LOSS OF LIFE IN THE FRANCOPRUSSIAN WAR.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 113, 15 May 1871, Page 4

LOSS OF LIFE IN THE FRANCOPRUSSIAN WAR.

Few persons* are jaw are of tbe enormous eaciifica of human life in the recent European war. The Philadelphia Telegragh estimates that up to the Ist of January, 11,160 French officers and 333,385 men were held as prisoners of war in Germany. In the twenty-nine battles and sieges previous to the fall of Paris, it is estimated that the Germans captured in all 396,810 officers, and soldiers, not including such as were wounded. Tbe killed and wodrided are set down as follows : — In the battle and retreat from Weissenburg to the Moselle ... 30,000 In the battles around Metz * 25,000 In the siege of Metz '..A ... 15,000 In the battles around Sedan ' 40*000 In the battles around Orleans lOJOOO In the battles around A miens 6,000 In the battles around Belfort 10,000 In the battles around Paris 10,000 In the different sieges 10,000 Total 156,000 Estimating the prisoners at 390,000, not including the nomiual prisoners taken at the capture of Paris, and the killed, at 156,000, we have §46,000 men who make up the sum total of French losses for all purposes of defence. The total estimate places the German losses at 150,000 men. The German prisoners are not enumerated, but they bear no comparison to the number of French prisoners. Adding together the total losses, the result shows 300,000 killed, and we may suppose, without exaggeration, that 200,000 more have died from exposure, accident, and diseases resulting directly from war. Half a million lives have been stricken out of existence during the few brief months since the war commenced; and were it to be continued, the decimation of human life would probably be as frightful for months to come.