§ THE EARL OF MALMESBURYI wish to ask the noble Earl the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he has received any explanation from the Prussian authorities with reference to the bombardment of Sönderborg? Every private letter I have seen, and every message, confirm the original reports of what had occurred and even tend to aggravate the atrocity of the act. It is said that the Prussians gave only a general notice, which, in fact, was no notice at all; and that, contrary to the usages of civilized nations, they did not give the twenty-four hours' notice to non-combatants to leave the town. The German papers put forward a statement that there were an arsenal and a place for the manufacture or store of arms at Sönderborg, and that that was the reason of the bombardment. That may have been so; but it is no reason for not giving the usual notice. And further, if it was deemed necessary to destroy the arsenals, at least they need not have destroyed the town and the hospitals, which last were destroyed in the earliest part of the bombardment. The sick and wounded had to be removed in the midst of the bombardment, and many perished in consequence. Such, at least, are the accounts that we have received. And not only this, but the shells which were used were not fire shells, such as are used for the purpose, but shells filled with the most terrible missiles for the destruction of human life. Now, my Lords, though I am opposed to the intervention of useless despatches and superfluous advice, still, in the present instance, I do not know why that course should not have been followed which is 1276 common among the nations of Europe. I think it is the duty of Her Majesty's Government to state in most positive terms what the feeling of this country is respecting the conduct of the Prussian army—feelings which are clearly expressed in the sentiment that, although the Prussian troops may have obtained a great victory in Denmark, no success can wipe out the stain which the Prussian army has inflicted on its military reputation by their conduct at Sönderborg. I wish to ask the noble Earl whether he has received any reply to the despatch which he dispatched to Berlin asking an explanation of what has occurred?
§ EARL RUSSELLIn reply to the noble Earl's Question, I have to state that I desired Her Majesty's Ambassador at Berlin to ascertain the facts if possible. Our Ambassador communicated privately with the Prussian Minister, not being able to go himself. No answer was given to the inquiry. The Prussian Minister said he was not well aware of the circumstances, and that it was not usual for a neutral Power to inquire as to the proceedings of belligerents. He promised, however, that if an official inquiry were made he would give an answer. I suppose the answer would be merely that Her Majesty's Government have no right to inquire in regard to the proceedings of the belligerents, and I have not directed any official communication to be made in the matter. A statement has appeared in the official, or, at least, semiofficial paper of Berlin, to the effect that three weeks before the bombardment some notice of it had been given. I can not be surprised at the expression of opinion by the noble Earl as to the conduct of the Prussian army in this matter. I cannot apply any other terms to the conduct of the Prussian army than those which the noble Earl has applied. It is astonishing that out of mere feelings of humanity they should not have given notice of what they were going to do, in order that the women and children might have been removed from the place before the bombardment began. If it was deemed a necessary operation of war, if the Prussians imagined, as they said, that the reserves of the Danish army were placed there, and that the town contained stores of arms and ammunition, it would not at all have interfered with their carrying out the bombardment, if they had given twenty-four hours' notice stating, that for the future Söuderborg would be 1277 reckoned part of the Danish fortifications, and that they would hold themselves at liberty to bombard it. The bad element of the affair is that the lives of innocent women and children and other non-combatants were sacrificed, through the inexcusable proceedings of the Prussian commander. Had any official explanation been given by the Prussian Government, it should have been laid upon the table; but as the matter stands, this act must remain under the reprobation of civilized Europe.