RUMORS OF WAR.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1219, 17 June 1872, Page 3

RUMORS OF WAR.

The Daily Telegraph has published some disquieting letters, which profess to be inspired from high quarters in Berlin, and are apparently intended to influence public opinion in France. Yesterday it announced, with all the authority of a "double-leaded" leader, that Count >Aniim would immediately present an ultimatum in Paris requiring France to zeduce her armaments, on pain of a general resumption of hostilities. The speech of Mons. Thiera, when the French Assembly separated for the recess, spoke of the reconstruction of the army as " the true revenge ;" and but too clearly indicated the policy to which France is committed. There is no lack of soldiers now, for the armies of the Empire have returned from Germany, and their numbers are swollen by the choicest levies of M. Gambetta. While priding himself on his financial successes, the President of the Republic has bent all his energies to re-organise these troops; he has Kept them in tents through the winter, and every month his military power increases, and people talk more confidently of recovering the lost provinces. Germany is uneasy. If these last reports be true, Prince Bismarck will not wait to let this mischief ripen ; but return and seise such cities and territories as shall be security for the remainder of the indemnity, while any resistance will be considered a declaration of war. We cannot credit him with this intention, >or believe that M. Thiera is prepared to risk another conflict ; but it is not improbable that the German Chancellor has some strong remonstrance in store, and will make his power felt in the financial nego- ( tiations now in progress. French papers make light of the idea of an ultimatum, and ascribe the report to Bonapartist intrigues. Other correspondents contradict the report as unfounded, but yesterday there was quite a panic on Change. Prince Bismarck is carrying on his policy of annexation with a high hand. The Alsace-Lorrdiners are required to make prompt choice of fheir nationality ; they must either leave the province, and seek a French domicile, or submit, after the 30th of September next, to the German law of conscription. There could be no more complete proof of their incorporation in the new empire than that they should be required to furnish a contingent to its army. Such a decree at this early date seems harsh in the extreme, but the Chancellor is inexorable, there is no exemption except of those who have served in the army and navy of France. All young men below the age will be liable to military service in the German army, and may at some future time be called to take their part in a war against the country to which they but yesterday belonged. Many families are immigrating into France rather than submit. Affairs in Spain are also unquiet. The recent elections gave the Ministerialists a large majority from the country, but returned Opposition candidates in the capital. Disturbances have since taken place in several parts of the country. Armed bands have appeared in Catalonia, and more than one attempt has been made to stop railway trains near Madrid, or to throw them off the line. The Carlists are at work again, ancßhe ports are closely watched to prevent the ingress of doubt* ful vessels.