214 
 
DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
the signal for storming the works was given; in about two hours and a half
all 
the ten forts were taken, and very soon thereafter the "tete de pont,,'
which 
protected the bridge connecting Diippel with the island of Alsen, was also
car 
ried. The Danes destroyed the bridge to prevent the Prussians from crossing

to the island, thus cutting off the retreat of a considerable portion of
the corps 
that had been defending the fortifications. The Danes lost nearly one hundred

officers, and perhaps two thousand prisoners and all of the artillery in
the 
fortifications. 
The Prussians report their loss at two generals, sixty officers, and six
hun- 
dred men killed and wounded. 
The shores of the island of Alsen are lined with Danish batteries whose 
effectiveness depends entirely upon the condition of the troops. My impression

is that they will find themselves too much exhausted to prevent the crossing
and 
further advance of the Prussians, elated as they are with their present victory.

Berlin was very much excited over the result and was illuminated. The people

gathered around the King's palace shouting, cheering, and singing, and his
Majesty 
appeared on the balcony and saluted the people. 
The ministerial papers announce the intention to fully occupy the province
of 
Jutland and to hold it as security for the injury done to German commerce
by 
the Danes. 
The conference assembles on the 25th instant at London, and in the present

excited state of both Danes and Prussians, it seems as though it would be
an 
impossibility to obtain even a cessation of hostilities during the discussion.

The Emperor of France holds the key to all these difficulties; armed to the

teeth, his will is to-day law to all Europe, excepting Russia. What he means

no one seems to understand, but he has sent a personal telegram to the King
of 
Prussia congratulating him on the success of the Prussian troops before Dilpvel.

To-morrow evening the King goes himself to the army in Schleswig to con-

gratulate it and bestow his favors and decorations. 
I am, sir, your obedient servant, 
N. B. JUDD. 
Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, 
Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. 
iMr. Judd to Mr. Seward. 
[Extract.] 
No. 64.]                               UNITED STATES LEGATION, 
Berlin, May 4, 1864. 
SIR: '                     *            *           *           * 
The allied armies now possess all of Jutland, so far as any military forces

occupy the same, the Danes having abandoned the fortifications at Frederica,

which have been occupied by the allies. The Danes have also abandoned all
of 
the mainland of the province of Jutland. 
The work at the London conference goes on very slowly. The representa- 
tive at London can give earlier and more exact information as to the real
position 
of affairs in that conference than I can from this point. 
The proposition for an armistice in the form proposed by England and France

has been rejected by Prussia and Austria. The position of those governments

on the subject of an armistice is as follows: They demand an abandonment
of 
the blockade of the German harbors, the surrender of the prizes captured,
and