The Express.
London, England, 1864-01-09 00:00:00

GERMANY AND DENMARK.

The Times assumes that within a very brief space
of time the possession of Schleswig will be decided
by arms. The Germans, being very superior in
numbers, will desire to push on and take the Danes
before they are able to make good the line of de-
fence between the town of Schleswig and the
Treene, on which the latter now rely for enabling
them to keep the Federal troops from over-
running the country. The Danish army is, how-
ever, active and well disciplined, and "will doubt-
less not be driven from Schleswig without such a
resistance as befits men whose cherished na-
tional rights have been invaded." With a view
of assisting our diplomacy, and for the protection
of British interests, it is not unlikely that the
Channel fleet, which was ordered home a few days
since, may show itself in German waters. " From
the first," says the Times, " our government has
taken a leading part in its efforts to arrange this
vexatious affair amicably, and it is owing to
British counsels that the Danes have abandoned
important positions and sacrificed the greater part
of the country which is the subject of dispute. Nor
can we doubt that the sympathy of the English
people is generally with the Danes in the quarrel
which has been forced upon them, inasmuch
as it is here evident that the revolu-
tionary impulse has come from without,
and is owing to the desire of Germany to
despoil a small state, after haring so long shown
an undignified acquiescence in the domination of
large ones. But, as there is a great difference
between sympathy and interference, we are bound
to weigh well the consequences of any act which
would entangle us in the war which Denmark may
have to wage against the German Powers. To
the prudence of the government, therefore, we
must commit the conduct of affairs at this im-
portant crisis, and we have no doubt that parlia-
ment, shortly to meet, will sanction any step
which Lord Palmerston and the cabinet may feel
bound to take for the sake of preserving peace
and for maintaining the honour and dignity of the
nation."

The Army and Nary Gatette of to-day observes
that, as regards land troops, the Danes are little
more, numerically, than a Macedonian phalanx,
compared with the immense army of the confedera-
tion ; but, as a maritime power, the Danes are
infinitely superior to their aggressors, and could
inflict the most serious damage on the German
northern ports. The Garman feet is a myth.

Is is true that Austria has no despicable fleet in
the Mediterranean, with hend•quarters et Pala ; but,
all things considered, it is not likely that a
single Austrian vaned will leave those blue waters,
overmatched already by the fleet of the Bing of
Italy. According to the latest official data, the
Danish steam fleet consists of 31 'easels, mounting 402
guns. Of thee@ one is a ship of the line, carrying 64 guns ;
the remainder are frigates and oorvettes, of which four are
iron-plated and carry rifled cannon. The sailing fleet in-
clude, two ships of the line and ten other vessels, carrying
a road of 427 guns. If we add to this some 50 gunboats,
we find that Denmark has a fleet at her command of 93
"fuels of war, carrying 92:, tag% The event" of the tart
war pf3t6 that the Dann Ira no mean foes even by lami.
They held their ground in 1348 and 1849, and drove back
the invading airman.

The respective positions of the troops in the
duchies are these: The Saxons and Hanoverians,
amounting together to about 12,000 men, occupy
the frontier of Schleswig ; the Austrians are in the
south west of Holstein, but Ijust within tho
frontiers of the duchy, not far from the Elbe; the
Prussians have not yet entered Holstein ; they
occupy the approaches from Lubeck. The Danes
are concentrated between Schleswig and Fre-
I derichstadt ; they occupy a very strong line of
defence, formed of a range of hills, the flanks of
which are covered by inundated plains. The
Danish army is estimated at nearly 60,000 men,
resolute and well commanded. Their position is
protected by field work., and will be difficult to
force.

(112417. A'S TZLEGRLYS.)
FRANCE.

PARIS, JAN. 9.

MM. Berryer, Gouin, and 011ivier have already
spoken at the debates in the Corps Legialatif upon
the supplementary credits. M. Vuitry will reply
to-day.
The four Italians recently arrested came to Paris
from Italy, and not from England, as was reported.
A telegram has been received here from Con-
stantinople of the Bth, stating that the Porte has
protested against the vote of the Roumanian
Chamber for the secularisation of convent pro-
Perty.
The rumour of the plague prevailing in Persia
was inoorrect.