The Sun.
London, England, 1870-08-08 00:00:00

THE WAR IN EUROPE

The news of the day tends to confirm the belief pre-
viously expressed that the first conflict between the main
armies of France and Germany will be on the frontier
which lies between the Rhine and the Moselle Rivers. On
the west of the latter stream lie Belgium
.and Luxem-
bourg, whose neutrality both combatants are disposed to
respect. The line of the Rhine from Rastadt, near which
the French northern frontier reaches the river, to Swit-
zerland, is so closely guarded and so strongly fortified that
neither army is likely to attempt to force a passage. It
is, therefore, along the frontier between the two rivers
that the armies are concentrating. This line is naturally
less difficult than that of the Rhine frontier, and is
guarded on the Prussian side only by the fortress of Saar-
luis. This morning's despatches indicate that Stras-
bourg is to be the right and Metz the left of the French
line. The German army, accommodating itself to this
line, has established its left at Rastadt, where the
Baden forces were concentrated, w,hile its left
apparently rests on thd Moselle, and Saarluis
being its centre. It is stated that Germany
means to make its defence on the Rhine, from Coblentz
southward ; but as such a disposition of its army would
surrender all Rhenish Prussia without a struggle the
statement cannot well be blieved. On the contrary the
reports of skirmishing along the line of the Moselle to the
Rhine indicate with more certainty the presence of the
Prussians on the southern frontier of their Rhenish
provinces. That the two armies are face to face, and that
a battle cannot long be deferred, is evident. Our corre-
spondents in London and Berlin add materially to our
knowledge of the temper and purpose of the Prussians.
Nothing like the Prussian feeling, says our representative
at Berlin, has been anywhere witnessed since the upris-
ing of the North, at the firing on Sumter. Luckless
Napoleon ! to lend such aid to his enemy at the outset.—
New York Tribune, July 23.

THE GERMANS IN AMERICA ON THE
WAR.
The meetings of Germans throughout America tell the
one stereotyped tale—the marvellous unanimity of the
German race wherever assembled, be it in Berlin or in
New York, Cincinnati or Frankfort, Hamburgh or St.
Louis. What was said at the mass meeting in Steinway
Hall might have been said at a mass meeting in any city
of Germany, except, perhaps, there would be
found a shade more enthusiasm among the Ameri-
can Germans. Ex-Governor Soloman was chosen
chairman, and opened the meeting. The pre-
amble and the resolutions—independently of that for the
organization of a society for furthering the cause of Ger-
many, and nursing wounded Germans, and the support
Of widows and orphans—are as follows :—" Common
sense demands that international relations be governed by
the interests of nations and not by those of princes.
Every nation has the right to determine its own
destiny, and no other people is authorised to cripple it.
If Germany is weary of its internal discords of many
centuries, and if the one nation desires a consolida-
tion under one Government, no right of veto is given
to any power on earth. If France covets the leader.
ship in Europe, Germany is not therefore bound to
do it the favour to remain in weakness. If France
chooses an Emperor, and if the throne of this
Emperor is on a firm foundation but so long as he is the
mightiest of princes, this does not bind the German
people to lay the insignia of their inalienable sovereignty
at the feet of the Gallican Caesar. Not against Prussia,
but against strengthened Germany, his ire is directed.
To Germany he has thrOwn down the gauntlet to mortal
combat. Therefore not Prussia alone, but the entire •
German nation, rises in its full majesty against the auda-
cious man who presumes to trample nations in the dust to
gratify his princely lust. The Germans of America have
become citizens of another country, but they have not
divested themselves of their nationality. The national
cause is their cause. Unanimously they stand by it,
firmly resolved to do all in their power, not incon-
sistent
with their duties as American citizens, to turn
the war which has been commenced by France, without
any cause whatever, to a triumph for Germany. It is
therefore—' Resolved--That humanity and modern civili-
zation demand that the inviolability of private persons
and private property be recognised by belligerent powers
also at sea ; that the exertions of the United States and
of other Powers to embody this principle in the laws of
nations deserve the highest regard, and that, considering
that this principle was first brought to recognition by the
United States in their treaty with Frederick the
Great in the year 1785, was subsequently, after
various other efforts, brought to the attention
of the Powers of Europe by the well - known
amendment proposed by Mr. Marcy to the Treaty
of Paris of 1856, and has thereby obtained in history the
name of the American Amendment;' considering further
that this principle has already heretofore been recognised
by all the great powers of Europe, with the exceptiod of
England, that particularly Napoleon I. and also the pre-
sent Emperor of France, have given their unconditional
adherence to its righteousness, and that the King of .Prussia
has even, in case of reciprocity, elevated it in the year 1866
to a permanent law, we deem this the proper time for the
Government of the United States to use at once all peace-
ful means at their command to secure the adherence also
of France to this principle, and its respects by the belli-
gerents during the present war, and also, as soon as possible,
its recognition by all civilized nations, for all future time,
as a principle of international law." The speeches were
alike marked by eloquence and good sense. Senator Carl
:Schurz reviewed the cause of quarrel, shewing how base-
' less was the pretext. Germany, where factions still
rankled and glowed, was instantly united. The victory
of Prussia would be the fall of despotism—of a system
which made slaves of Europeans, which spread
poverty and ignominy ; but, above all, it
will be the erection of a great kingdom in the
centre of Europe, which will in reality, and not word
only, be peace. For this cause America is with Germany.
A keen instinct teaches the American the fact. He knows
that the balance of power in Europe will soon be a name ;
that in case of need he can rely on German arms.
America has not forgotten German help in the late
struggle ; it was a duty that all should help.
I call on you as German born, and do not
fear that America will mistake or misconstrue such
action, for Germans could not love their new country,
the land of their adoption, if they forgot the old, the land
of their birth. Let us help and act at the same time in
accordance with the laws here. These laws do
not forbid our sympathy nor do they forbid
us to help the sick and the wounded. Let us then be
united and give what we can, and let us daily send to
our brothers over the water the message, ' Fight for
Fatherland.' The Germans of the whole world are with
you." Oswald Ottendorfer, in an elegant speech,
remarked that " a a victory of Prussia over a self-
willed and despotic nation cannot be without in-
fluence on Europe and the United States—for the in-
terests of humanity are equally dear to both—we acknow-
ledge that neutrality is the only course open to the
Government here, and as citizens of the United States
we will do nothing contrary to its laws and usages.
Even then a large field is left us to show
our sympathy with the land of our birth. The
expression of that • sympathy will be a help."
Dr. Von Holst said the reply to Napoleon was not
the hoped-for " Here Guelph—here Ghibelline," but
has been drowned in thunder from the Alps to the
Memel ; yea, from the Atlantic to the remote shores of
the Pacific. He predicted the certain victory of Germany,
and shewed that the Empire was war, not peace; that it
was peace only as long as the word of France was the law
of the world, and the Emperor's will the law of France.
When the Empire ceases to control, then it means war.
A strong and united Germany in the heart of Europe
'is, in itself, the death of such an empire, and it
means peace for Europe, while the other means
war for Europe. The former is the cause of the
world, struggling on the road to genuine liberty—the
other is the cause of medieval barbarism, supported only
by bayonets and cartridges. The final address was
delivered by General Siegel, who remarked that by acts,
and not by talk, will the German Americans be judged,
who could strengthen the cause by contributing money,
not in hundreds, or thousands, but in millions of
dollars, from which subscription list .no single
German should be missing. They must not de-
ceive themselves, for the French are a foe not
to be despised. They are a great nation • but if there are
40,000,000 of Frenchmen, there are 54,000,000 of Germans.
Napoleon has forgotten to count the Germans of South
Germany, of Austria, of the United States. The
American Germans expect for Germany the sym-
pathy of America, in the name, of the services
rendered to the United States ; in the name of
the 200,000 German soldiers who fought for the
preservation of the Union ; in the name of the mediators
of the future close alliance between the American and
German nations. In Newark a German war-club has
been organised, and meetings were held at Cincinnati,
Chicago, and St. Louis, at Buffalo, at Memphis, Brook-
lyn—inileed, all over the Union, and vast sums are being
collected, and all telegraph to the Ministers of King
William their brief but pithy words of sympathy, en-
couragement, and devotion.—Anglo-American Times.

The new Conservative Club will be known as the
St. Stephen's Club. The name of Lord Garlies has been
added to the committee.

BIRTHS.
On the 4th Aug., at 71, Prince's-gate, the wife of Hugh G.
Smith, Esq., of a son.
On the 4th Aug., at 49, Upper Bedford-place, Russell-
square, W.C., Mrs. S. M. Cantor, of a daughter.