THE WAR IN EUROPE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 16, Issue 823, 19 September 1870, Page 3

THE WAR IN EUROPE.

What Led'to the War. [FEOM THE 'ARGUS' CORRESPONDENT.] Paris, July 15. We, and with us the whole of Europe, are about to undergo a shock the result of which no tongue can foretell, and whose consequences are beyond the power of human calculation. Perhaps while I write these,lines war is officially declared between Franoe and Prussia. I might say, it is declared already ; the needful orders are given, armies and fleets are in motion, and on each side of the Ehine 300,000 men are facing one another, armed as never armies have been, ready and eager to hu tie one against another in one dreadful and all-destructive onslaught. How this crisis arose, which, in a few weeks, not to say days — quotes rapiunt scelevata inprcelia causes ? —has unhinged the minda of na lions, and changed the face of the continent, I will endeavour to set before you in a brief but true account, relating day by day the events as they occurred. You will perhaps, recollect, if you have still present in your memory the passage of my last letter relating to the various candidateBhipa for the throne of Spain, that Marshal Prim, in the Cortes on the 11th June, after recounting his fruitless Odyssey in quest of a king, alluded to another candidate, and obscurely hinted that he had great hopes of his acceptance. This declaration had passed almost unnoticed. Nobody had inquired or seemed to care who this mysterious personage might be who, at the appointed hour was to appear in obedience to the magic call of Prim, and like a Deus ex machina, put an end to the imbroglio of Spanish affairs ; when all of a sudden, on the 4th of July, some most sensational intelligence, brought on the wings of the telegraph, came to astound all in Paris. The tidings were that a deputation had just set out for Madrid on a visit to Prince Leopold de Hohenzollern-Zig maringen, to whom the crown of Spain had been offered, and by whom it had been accepted. This was a candidate held in reserve by Prim, whom nobody had thought of, whose name had been unmenrioned by anybody, but whose name I had, however, written to you at full length in my letter of the ISth June, informed as I had been of it by my own correspondents. I am personally acquainted with Prince Leopold, and have been, on account of certaii. events in another country, in direct communication with his father and sundry member of his family. When I wrote to you concerning the enthronement of Prince Charles of Eoumania, 1 explained the situation and alliances of this family. They belong to the elder branch of the Hohenzollerns, the younger branch of which house now occupies the throne of Prussia, and are allied by marriage with the greater part of the reigning families of Europe; more especially so with the Imperial family of Trance, through the Murats and the Beauharnais. Prince Leopold, who is wedded to a sister of the King of Portugal, is the elder brother of Prince Charles of Eoumania, and has a sister married to the Count of Flanders, brother to the King of Belgium. But with all these connections he is nevertheless and above all a Prussian prince, a member of the ftoyal Family of Prussia, and a colonel in the Prussian army. This it was which so deeply stiired the public opinion in France, which saw in this candidate, so suddenly and mjsteri ously evoked, some hidden and underhand connivance between Madrid and Berlin, fraught with peril and threatening to France. And, in good 6ootb, the first intelligence did not- reach the public ear

through the usual official channel, but through a private medium. Prince Leo« pold, after writing his acceptation of the proffeied crown, communicated the docu ment to his aunt, u princess of Baden, who telegraphed the intelligence to the Princess Margaret, the wife of Don Carlos, at that moment at Vevey, in Switzerland ; this Princess sent the tidings to a legitimist paper of Paris, the ffazelte de France, by which it was published in the number of the 4th July, and only in the evening of that day, when the Paris telegraph informed Marshal Prim that his secret. was di vulged, did he make an official announcement of his intentions to our unsuspecting ambassador. The sensation produced in Paris by the disclosure of these secret goings on grew stronger every moment, and a deputy gave warning (on the sth of his intention to put a question thereupon to the Government the very next day. On the 6th, the Due de Grammont,our Minister of Foreign Affairs, stood up and read aloud the following declaration, which I translate literally from the Journal Officiel: —" I rise to reply to the question put to the Government yesterday by the honorable M. Oochery. It is true that Marshal Prim has offered to Prince Leopold de Hohenzollern the crown of Spain, and that the Prince has accepted it. But the Spanish nation has not hitherto expressed its consent, nor are we acquainted with the true particulars of this negotiation, which has been kept a secret from us. A debate at the present moment can therefore lead to no practical end, and we beg you to adjourn it. We have never ceased to show our sympathy to the Spanish nation, and have carefully avoided whatever might savour of an undue interference with the domestic affairs of a great and noble nation invested with the full exercise of its sovereignty; with regard to the various pretenders to the throne, we have never swerved from the strictest neutrality, taking good heed not to evince for any one of them either preference or antagonism. This line of conduct we shall steadily pursue, but we do not think that our respect for the rights of a neighbouring nation obliges us to allow a foreign power, by seating one of his princes on the throne of Charles V., to overthrow to our prejudice the present equilibrium of Europe (loud cheering), and thus imperil the interests and honor of France. (Loud and continued cheering.) This contingency, we firmly hope, will never be realised, and to preclude such an event we rely both on the wisdom of the German nation and on the friendship of the people of Spain. Were it otherwise, full of reliance on your support, gentleman, and on that of the whole nation, we shall boldly and unhesitatingly do our duty. (General sensation and re peated cheers.) " There was no mistaking this language, nor did the public misinterpret it in the least; the declaration was a most solemn one. Not only was Spain alluded to, but Prussia herself was called to the bar of France, and summoned to give a speedy and categorical explanation of her behaviour, or else war was at hand. I do not pretend to pronounce a judgment either on the tenor or tone of this declaration, nor inquire whether it was made at 8 timely moment, and whether the contingency whose realisation was said to be feared did not become thereby more imminent. I merely state the immense echo which was given to it throughout France, who immediately, and as if moved by an electric shock, was up and in arms. I am no admirer of war; I look upon it as monstrous and hateful, more especially in the conditions now brought about by the new inventions, which make the poor soldier more and more, in the energetic language of the people, " food for powder." I was present the other day at a trial made of one of these destructive engines, the invention of which is ascribed to the Em peror himself, and which are called mitrailleuses (grape shot shooters). In a large space of ground set apart for reviews, near Versailles, had been assembled some 500 horses, broken down, worn out by age, in a word, just ready for the knackers ; two of these mitrailleuses, and only two, were brought up; the signal was given, and within 45 seconds the mangled bodies of 300 horses lay strewn upon the ground, horrible to see! What, then, will it be when the mark shot at will be the breasts of men —young aud strong and full of life; and that on both sides, for the Prussians have also their mitrailleuses! The dead will be numbered by hundreds of thousands —a million of familus will mourn their lost ones, and only the vultures will be satisfied. This is whac I have been saying to myself for several days with a feeling of deep anguish; yet I cannot help being struck with the enthusiasm for war which I see all around me, and the influence of which is more or less felt by every one. The instinct of the mass is stronger than all the reasoning of the philosophers. M. de Grammont's declaration was, thanks to the telegraph, known the same day at Madrid and at Ems, where the King of Prussia then was. The next day the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs addressed a circular to all the diplomatic agents of Spain abroad, setting down the motives which had induced Marshal Prim to offer the Crown to Prince Leopold. M. Sagasta affirmed that the Government of Eegent had negotiated with Prince Leo. personally, thus seeming to deny any participation of Prussia in the matter, which was inexact—that "his Government had deemed it contrary to his honor to submit to the influence of any foreign Cabinet whatever." He added that tiie Prince selected " was of age, and his own master," which also was inexact, as we shall presently see, since he was dependent both on the King of Prussia, as the head of the family, and upon bis own father, as chief of the elder branch; and

that tho relationship of the Prince with most of the reigning sovereigns of Europe precluded all ideas of hostility to any one of them." The note refuted in this way the ideas of M. de Grammont, but made no direct allusion to his speech of the day before. But the hitch was not there; it was in Prussia. A courier had been sent to M. Benedetti, our ambassador at Berlin, with instructions from our court to repair immediately to Bras, and to enter into negotiation with King William himself, with a view to obtain the withdrawal of Prince Leophold's candidateship, and thus do away with all further complication. At the same time the Prussian ambassador, Baron de Werther, set out for the same destination. The answers .of Prussia —so far at least as we are able to judge from the despatches published up to the present time —were evasive, and of a nature to prolong the debate. It is not likely that the King wished for war, or that he would have engaged in the affair, had he thought he should arouse to such a pitch the susceptibility of the French nation, but it was now incumbent on him to find some means to get honorably out of it, or to gain time to make ready for war, should war become There seemed to be an easy and convenient way of settling the dispute, the voluntary desistence of Prince Leopold himself. Prince Antony, of Hohenzollern, father to Prince Leopold, was summoned to Ems, where on the 11th inst., a family council was held. What was said or done in this council we know not. But so it was that the next day Prince Antony announced by a telegram to Marshall Prim, at Madrid, and to M. Olozaga, the Spanish Ambassador at Paris, that he renounced for his son the crown of Spain. As there exists a particular rule which forbids each and every member of the Hohenzollern Sigmaringen branch to take any important engagement without being authorized thereto by the head of the family, this renunciation made by the father in his son's name, was as serious and as true to law as would have been a renunciation made by Prince Leopold himself, who, during ail this time, was quietly drinking the waters in a small German watering place, and does not appear even to have had the slightest share held in the fa a ily council held at Ems. The tidings reached Paris about noou, and were announced undisguisedly in the lobby of the Legislative Assembly by the Prime Minister, producing a considerable rise in the funds. Peace seemed certain, and next morning the Constitutionel sang loud pseans in honor of this triumph of the French policy. In the meantime no official communication had yet been made to Parliament, nor to the country at large ; and everyone expected that M. de Grammont would on the morrow make a declaration of some sort or other; and so indeed he did to the following effect:—" The information I am able to give to the Assembly concerning the affair Hohenzollern is as follows: — Yesterday the Ambassadore of Spain signified to.us Prince Leopold Von Hohenzoi lern's renunciation of the crown of Spain —(sensation). The negotiations we are carrying on with Pausaia, aud which have no other end in view, are not yet concluded. It is therefore impossible forustosp.ak of them, nor oau we at present lay before the Assembly and the country at large an account of the whole affair. Nothing was concluded. The incident Hohenzuiiern was ended, Spain completely disengaged, but Prussia still remained, and negotiations still be carried on. What negotiations, aud wherefore? Listen! It would appear that the last " official" declarations made by tho King of Prussia to M. Bene j detti, that the monarch had really given to Prince Leopold the authorisation solicited by him to become a suitor for the throne of Spain, but that that authorization he had given in his quality of feudal chief of the House of Hohenzollern, and not in his quality of King of Prussia : that his Government had been a stranger to the whole affair; that he had been far from ascribing to it the gravity and importance which the sensation it had created in France tended to attach to it throughout Europe; that he had not the slightest wish to make of this candidature a cause of war between the two powers j that, besides the candidate having now been withdrawn, the consent by him naturally disappeared with it, and ought consequautly to be considered as null and void, i'his answer was not looked upon as satiafactory by the French Government, who would fain have obtained from the King of Prussia a pledge never to renew his authorization should Prince Leopold at any time wish to call back his renounoement. Additional instructions have been sent to our ambassador to that effect, with orders to require an immediate reply j and according to the latest intelligence M. Benedetti has twice requested an audience with the King, and has been refused, the King having iuformed him through one oi his aides-de-camp that he had nothing more to say to him. Should this be true, and we suall be completely edified thereupon so soon as M. Benedetti's written despatch is in our hands, we are safe lor war. The despatca must have arrived this morning, and the declaration ol war is expected to be read both to the Senate aud the Legislative As-eiubly to-day. This evening and to-morrow morning I shall forward to you the latest intelligence. July 15, Evening. The die is cast, and war declared. Today the Senate met, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs read aloud a declaration, the official copy of which I enclose in the original French, time being wanting to give you a complete translation. It narrates with great perepicuity and precision the different stages of the affair since its

origin. This summary'account is in almost every respect similar to that I have given you in the early part of this letter. It tends, as you will observe, to throw | upon the King of Prussia himself the responsibility of the rupture. I transcribe the last paragraphs of the declaration : " I requested the King," wrote M, Beneditti on the 13th July, at midnight, "to allow me to inform you in his name that if the Prince of Hohenzollern should resume his design, His Majesty would interpose his authority and forbid it. The King positively declined allowing me to make such a delaration. 1 strongly insisted, but was unable to modify the dispositions of his Majesty. The King put an end to our interview by saying that he neither could nor would make such an engagement, and that be was bound, with respect to this contingency, as to all others, to regulate his conduct by circumstances Our surprise was great on hearing yesterday that the King of Prussia had given notice by an aide decamp to our ambassador that he should not receive him any more; and that, in order to give an un equivocal character to his refusal, his Government had notified it ofilcially to the different oourts of Europe. [Prolonged murmurs] Under such oircu instances, to seek further to conciliate matters would have been forgetfulness of our own dignity and shore imprudence. We, therefore, yesterday called in our reserves, and, with your assistance, we are vabout to take the necessary steps to safeguard the interest, the security, and the honor of France." This declaration was received by loud and continued cheering, while enthusiastic shouts, of ♦' Vive la France!" " Vive i'Ernpereur!" were uttered by the senators themselves and by the visitors in the galleries. The President then rose. " Gentlemen Senators," he said, "we have uow only, through the help of God and our own courage, confidently to look forward to the success of our cause." At the same hour the Prime Minister, M. Ollivier, read to the Legislative Assembly a similar declaration, which he terminated by requesting, in the name of the Minister of War, an urgent vote of supplies both of men and money. The vote was immediately taken by sitting and standing. The whole As sembly, with the exception of the Left, rose with enthusiastic shouts of " Vive la France! Vive l'Empereur 1" I here pause in my chronicle. What boots it here to speak to you of the theatres aud fashions, of the town and the court, or even of the abdication of the Queen of Spain, a refugee in Paris, in favor of her son Alfonso X 11.,; or of the petition of the Prince of Orleans, unavailingly soliciting from the Legislative Assembly the abrogation of the laws which, in 1848 and 1849, have condemned thair family to exile ; or even of the G2cumeni cal Council, which vote J the day before; yesterday the infallibilty of tho Pope, with 450 votes for, 88 against, and 62 conditional votes. In presence of the immense struggle just begun all other questions fade into significance. I July 16, 9 o'clock. : A stormy debate arose last night in the! Legislative Assembly after the declaration! of the Minister, M. Thiers and several deputies having called for the production of the documents which, according to the Government, rendered war a necessity, and more especially the last despatches attesting that an insult had been deliberately offered to our ambassador. The House passed on to the previous qu stion by 83 against 164. Then were voted unanimously (save one dissentient voice) a credit of 50 millions of francs for the war department, and 15 millions for the navy. Hostilities are expected to begin in two or three days. The Emperor takes the command of the army, and sets out, it is said, to-morrow. Latest Intelligence. [from the 'news or the world.'] London, August 8. (Cable despatch to the New York Tribune.) Our special correspondent writes from Mayence, Thursday :—"This evening came a despatch from Weissenburg announcing the Prussian victory and occupation of Weissenburg. I have obtained the following additional details: The King, on his arrival at Mayence, called a council of war, and urged that the sooner the present inaction ceased the better, and pressed an advance His opinion was adopted, and orders telegraphed to attack the outposts in the neighborhood of Landau and Weissenburg. A Prussian force, composed of two line regiments, one regiment of Bavarian troops, and some artillery, altogether about 9000 strong, drove the Prench before them to Weissenburg. The artillery was then brought and opened on the fortifications of the town. The town soon caught fire ; seeing this, aud some confusion among the French troops, the Prussians could no longer be restrained by their officers, who were anxious to reduce the town by cannonading. The soldiers rushed forward with bayonets to surprise the French, who, not expecting any attack for hours to come, were barricading and entrenching. The Prusaians lost heavily, but took eight hundred prisoners and the town. The greatest enthusiasm prevails here, and there is an immense crowd about the Palace waiting to cheer the King. I personally know the French storieß of 25,000 Prussians at Saarbrucken to be false.

French despatohes to-day report that actual hostilities are momentarily suspended, but a rumor prevails that the Prussian armies are concentrated, and thai a battle ia laving before Metz. The Pall Mali Gazette says the result of the battle means the triumph of the Prussians in the war,

The Pall Mall Gazette has learned from private parties in Paria that the Empire is; on the verge of collapse. The Germans are expected in Paris. Even if they are arrested the Empire is dead; the Parisians are receiving arms, and they are Republicans at heart. The establishment ofa Provisions] Government is already talked of. The Orleanists, through Generals Changarnier and Trochu, are in the ascendant, and eminent Imperialists ar» leaving Paria and France. Berlin, August 7. The French Emperor has withdrawn his entire force and ia concentrating his troops for the defence of Paris. His losses have been enormous. The Prussian's overtook the retreating French forces early on Saturday morning, west of Saarhruck, near Speeohen Hill. General Kamos commanded the forces, supported by Generals Barnekow and Stulpnagel. General Wemigerode ultimately assumed the command. The action was severe, A position at which the French endeavored to make a stand during the retreat, was carried by the Prussians at the point of the bayonet. The battle is known as that of the Hagenan. King William sends the following deepatch to the Queen: —" Good news. A threat victory has been won by our Fritz. God be praised for His meicy. We have captured four thousand prisoners, thirty guns, two standards, and six mitrailleuses* McMahon, during the fight, was heavily reinforced from his main army. The contest was very severe, and lasted from eleven in the morning till nine at night, when the French retreated, leaving the field to us. Our losses are heavy."

It is certain that England will take action to defend Belgium. The Times say* that Gladstone's speech at the Mansion House, on Saturday evening, proves that he recommends war, and is ready to meet it.

It is reported that ex-confederate Generals Lee and Beauregard offered their services to France, but were declined by General Leboeuf.

The Morning Standard, referring to the ' Alabama' question, hopes in the present war England's neutrality will be less ambiguous. England is freely exporting horses to Germany, when they are immediately forwarded to the seat of war. A movement is on foot in Liverpool to organize measures for the defence of the port.

Three members of the British Parlia« ment,—Sir 0. W. Dilke,—Mr Winter, bottom, —and Mr Egerton Heroert—have left London for the Prussian army. A mass meeting of Germans at Louisville, U.S., pledged the sympathy of forty thousand Germans in that State to Prussia in the struggle with usurping France. A committee was appointed to solicit subscriptions to aid tiie Prussian cause. Over three thousand dollars were subscribed on the spot. The New York Sun has engaged Mr W. fl. .Russell, of London, as special war correspondent.

It is reported from Borne that the Pop* openly favors Prussia. la the House of Commons, ou August 1, the debate ou the war question brought out a large crowd of persons who filled the galleries and other places. The feeling of the House was again strongly marked in favor of an energetic policy. When Card* well, Secretary of War, proposed a vote for two hundred thousand additional troops, and two millions sterling, he waa warmly cheered. So was Gladstone when he told StapJeton if colliers were chartered to attend a fleet of belligerents to supply coal, they will, to all practical intents and purposes become store ships attached to that fleet, and will be under the operation of the Foreign Enlistment Act.

The committee of Germans in London have already received subscriptions to the amount ot £25,000 for the wounded.