standing, " after a couple of days they will lose all
their gaiety, but they will go on just the same."
So it is : there is to me something touching and
grand in the aspect of these Danish regiments as
they move on boldly towards their appointed
place. As they pass their comrades returning
homewards and greet them with a cheer, they
might repeat with truth the saying of the old
Eoman gladiators, the famous " Morituri te salu-
tant." They axe going " into the jaws of death " —
going to be slaughtered helplessly by an unseen
enemy — and yet hitherto no reluctance to advance
has been manifested. Their courage does not
spring from the passive obedience of the Bussian,
or the fatalism of Eastern nations, or the reckless
daring of French soldiers. They go out to die,
much as Englishmen might do, because it is their
duty to obey, without murmuring, but not without
questioning. Amongst the officers the wisdom of
exposing the army to this helpless slaughter
is gravely questioned. On Sunday a council of
wax was held, at which it was determined to hold
Dybbol to the last ; but if this fire should be con-
tinued, no courage in the world can hold out inde-
finitely. Each day the danger of the position



THE SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN WAR. 151

grows greater. Already officers state openly that
the army is being sacrificed to the wilful obstinacy
of the populace at Copenhagen. Much of this talk,
no doubt, simply represents the impatience of the
moment; but it also indicates a feeling which
may ultimately influence the fate of the cam-
paign. The almost universal belief entertained,
or at any rate professed, by military men here,
is that Alsen can be defended after Dybbol is
captured or abandoned. It is a belief I have
never shared ; and my own opinion is that if an
armistice could be obtained by which the Prussians
took Dybbol, while the Danes were allowed to
hold the island, it would be the best prospect
that Denmark could hope for. Before, however,
you receive this letter I fancy that, one way or
other, the question must be decided ; the present
conjuncture of affairs cannot last for many days
longer.
