THE ABDICATION OF PRINCE CHARLES OF ROUMANIA.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 809, 6 May 1871, Page 2

THE ABDICATION OF PRINCE CHARLES OF ROUMANIA.

The following extract from a letter, dated February 11th, of the special correspondent of the " Daily News " at Constantinople, throws some light on the above event: —" I pointed out in a former letter that the Prince's appeal to the powers for a modification of the constitution would so embroil him with all parties that his position at Bucharest would be scarcely tenable ; and so the event has proved. The fact is simply that the Prince has fulfilled the purpose which called him to Bucharest. A foreign Prince was needed at that time by the Grhika party—which was not strong enough to place John G-hika on the throne of Couza deposed—in order to defeat the machinations of .other native aspirants to the Hospodariat. This able but scheming statesman now thinks he cau do without the Prince ; and, as every political section merely looks upon him as keeping the place warm for its own man, the chance of shouldering him out of the Principality presents but little difficulty to one so fertile in intrigue as the present Prime Minister. That he will have to go, therefore, may be looked upon as certain, notwithstanding the counsels of Prussia and Austria, which will avail little against the cogent efforts of the Eoumanian "Warwick."

GERMAN DEVASTATIONS. The Times correspondent at Versailles says : " Early on the 26th the town of St. Cloud was set on fire by the Germans. The palace was ruthlessly destroyed by Valerien. The town is now laid in ashes to prevent the houses affording cover to the French should they be minded to make another sortie on the Montretout position. It has long since been deserted except by the outposts and a few wretched people; but it was five months ago a busy suburb of 6000 inhabitants, with chateaux perched on the slopes around and great bustle of life in its narrow streets. In one house, hid in a cellar, the soldiers found a girl of eighteen, who had fled there to perish in the flames sooner than leave her home. She was saved. . . . . When I went out the other day to St Denis, and witnessed the havoc at Franconville, Ermont, Sannois St Gratien, Eaubonne, Eughien, and the lovely slopes of Montmorency, I felt that if making war as destructive as it can be to the enemy in the field and out of it, converting neutrals living in the land and non-combatant natives into bitter, if not potent, enemies for ever, be the true art of war, the Germans are masters in the art. Every house not needed by the troops is wrecked more or less, and rather more than less —even the window frames and staircases torn up and used as fuel. This war has been very fitful iu its character. Some towns have been spared, and some have ceased to exist. Even in Versailles, on tho 19th, under the eyes, as it were, of the King and Crown Prince, many houses were broken into and wrecked. The reinforcements of Bavarians, Guard, Landwehr, <fec, inarched into the city were left without shelter or billets in the open street, and it was cold and raw. Tl e men were told to find quarters for themselves, and this they did by the summary process of forcing tho doors

of unoccupied houses. AVhy they wantonly destroyed what they found in tho places where they had been sheltered is more than lean understand. Tho Duke would have come down on his men very heavily in the old Spanish days for such conduct. But then « Kertch I* "When the war is over there will be a great flood of bitterness let loose. I confess I de. spair of any permanent olive tree coming out of a soil watered with so much blood and tears. The land will be a very Marah. The Germans, well knowing this, will seek to render the rage against them impotent. The fortresses in their hands, and fortifications of towns, will probably be blown up, unless specially saved by stipulation, and the new frontier acquired by force of arms will be guarded by an extension of the great system of works which novt watch the Rhine. The fact is that the Germans regard the French almost as the British public looked ou the ' niggers' of India in 1857-58."