife has already proved its superiority over the Dreyn. POSITIONS BY ORDER—FOR THE MOSELLE, Now that the French army ts on the point of taking the feld I will give you the prensa, positions of the corps @armée. By comparison wih my former letter you wiil understand ‘the changes in sition Which have been edected during the past fortnight of apparent activity, Marechal MacMahon himself ts tnstalied ‘in the Paiais Iinperial, oid army lying between Stras- bourg and Wissembourg; tho left at Niederbroun, the right at Strasbourg, Tals corps @armée, the first, 18 composed of troops fresh from Africa or of wen bus recently returned. ‘The celebrated Third regiment of Zouayes and the three regiments of Turcos are with him, as are also the Chasseurs a’ Afrique, The Second corps, under General Frossard, 1s at Saarvruck, in Prugsia, since Tuesday, The Third corps, under Marecnal Buvatne, is on the river Nied, near Sarriouis, The Fourth corps, under General Ladmirault, the exireme left, has advanced from Thionville to Siezk, n the railway from Thionyille to Treves, @ Pifth corps, under General de Fallly, is at Sarreguemiues, The Sixth corps, under Marabal Canrobert, 13 st ill at Chalons Sur Marne. The Seventh corps, under General Douay, is be- tween Strasbours aad Colmar, Tue entire Garde Luperiale commences a forward movement from Metz this moriuiuy—iua August, The parks of artillery aud the éngmeers are con- centyating at Luneviiie and Naucy, Tho reserves are orgaaiaiag with great rapidity Inrear of the army. ‘She Fourth bataliions of iu- ee and Gardes Mobiles are also iorming in the ar. From the above changes in position I should Imagine that the French inteud to mask Saaarlouis vo engage the Prussians on the Moselle and double back oa the right, acrosss the Paiatinat (Baviere- Rhenaue), to carry the important positions of Pir: masren, Homburg and Kaysersloulern, supported by the raliways leading from Saabrack and from Haguenau to Manuheim, the probably proposed polut of concentration, While the corps under Ladmirault, Frossard, Ba- zaine and Du Failly execute this movement, MacMa- hon aud Douay wil, wituout doubt, cross the Rhine and will joiu by the rigit bank the left of the army in tho environs of Mannohelm, on the left bank of the river at the oouflaence of the Necker, From thence the Prassians wil be forced back on Mayence, mask- ing the towns of Germershelin and Landau on the Jett bank and Rastat.on the right bank, Once arrived at this point, the Rhine will offer every facility for victualling tne army. FILLING. As the combatants push forward to the front Metz becomes repeopled with the non-combatants o1 the army. Gcnerals and colonels give piace to iutend- ants, captains and Bubalterns to paymasters, post oftice and commissarlat employes in uniforms, the number of which is suflcient to convince me that profound study would be necessary before I siall be qualified to distinguish the various suades of mill- tary tailoring. SYMPATHY. Napoleon Ill. is fond of the army, and does every- thing to save the troops from suffering, He has given orders that bearskius and shakos sliall ve laid aside. The storehouses are already packed with them and many other articles of military display wich, during a catapaign are most irksome to the men. ‘This action of the Emperor has given intense satisfaction to the troops, who have already suffered much during the recent extraerdinary teat from being forced to wear such co(fures bizarres, ‘Tne day before yesterday a column of the reserve, on the march to join the corps @urmée under Ba- zaine, were punished severely, and there were many stragglers in consequence. Tie weather was overpoweringly hot, and the whole column was gradually getting into disorder. Among the men Was one possessed of a superb Voice, whieh, if fate was not against him, would assuredly have made its possessor an operatic star instead of food for powder. Suddenly he commenced singing the “‘Mar- seillaise,”” with such soul-surring effect that the men were electrified, Joining in the chorus their suffer- ings were soon forgotten, and alter three houis’ singing the column marched into Boulay in first rate order, ARRIVAL OF WOUNDED. During the past night two trains of wounded have arrived. These are the first instalments of the crippled and maimed who will occupy the forty thousand beds ordered to be prepared in this city. Prussian as well as French wounded soldiers have been brought on here. I haye just seen the arrival of a fresh batch of Prussian prisuners, Men, women and children left workshop and school to see them pass, There were some cries of @ vas la Prusse, but as abody the prisoners—some twenty- two in number—were not insulted, One prisoner was struck by a ruMan, but that dastardly act found no favor in the eyes Of the people. ‘*You have struck @ prisoner,” gaid a gendarme, who arrested him, “you must come along With the rest.” ‘This man was forced to fallin and ‘Was marched through the streets with the prisoners of war. The French are a chivairous people, and any act of a cowardly nature is scouted by thea, A CHAPLAIN EN ROUTE. It was amusing to see an army chaplain start for the war this morning. ‘he good priest’s pagifa ) consisted of a courler’s sack ot dimenstons but ilttle larger than @ portemonnale and a paper parcel stuffed into his pocket. He was in light marching order, In his hand he held a riding whip sufficient to cut the life out or the most refractory horse alive. A horse was saddled, but the priest found the saddle too hard and insisted on its being removed, Then a rug was foided and placed on the horse's back, se- oured by girths, to which the stirrup leathers were attached. Monsieur le Curé, naving tucked up the tails of his soutane, attempted to mount; but his weight, when he piaced his foot in the stirrup, brought the rug round witha run and tne back of nis reverence kissed mother ear’ He picked him- self up and by the assistance of several of the Garde Mobile, who held the stirrup on the opposite side while others offered their shoulders to be sat on b: chaplain and then lifted, he at last bestrode as charger and started for the war, COMMOTION, From an early hour yesterday the streets near to the Hotel de l’Kurope, Major General Lebceut’s head- uarters, were crowded, ‘The Messins and their lessines were in expectation of having their eyes gratified by the appearance of the 500 prisoners said. to have been taken at Saarbruck on the pre- vious day. Hope maketh the heart sick and the crowd gradually dispersed after several- hours’ patient watching. In the afternoon, however, @ report that the Prussian prisoners had really arrived brought the sigit-seers again to the front. This time their curiosity was re- warded by the ht tal yg of fifteen prisoners of war as they passed through the streets unaer escort. ‘They were ali in uniform, two of them still wearing the spiked helmet. poor fellows evidently felt their position keenly; but they bore themselves proudly, and it was the sub‘ect of general remark that they appeared to be men ofa superior class, ‘The correspondents of the foreign papers have kept themseives remarkabiy quiet during the past forty- eight hours, and are not to be seen in every nook and corner of the town and outskirts as heretofore. They fee) convinced that any os ape of the indis- cretions recently committed will ensure thelr being bodily ejected trom the neighborhood, FREB FROM JAIL, Tuesday evening, to my surprise, pondent who had been in prison since Friday enter the salle @ mangey' of the hotel. He had just been liberated. Application lad been made to the British Ambassador and to every other recognized cliannel of communication for hie release, and when the case was brought under the notice of bia jesty the order for his liberation was at once given and the infringér of military discipline again breathed the fresh air of heaven, According to his account he visited one of the camps about ten o'clock on eae night, and was accosted by a Soldier, who asked him if he wished to see the camp. “Can I do so?’ innocently replied Kilty. The gen- tleman in question is @ Scotchman, ‘Pray, walk ey said Frenchy, and the Scotchman crossed the oundary. Jt was acase of “Walk into my parlor, I saw the corres- sald the spider to the ily.” Inthe snesting, Kilt, had been tutroduced to a colonel of the Guards, an he told his conductor that he wished to see Colonel “Come along, then; we will try and find Colonel P—-."’ “Do you know where Colonel P—— 1s?” asked the soldier toacomrade; ‘this gentleman wants to see him.” ‘On|?’ said the other, “his tent is In this direction; und the party penetrated further into the camp, the soldiers telling their comrades as they ete “Here’s a gentleman wishes to see Colonel P—.” <Kiity’s escort thus became larger as they went. His power of speaking French being limited, some of the soldiers addressed him in German, but of that language, luckily for himself, he 13 pro- foundiy ignorant. He had mistaken the camp ia which he then was for that he had visited in the morning, and his asking for Colonel P. was con- sidered by the men to be a incre excuse to account for his presence near the camp. At last they ap- prosdey @ tent, described by his guides as that of jolonel P, He was recelved by an officer, and was ushered into the tent of the Generai in command, Who Was surrounded by the oficers of his stat, He was accused of being @ spy, and after having been interrogated by an officer strong in his belief of having mastered the mysteries of the Koglish lan- guage, but who misunderstood and consequently misinterpreted the answers of the bewildered Kilty, the latter was addressed by tie General, who regretted acutely the position in which Monsieur then was, and attempted to ameliorate it by giving the order for hin to be conducted to prison without delay, a3 @ Prassian per ‘The prisouer was marched, off under escort, and alter parading the streets for two hours in search of the military prisou he was banded over by his guards to the goyernorof that establishment. There he passed the night in company with two of the Jowest vagabonds he ever met. Luckily for him, on the foiewin morning a Belgian ofMlcer was brought wm on lar to that which nad consi, Kllty to Gurenee vie ane they “roomed” towsfnce un the unfortunate Britisher was allowed to leave the im- The other “apselal” to. whom 1 alluded in my last he rr that he wi @ alg to lente the . I learn that the intelligence which he boasted of having sent to London, and Which was the cuuse of is arrest, has already been PNow that the departments of the Hans i BA Rhin and Moselle are ina state of slege the liberty of the subject is ata discount, and the residences of inhabitants are subject to be searched at hour of the day or night, aud we never stir withoul pening tn our Roni 4 fe scrap IE gt ane lated to prove our ident case o! " tricate rn from the clutcnes of the Provost Marshal and his sateliites. AT FRANKFORT. March of the German Army—A Military Wavo by Day and Night—Publitc Excite- ment—Policy of England, Russia and Austria=Monarchism Slightly Clouded=The Financial Aspect. FRANKFORT, August 8, 1870, The passage of troops and artillery and stores continues day and night, and by this time a mighty force must be collected on the frontier; the staff too is on the gpot, the princes are at their headquarters, and the king has arrived yesterday at Metz, . Thus all 19 ready for havoc and devastation, and the bloodhound whom the French have got in power has the most reasonable expectations that it will bo on a large scale, worthy of a Bonaparte, The appre- henston that the war will come to our quarters has ceased, and the events of the noxt few days must decide whether it will be carried on in German or French territory. The arrangements of the military authorities and of the ratlway companies for coliect- ing #0 large an army have been excellent; every- thing was done with the greatest regularity, and there is an army now on the Rhine more numerous than any put on foot by any nation in historical times. There is even now a reflux, as hundreds come back and are sent home, the regiments being complete, so that they are not wanted for the present, The excitement of the public continues unabated. Volunteers and voiuntary contributions come in from all sides, and the spirit of the people is now fuily up against the French, so that if the chances of war were favorable to them at the beginning, by their being better prepared, few people now begin to doubt they will ultimately succumb before German consistency and steadfastness of purpose, We have certainly the larger forces in the fleld, still there is no bragging, as in France, of easy success, It will, at all events, be a bloody and procrastinated war. Hitherto there have been only small skir- mishes, about which there 1s nothing to report. ENGLAND'S NEUTRALITY. The news which continues to reach us from Eng- land has been more discussed of late than the war, which must now take its course. The mock neu- trality of England, by which she tried to secure her trade and her export ofcoal, of horses, of cartridges and cannon balls, has been too much even for Ger- man endurance. It was evident that all this was done only in favor of France, whose navy in the Baltic was to be ged With coal, while they wanted horses, of which they have generally not many to spare. The Prussian government had remonstrated against such @ neutrality, and the public press proved thas in this way Hngland was aciually tak- ing part with the enemy, when the disclosures about the proposals made by France to Prussia with re- ard to Belgium and French Switzerland proved to he English Ministers the stress France would put on thelr oppositio , if, in the present struggle, she should get the better of vrugsia. Since that time, it appears that they will do for thelr own sake wihiat they refused for a kindred race and for a just cause, Nothing is required from them bot to gre up mak- ing a profit by fnuing the enemy with all his re- quirements; their assistance, in a war of such mag- nitude, when a million of soldiers are facing each other, could never count for much. There 13 every probability that we shall have yet more disclosures; no doubt that similar offers have been made at various periods to Russia and Austria, andas the latter has now been apprised that nis then good friend and ally, the French Emperor, offered to assist, for a good consideration, Prossia in 1866 with 400,000 men, without having any com- pletns against her, even Austrian statesmen might for once see clear, and turn against the most dan- gerous and treacherous of their foes; thus curious things might be revealed. Sill all uus casts a slur on monarchy and monarchical diplomacy. As —. affairs one burglar will certamly only pe 6 proposals to another burglar for stripping an lated or unguarded house, or as a fraudulent bankrupt will certainly not take a respectable mer- chant in his contidence, thus French diplomacy must have had a very low opinion of the morality of the statesmen to whom they made such offers. impression will remain, and should the war destroy the large armics, which sow everywhere keep up monarchical authority, and thus have no other formation than the food Will of the people, tnis will, 1m many countries found deficient, and republi- canism wiil gain many adherents, This is the universal opinion, even now, When the’ war 1s popular, and our government considerea justifed in every respect. The present war was only possible between monarchies, as in republics there can be no Just for conquests in forelga countries and of quite different people. FINANCE AND AMERICAN BONDS. The Bourse ig decidedly better. Distrast is not so far spread as last week, and extends only to second rate merchants, while at first the largest firms were doubted. Money is now to be got at a regular inter- est, foreign bills can be sold and transactions on our Bourse, all for casn, have become more numerous, Americans went up fo 85, and though weaker yesterday, in consequence of sil nt sales, as Wo were in advance of Berlin and don prices, they closed very firm at 63% and could be sold to a large amount.. There was also some demand for mortgage bonds, of course at low prices; but still it was the first time they were noticed since the war broke out. American railway and credit shares are equally better, and were largely bought on #erlin and Vienna account, wh le government stocks of all kinds are flat, large sales atlow prices being re- ported. Then Wurtemburg wants a loan, and oilers Six per cent exintcrest, The loan of the Northern Confederation of 120,000,000 thalers, five per cent, at 88 per cent, is subscribed for to-day, ile the Bourse 13 recovering, and such capital as cannot now be invested in industry or is withdrawn there- from is investea in public securities, dur tradespeo- pie and millowners are hard pressed and may suc- cumb tothe storm. They can neither get in their money nor obtain credit from their bankers. ‘The same is the case in Switzerland and Belgium, Both of these people will be ruined for along time; the mills must be closed and the workpeople starved. And people talk of the extinction of slavery and of an enlightenea age, when all this cau be done by an adveuturer who considers hiraself insulted by a want of etiquette! If such is the case the three former revolutions have been good for nothing. ENGLAND. Can Neutrality Be Preserved ¢—Piloting the French Fieet—Despniches to Hetiogoland= Defenco of the trish Const—A Naval Council. LONDON, August 6, 1870, Matters are evidently coming to a crisis, and it will require ail the diplomacy of the present govern- ment to keep out of the present European troubles, The man Crowburst, who received £2,000 for piloting the French squadron from the Downs to the North, 18 likely to be marked before long as a notoriety, in consequence of the North German Ambassador here having demanded on behalf of his government tliat the pilot shall be criminally prosecuted for commit- ing a breach of the neutrality laws. The question has been laid before the Board of Trade, and I believo has been referred to the Trinity Board, who have intimated that they cannot take any steps. How it will terminate I am unable to say; but on such ; trifies as these nations are sometimes thrown into the wildest disorder. This affait has been the cause of an order. being issued by Mr. Shaw Lefevre, the Parliamentary Secretary of the Board of Trade, to the effect that British pilots are not to pilot ships of war of either belligerent, except in British waters, within three miles of the shore, or to do more than pilot such ships into or out of British porta or roadsteads when they are not at the time engaged in any hostile operations, but ships of war in distress may always be piloted out of 1mmediate danger: Yesterday the Rainbow—a gunboat, 235 tons, sixty horse power, armed with two guns—left Sheerness, at the entrance of the Medway, with a detacliment of marines, several sets of Baltic charts and sealed despatches for the Governor of Heligoiand, a group of two islands situate twenty-eight miles from tue ‘Weser, the Hibe and the Elder. It has two good harbors, and to the eastward of the smaller island is.a good anchorage, with nearly fifty feet of waier, The marines are to be disembarked for service ashore, and there is no doubt but it will ve the ren- dezvous for the squadron of observation which I informed you in my last was to be got ready at once. THE IRISH COAST. The coast guard squadron, or second reserve squadron of irou-clads, have left the coast of Ireland, and will soon take up their several stations for tie protection of the coast. During their cruise the men have been exercised in squadron evolutions, steam tactics, andthe shore-going men who have been drafted on board fox jouporary pervicg Guilpg tho NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 1870.—TRIPLE’ SHEET. cruise will, I understand, if required, be able to ‘The whole i$ guard than cous forty ve of all dre) nt & ton- of) 50,000 tons and over 8,000 herge power, with an armament of 169 and jen, marines and these Vessels 1s stationed at Porsdand, which, since the completion of the magnificent breakwater there, 13 fast becoming & place of great naval import ance, and, in fact, it is now under contemplation by the present Board of Admiralty to pamphane @ plot of land there with a view of establishing a ro, naval store yard for the supply of her Britunnic Jesty’s ships. NAVAL COUNOID, The Admiralty, duriug the past week, has sum. moned the several admiral euperintendents of the royal yards to headquarters to. consult with Vico Ad- miral Bir Spencer Kobinson, the Chief of the Store Department, as to the capabilities of the several yards under their charge being able to carry out ad- ditional work which may be required :for the com- Dietion and repair of ships which are shortly to bo commenced, BOUNTY FOR MARINES. t ‘The marines which are now being enlisted are of- fered a bounty, and tic standard has been consher- ably reduced, so that some activity 13 being dls- } played among the recruiting sergeants, who are dis- ‘ged ainong all the large towns throughout the (dom to beat up recruits. As an example that the aercraomes place great dependence on this arm of British service, 1 may mention the fact that for no other part of the army are recruits being offered the bouniy. THE QUEEN ON DECK. The royal sovereign armor-piated ‘turret snip, five Finke 8,765 Lons, $00 horse power, which is doiag the duty of guard ship while Queen Victoria remains at her marine residence at Osborne, was yesterday visited by her Majesty, who, I am told, expressed. her gratification aud made inquiries as to the work. Ang of the turrets. IN THE DOCKYARDS, In conclusion, { must remark that the member for Portsmouth, who inguired last night of the First Lord of the Admiralty in une House of Commons as to the state of the stores at tho various dockyards, and who only met with an evasive reply, was actuated to make the inquiry from pure motives, and wuo ‘Was well aware that In all of the Queen’s yards there is @ miserable deficiency of all kinds of stores. It 13, @ lamentable fact, well known and patent to all the ollcials Who are in any way connected with the store departments at the several yards, that the houses are comphratively empty, yét in the face of this—and ‘the fact cannot but be well Known’ at Whitcball—the chief of the British naval administra. tion has the temerity to publicly state in the ifouse of Representatives that the dockyards are full of stores. Such a statement is not only likely to lead members of the House into error, but ls also likely to lead to more serious consequences, as It is only pietmaped ¢ to take a cruise through any of the Queen’s dockyards by any one, however ignorant he ihay pe of naval stores and imatters, to see at a glance that such statements as are ventured by the First Lord of Admiralty are not to be relied upon. THE “BALTIC COAST. War Movements on the Banks of the Oder— whe Commercial Marine aud Froncs Navy at Stettin, Srerrin, August 2, 1870. It must interest your readers to hear from the nortbern coast of what is going on in the Baltic. I hereby transmit the following report:— Stettin is the capital of Pomerania, situated on the left bank of the Oder river, about sixty miles from Berlin. The population is 70,000, with a great num- ber of seamen. There are in peace times between 200 and 300 ships on commercial duty, but now, as the coast Is blockaded by the French, the vessels are all lying idle at their respective piers. Btettin 1s defended by a very strong fortress, manned in peace by 6,000 rien, but now, it 1s cati- mated, by 15,000. However, just at this time It really falls short of that, as many have been sent to Swine- minde, a place which 1s very much more ex- posed, lying directly on the Baltic coast, It was reported here last eveiing tnat the French fleet had been seen off Swineminde. If so iney will soon come in contact with the batteries of the fort there, ‘The German soldiers seem anxious for a battle, ‘They are all in good spirits, and active, well formed men, There.are two French vessels in the harbor. 1s loading; the other Joaded. They must put to sca to-day or to-morrow or remain here as prisoners of war. Of the two they have chosen the former. They will therefore receive an escort aud be con- ducted safely out of the reach of the Prussian guns, when they will receive protection by their “‘brothess’’ of the French blockading squadron, Every one has a sharp eye for strangers, and until they are fully convinced to the contrary look at them as “spies,” SWITZERLAND. Arming for Frontier Protection—A Large Army tor the Republic—The People Active, Firm and National. BELLINZONA, Jilly 31, 1870. Notwithstanding the friendly assurances of France and Prussia that the neutrality of Switzerland shall be strictly respected, the federal government has determined to place such @ force on its frontiers as shall render a violation of the Helvetio territory a more difficult undertaking than if it were only de- fended by a respect for existing treaties, In little more than a week’s time, thanks to the military organization of this republic, in which every man 1s a soldier, either in the active contin. gent or in the reserve, five divisions have been called to arms and marched to the most threatened part of the frontier, the line separating Switzerland from Baden, between Bale and Constanze, Bile and Schaffhausen being the chief garrison towns. A LABGE ARMY—IMPERATIVE OALL FOR DUTY. The force called out amounts to forty-two batta- Mons and five half battalions of infantry, thirty com- panies of riflemen, fifteen squadrons of dragoons and guides, cleven battalions of artillery, six com- panies of military train, three companies of engi- neers. If complete these corps would form an effec- tive force of 50,000 men, but as yet they do not ex- ceed 85,000, as many men of the contingent are out. of switzerlang, and require some time to arrange their affairs abroad oefore they can return to take part in the defence of their country, Within a cer- tain distance Swiss citizens are expected to return home when called to arms; for instance, the natives of this canton, when established in Italy for indus- trial or commerctal occupations, are expected to obey the summons, even if residing so far off as Naples, under penalty of belng considered desertera, As the Swiss are an enterprising people, and fond of seeking their fortune abroad, it may be easily imagined what inconvenience and loss many of them have incurred by having to leave everything and return at @ momcnt’s warning. Those who were at home have also had to leave their agricultural or industrial ayocations and be- come suidiers until one of the two great belligerent Powers shali have conquered the other, or 1t siall please them to make peace when tired of harassing each other. Bui the Swiss are patriouc and willing to make any sacritice ra‘her than endanger their in- dependence. 1 have been Witnessing, during the last few days in this town, the capita! of the Canton Tessin, the gather!ng ani departure for the frontier of theactive contingent of the canton, consisting of four battallons of infautry, two companies of ride- meu, onw battery of artillery, one company of guides and one company of cngineers. The men joked hardy and in good spirits and came in singing patrl otic songs. There 1s no. useless luxury in their equipments, but their arms are excellent and. every- thing looks serviceable. The entire population of the Canton Tessin is only 130,000, so that the above isa Meet creditable coutribution, in proportion, to the national army, especially as the reserve ahd after reserve are atill available. COMMANDERS, The federal Colonel Herzog, of Thorgovia, has been named General of the federal troops, and Col- onel Paravisini, of Bale, head of the stat The headquarters are at present at Olten, between Baile and Lucerne, WATOHFUL OF ITALY, There does not scem to be much anxiety for tho safety of the Swiss frontier, either on the French side oron the Italian; but if the present neutrality of the Italian government were to give way to& closer alliance with France another division of troops from the German cantons would be called out and sent to garrison the frontier districts of this canton. NEUTRAL TRAVEL, At present there is a great bustle, of, travellers through Bellinzona, where diligences, are still in fashion to convey ‘people to anit m the North of italy over the great Alpine of'St. Gothard, Luckmanier and St. Bernardino.;, Numbers of re- tarded soldiers pass through dally to rejoln thelr corps. A lady, related to the Prassian Vomumander- in-Uhief, De’ Moltke, passed through’ this: town the other day, and while: her. -horses were being changed she heard with’ much emotion the substance of a telegram just arrived, but which ently turned out, to be false, stating thay the French had entered Luxembourg, We-shall have & railway, in tine, up this beautiinl valley and over the ‘Si. Gothard, the federal government haying finally decided on its execution. CHAPLAINS, vf I was amused at reading in the oficial gazette here a sumumens for fourteen priests to. presctit themselves within three days to the military depart ment, to be forwarded to headquarters... If no‘volun- teers were fortheoming they were to be ‘taken by force’ to act as’ military chapiains. This measure has been suspended in comphance with orders from headquarters; but it would, I think, be the first in- stance of a miUtary-conseription for priests, One ESPRIT, Up to this time the Swiss troops under arms only had to complain of the great heat while march- ing and mancuvring, and wherever they are quar- tered {heir fellow citizens treat them with the great: est hospitality; but the federal government is spend- ing upwards of @ milion Of france every wees to Papin the for FINANCE, Treasury bills are being issued to the nmount 6,000,000 francs, bearing interest at the 1 ‘> of fou! anda half per cent perannum. The wire course furnished by Swiss bankers and capi ont of a patriotic fecling, but individuals of: Limi! means may contribute even 0 mall asum as Ifthe war should continue for some ti Sranca, the federal government will be ob! to iD, keeping it, however, if possible, in the country, DETERMINATION, * Tt ig certainly very hard that a peaceableand in dustrious popuiation should be forced to make suc! Sacrifices in consequence of the more powerful neighbors; but the Swiss are read: spend their last franc and fire their last shot befo1 yielding one jot, of their national independence 01 ‘One acre of Helvetic territory. , THE WAR AND WALL STREET. tion from the prices of the past few days; whil governments continue strong and buoyant, with a: upward tendency, and while the stock’ matket without any special new features; while altégethe! matters in Wall street are about the same ag the; doubtless would have been had there been no FE) pean war, and while the attempt to produce ai great fluctuations in money values here inet dental to the breaking out of this war have utter! failed—while this is the present situation our great monetary centre, 1t is very corti that the paramount subject occupying the thought: @nd attention of Wall street operators, and nt alone the operators in the Gold Room and Stock change and on the street, but the bankers, brokers! and leading flnanctal men whose business energie: and ventures are centred here is the probable effec of this progressive sanguinary struggle betwee! Prussia and France, both on the money market he! and the respective credits of these two great Eu: pean Powers—men are qiletly waiting future ded velopments. Each coming day is regarded as pre; “nant with momentous issues, not alone as to whic! of the great conflicting Powers shall come out vic! Tious in the strugaie—not alone as concerns the pos: sible demolition of the French empire and othe! European monarchies, and the more extended esta lishment of republican governments ‘on the contl-; nent, but the ultimute effect of this war upén mon tary values at home and abroad, t “It 1s a settled fact,’ said a prominent Wall banker, upon being interviewed on Tuesday by HERALD representative, “that the days of the: French empire are numbered, Jt will not be many days before from the ruins and ashes of the fallen empire will rise a republic.” “Upon what do you base this most positivd declaration, for you certainly make your declara< tion very positive?” asked our reporter. “I do make it positive,” continucd the banker. “! Would almost stake my existence upon it. Every. thing goes to prove it. Napoleon did not dream of this result. He entered upon this war to strengthe! aud give permanency to the empire. As the revolt! States of the South in the war of the rebellion begat the war against our government to give strengtl ana permanency to the institution of slavery, he thought and expected by this war against Pru sia to perpetuate the empire, and: threug! @ succession of splenild victories give it! additional prestige and favor with the French gov. ernment, and thus pave the way for the succession o! sovereign sway to fall ae the Prince Imperial Instead of this result he will find the empir abolished, as slavery has been, and himsel! a soll and powerless exile.” “And s0 you suppose he never dreamed of sui possible result ??” “It never entered his head for ® moment. He wi too much inflated with his own importance an ower. He had given greatness and glory to Fran in peace, and he expected to achieve for her et glory in war. His first great trust was in ni A and bis eccond trust was in nie splendid army. H believed in himself asa great military leader- wearlog tle mantie and endowed with the milital capacity and daring 01 the great Napoleon. He Neved his army invincivie by any force that could sent against It. “So you think the war a fatiure on his part?’ “A most miserable failure. He has made thi great mistakes, Tne first mistake was bringing 0) the war, which he might have avoidea with no I of honor to himself or glory of the French Reopl His second mistake was be eed that the pl of Southern Germany would not unite with the sians. His third mistake, or rather miscalculatto) has been expecti g to feed his army on German sol. instead of which the Prussian army are being sul sisted on his own territory.” “Supposing he lias « succession of victories after ie ? it is possible that the war has yet hard! egun. tHe cannot and will not be successful. Th French cannot stand defeat. ‘The whoie army 1 demoralized, No power on earch can reorga oan restore the esprit de-corps that has been lost ‘Tue war 1s about ended,” » “So you give it up as hopeless?’? “Hopeless for France. The people of France have been practised upon them.’ “Will not Napoleon proclaim a republic to save himself?” “He may try it; but the people will have none ot IMs proclamations. ies will proclaim a republi theinselves, They will throw him completely over. board. He is only an emperor in name now. has staked his ail, and most foolishly, too, and I King Willtam mi; lose & dozen battles, but the divinity that hedges a king will hedge him still, He will continue a king to the end, as did his fat after the death at Jena.” “Will the Prassian army push on to Parts??? “Thave no doubvt of it, The victory before Met: settles this, thatis ifthe Freach any, keeps up it opposition. The military power of France is to much weakened to give much resistance, Th German army 1s much stronger and 1s well officered, and moves,ou unier the stimulating impetut of victory. There may be another pattie betweet Metz an bate one possibly on the Meuse* river, but more probably between me and Chalong, o on the Aube river, between Vi and Bar. If thi Germans are victorious in these battles, which the: are almost sure to he, then the way to the Frenc capital is clearly open. before them, and they mi easily reach there in ten days.” “And what wiil follow the taking of Paria? “The establishmeut of a republic.” “And this will end the wart”? “Unquestionably. Neither King William nor tl Prussians or the Germans care to make war agai the people of France. Having squelched Napole: the victory will be complete, and they neither d nor will ask anything more.’ “How. will this termination of the war affect French securities 7” i i “Seriously fora time. For a time there must distrust. The new government may not be) proper! constructed—may not show those elements of sta. bility so requisite as the basis of financial strengu and power.” { “And do you think this progress in events as you! have pictured them will aifect monetary values very! much here? 4 FA “Only shgotly. ‘There may be atrompts to get up} panics in Wall strect;-but they will be only th shrewd dodges of specuiattve financiers to turn th current of inonetary movements here from the’ accusiomed chaunels, and the parties fo thee to be damaged are the ones resorting to th dodges. Our own finances have at no time sinc the war been tn better condition than now. The! ig contidence in ovr governiment—the great basis, T have already stated, of financial strength at home and impreguabllity of influences abroad.” We mighc pursue this conversation at ‘muc! greater length, Subsequent conversations, wit Others developed as now pervadi: the solid me of Wall strect about the same views a8 those ex: essed above. Whilic neariy all feel confident o! wther military successes by the Prussian ‘army; while very few have iaith in bal gry or the Bucy cess of the French army; and while the most accept @ republic In France as the manifest destiny of thé now tottering empire, ail believe in the unshakem, strength and firmness of our national finances, A COMPROMISE ON SAMBO. As We anticipated, if the recriminationsamong the white politictans in South Uarolina were ailowed to cone some “colored gemman” would step in and take all the honors and emoluments, so has the result proven, in one instance at least. It appears that State Senator Rainey (colored) has been nomt- nated to fill Wiititemore’s unexpired term in Con gress Irom the South Carolina it district, and his election is tolerubly certain, ‘The old adage, “When rogues fall out,’ <c., seems to have been IN feb als tered in the case of the South Carolina politicians, among whom the reaatng seems’ tobe rendered, “when white politicians fallout Sambo comes by a lite tle more than his owa.’’. This is the republicans first compromise on Saubom South ae What will be the next? 1 Five VOLUMES Of CONTROVERSY ON THW ALA¢ BAMA OLaIMe.—The printing of all the papers jn the State. Department bearing upon tne Alabama claims, called for by # resolution of the Senate last. inter, has just been completed. They mako five Volumes of 760 pages each, beginning with the cor- respondence between Mr. Black and Mintater Dallas in 1861, when the recoguition of belligerency was de- clared inParls, and run through'all the diplématic discussions of neatrality, repels in Oanada, rebel cruisers and kindred subjects until the matter of the Alabama clas proper is reached on page’ 2,000, The fourth and ft volumes are in fine type, and ave principally reprints of ofielal reports and speeches ii Parliament upon varlous subjects con- nected with the Ainerican war. No fears are enter= tained that Kugiaid will retallate by repridting a volume or two of the Congressional Globe—Hoston Advertiser, August 1 even on the most cconomic: t 3 é,. ee F H