NOTES AND INCIDENTS.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 753, 15 November 1870, Page 4

NOTES AND INCIDENTS.

Russia has sent thirteen surgeons to the German camp. The military authorities of Belgium are at present engaged in making experiments with a rifle that is loaded by a single movement of the hand, and fires thirty-two shots a minute.! 1 ? A Brussels telegram states that a French ambulance train, composed of fifteen doctors, ninety hospital attendants, sixteen horses, and eight carriages, was captured by the Prussians near Metz, and sent on by them to Cologne. It was, however, subsequently released, and was passing through Belgium on its way back to France. Some idea of what war means in these days of destructive weapons may be gathered from the following : — The 3rd Zouaves, considered one of the most formidable regiments of the entire army, went into the battle of Saverne admirably officered, 2500 strong ; it came out less than 500, and would have been, says the French accounts, cut off to a man had not M'Mahon given the signal for the retreat. The Turcos have also suffered fearfully. "Half the flower of the Prussian nobility," is said by Prussians to have perished in the battles, and the slaughter among French officers is likely to prove as great. But none of any great name have fallen. It wai said that the brave M'Mahon had died of his wounds, but this was not so, and hopes to recover. De Failly was thought to have been killed by his own men, but the unfortunate General met his death by a shell. The statement that Prince Albrecht was killed wa3 false. -Some men have died whom society could ill spare. A special correspondent of the New York Tribune writes from Paris that the intolerance' of certain journals is revolting. The Gaulois proposes that women not wearing mourning in the streets should be insulted. Fujato complaina that there have been only 2000 arrests. The Prefect of the Police says there is room for no more in prison. Figaro replies, "If you cannot lodge all the Prussian spies, shoot them, and you will have more room." As a consequence of recent suggestions, the same journal proposes to supply Prussians with poisoned provisions. The Morning. Post has the following : — / Amongst the heroes who fell at Reich-

schoffttn are mentioned Colonel deVassart, the Count de Septeuiel, Marquis d'Espenilles, and Count Robert de Vogue, brother of Count Melchior, chief of the ambulances of the Society for Succouring the Wounded. After the combat, the body of Count Robert was recognised on the field of battle by some Prussian officers jv'ho had known him at Baden. The Prince Royal, being informed that Count Melchior was not far off, sent for him, and said, in a grave and sad tone : — 'Monsier, I have to announce some painful news to you. Do you comprehend V ( My poor brother !' exclaimed the French gentleman. ' Yes,' replied the Prince ; 'he has fallen as a hero worthy of his name. His body is there, Count. You shall have every facility for removing those glorious remains,' " Here is a little picture of one of the scenes which must be so common now in France : — "The utter despair of the poor young fellows called upon to repair gaps in the army, which seemed to the popular imagination all the more terrible that up to this time no exact news of the losses on either side had been given, was distressing to witness ; and that of mothers, thus left without their sons, was even more painful. One poor woman, whose husband was known to have been killed, on learning that her eldest son was to be taken from her in a few days, quietly remarked, ' What am 1 now to do wifli my six little children ? My husband is killed ; my | son, who helped me to feed the younger j ones, is going. If the next battle is a defeat, 1 shall kill myself with charcoal. What's the good of my living?' And such incidents meet one at every turn." The name of the Due de Palikao has been frequently mentioned in late English telegrams, more especially in connection with the Ministry which succeeded Ollivier's and which was formed by hirr. The Duke, who is or rather was, a marshal of the Empire, is best known as the General Montauban who sacked Pekin. He is a man of iron will, and of the sternest and most uncompromising disposition. The following remarks of the Daily News will sufficiently indicate his character : — " The Due de Palikao as he is officially entitled, is an Algerian sabrenr, who rose to high command by virture of those qualities which recommended St. Arnaud to the President of the Republic, and made General Espinasse a Minster of the Empire. With a German army encamped in Alsace, a talking Premier would be evidently out of place ; the whole duty of the Government must now consist in organising the enrolment of volunteers, and in sustaining the strength and spirit of the army. For such as Montanban undoubtedly is, seems naturally designated. Probably the reigning Prince of Hohenzollern is the richest man in the world. Even in 1848 his wealth, both in lands and investments, was immense, and since then the increase has been incalculable. In 1849, the prudent Prince resigned his sovereign rights, and so made his fortune safe. At the critical time when Bismarck and the Prussian Parliament were at variance, and the great game of conquest was likely to be stopped by the want of funds, the Prince of Hohenzollern replenished the coffers of his royal cousin and the King. Bismarck and the Prussian people know how much they are indebted to the opportune loans. a When Prince Charles went to Roumania, very knowing folk said the enterprise would fail for lack of money. The commaud of the Roumania army was offered to the ex-Confederate General Beauregard. The offer was refused, and the General is reported to have said :— " The terms are truly liberal, but there is no paymaster." Tne General was wrong, for Prince Charles could draw largely on the exhaustless riches of his father. It may be extremely doubtful if Prince Leopold will become King of Spain ; but if he makes the attempt to play puppet to Prim, he will not be altogether dependent upon Spanish taxes for his personal revenue, and for his father's sake alone he will have the good wishes of Prussia. I Few persons really believe that if the Germans assault Paris she will be able to hold out against such strategy and such force as will be brought against her. But she is menaced by other enemies than the Germans. Hitherto the lower orders in Paris, ever ready for violence, have been kept in check. When the King comes, however, and every soldier is wanted at the walls, there will remain a vast mass of the wickedest and most cruel population in the world, and this savage canaille is now excellently armed, and has ammunition. Moreover, it has given, according to an eye-witness, unmistakeable signs of being in waiting to rise for rapine and nnirder. The symptoms may be exaggerated, but the indisputable facts are as we have stated. Should a German attack be made, and should the patriots in Paris rush to aid the troops in resisting it, we have too much reason for grievous fear that Parisiau ruffianism will accept the signal. Believing as we do that the King's armies are far too strong to be withstood, and holding, as all reasonable men must hold, that there is no disgrace in yielding to overwhelming power, we can but hope that the men of the Republic will have the splendid courage to submit, j no matter ab what cost to their own pride and that of France, rather than encounter the double terror that now menaces.