The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-06 00:00:00

SPIRIT OP THE PUBLIC JOURNALS,

TniEs.—Although the future looks dark for them,
the Danes have no reason to regret the first events
of the campaign. They have undoubtedly stood
their ground against forces probably much superior
to their own, and have proved, as in the last war,
that in everything but numbers the Scandinavians
are quite a match for the Germans. The Austrians
and Prussians are no doubt both engaged in bring

ing up their forces, for a more general assault of the
Danish line. At present the fighting is for the pos-
session of the town of Schleswig and the road which
runs north-westward from Eckenforde through
Missuude and over the Schlei to Flensburg. Tne
Prussians acting on the right of the allied line have
as yet failed in taking the works at Missunde and
passing the Schlei. Their defeat was the first event
of the war, and in the few days that may intervene
before another attack is made the Danes will pro••
bably still further strengthen their position. During
the last three days the fighting has gone on with
exactly the same result as on the 2d. Hardly any
impression has been made on the Danish line. In an
attack on the 3d an Austrian brigade is said to have
lost 400 men,with many superior officers. The next
day the works near Schleswig were assaulted, but
with as little success. The Austrians appear to be
before Hadeby, a place on the South side of the
Schlei, opposite Schleswig, and their missiles make
their way even into the latter town. But as yet
there is no sign that the Danes will do other than
make a stubborn resistance. If they retreat.
it will be from pressure of vastly superior numbers
and the failure of those natural defences by which
alone so small a force could hope to keep its ground.
The frost has, unhappily for them, set in again,
and it seems likely that there will be a late and,
possibly, a long winter, The waters which make
part of their line of defence are not yet so much
frozen as to permit the passage of the enemy, and,
of course, the Danes will do all they can to break
up the ice. Bat if the hard weather continue it
will be diffl.cuA to derive any real security from the
Schlei or the Treene, and the overwhelming
forces of the enemy may turn their position
and compel them to retreat, as they did 16 years
ego. This in fact was the design of the Prussian
General in his attack on Missunde. In the last
war the Danes fell back from Schleswig to Flens-
burg, and then made good their retreat to the island
of Alsen,where they were able to defy all the efforts
of Germany. Field-Marshal von Wrangel with, no
doubt, a good recollection of past events, was desi-
rous, it seems, to cross at Missunde, on the Danish
left, and thus cut off the main body from their line
of retreat. This manoeuvre has been for the time
defeated; but it will, of course, be tried again, (spe-
cially if the freezing of the Schlei facilitates the
passage for troops. Possibly the Danes, finding
themselves left to struggle alone with the whole
power of Germany, and perceiving that the weather
is unfavourable to the maintenance of their positions,
may think it prudent to retire before the enemy
gains the power to cut off their retreat. But their
present attitude seems rather to indicate that they
will .told out as long as they can in spite of insuffi-
cient forces and frozen rivers. Germany is not re-
conciled to Vienna and Berlin even by the blood-
shed of last week. Restless suspicion, suppressed
anger, and deep mortification at being so uncere-
moniously set aside are the passions in the smaller
States. Baron von Beust, who represents as much
as any man the feelings of the time, declares that a
reconciliation between the majority of the Federal
Diet and Austria and Prussia is impossible so long
as the latter Powers uphold the London Protocol.
Although Holstein is in their possession, and the
AustroPrussians are beating down the oldest defence
of the Danish State, yet Germany refuses to be satis-
fied, The people cannot deny that they are having
their own way; but, according to the old adage, it
is not their own way of having it. They wanted
" occupation," and through the influence of Austria
and Prussia they only got " execution" in Holstein ;
though the difference is but slight in theory, and
has had no effect at all in practice, they are discon-
tented. They wanted to hold Holstein till the Diet
decided who was Duke ; that would be "occupation."
The two leading States compelled the Diet to carry
out" execution" as resolved upon during the late
King's reign, and Germany is inconsolable because
such a course involves a recognition of the present.
King's right. Nor is the dissatisfaction lessened
by the circumstance that the theoretical concession
has in no way prevented the Federal corps from
practically placing the Duchy in the hands of the
Prince of Augustenburg's friends. The effect
these demonstrations is visible in the last answer ol
M. von Bismark to the British Minister at Berlin.
The conflict of the two principles, ambition or sup-
posed patriotism on the one side, and respect for
law or fear of European disturbances on the other.
may be traced in its obscure and complicated sen-
tences. The Prussian politician cannot deny—does
not wish to deny—that his country is bound by the
Treaty, and has actually recognised Christian IX.
as Duke. Such is his opinion, and that of King
William himself, however much the latter may
desire that it had been otherwise. Being asked for
a decided answer on the subject, M. von Bismark
writes that " the Government of the King, by basing
on the stipulations of 1851-2 the rights which in
concert with Austria it is proceeding to enforce,
has by this very act recognised the principle of the
integrity of the Danish Monarchy, as established
by the transactions of 1851-2. The Government of
the King, in proceeding to the occupation of Schles-
wig, does not intend to depart from this principle."
Nothing, of course, can bo more satisfactory than
this. All that England has contended for is in
principle acknowledged without reserve. No won-
der that our Government considers the Note as of
great importance, for it does in the most decided
manner pledge Prussia to resist the assumption of
the Frankfort Diet to sit in judgment on the ques-
tion of succession, and to give away the throne of
the Duchies to whichever of the rival claimants it
thinks proper. It also pledges Prussia to abstain
from aiding the Prince in his revolutionary pro-
ceedings in Holstein, or from recognising the
change of dynasty which has been proclaimed under
the protection of the Federal corps of execution,
If States could be held by diplomatic notes every-
thing might be looked upon as settled. But where
treaties fail, what can he expected from mere
official communications ? M, von Bismark, how-
ever, while accepting cur version of the inter-
national duties of Prussia, does not fail to do
something to conciliate the Germans by speaking
of the complications brought about by " the
persistence of the Danish Government in its
refusal to accomplish the promises of 1852," as
possibly "compelling the King's Government to
renounce combinations which would no longer offer
a result proportionate to the sacrifices which events
might impose on the German Powers." If this
means that in some possible case Prussia may be
led to recognise or carry out changes in the vanish