The German Government has not as yet published any estimate
of its actual losses, though it has given lists of officers killed ; but the Berlin correspondents estimate them at about 50,000 men for the battles alone, that is, not counting sick. The King is almost apologetic about them, and a deep and sad gravity has settled down on Germany. There is grave reason to believe that this estimate is far within the truth, and that at least 75,000 Germans have been placed hors de combat. The French loss is probably not so great, they having at Worth, Forbad], and Metz having had great advantages of position ; but it is to be noted that while the French have no prisoners, the Prussians have taken so many, 25,000 in all, as to burden their fortresses. The differ- ence is explained on both sides partly by the way in which French cavalry charge the needle-gun, and are captured when dis- mounted, but mainly by the French foible of wasting cartridges. Of course, a regiment without cartridges could be captured en masse,—and this, in one instance at least, has happened.
