The Sun.
London, England, 1870-08-11 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSD Ei Y MORNING, AUGUST 11, 1870,

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HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE THIS DAY.
..........54 after 1 I Afternoon

Morning

.....16 after 2

t-7
at ;is
ffe.; nat,

MORNING EDITION.

laboured under the impression that their enemy was
in a more forward state of preparation, and they
accordingly made themselves ready for a raid up the
Moselle valley and a fight under the walls of
Mayence. The weakness of the German army about
Saarbriick up to Friday last proves that an early
advance of the French would have encountered
little opposition, for the first few miles. The
enormous legions of Prince FREDERICK CHARLES
and STEIN➢IETZ awaited the French on the Rhine,
whilst the CROWN PRINCE was sent round by the
south to create a diversion by invading France be-
tween Weissenburg and Strasburg, or by attacking
the French flank. Hence the southern army was in
a forward position when encouraged by the delay of
the French to cross the border at Weissenburg.
Hence, too, it was needful to wait, before pushing
further, until the armies of STEINMETZ and Prince
FREDERICK CHARLES were ready to co-operate. But
for the time required for this advance, the Germans
would never have allowed their adversaries
these invaluable days of rest. It is
contrary to all principles that an army
beaten on the frontier, and retiring but a few
miles from it, should not be followed up, if the
victors are in a position to go forward. The Prus-
sians themselves confessed in the earlier days of the
war that they were comparatively unprepared. This
may be a ruse, but, if so, why was the Moselle left so
bare of troops ?

Obviously the triumphs of the Prussians are greater
than they immediately expected. How, indeed,
could they reasonably count upon getting a great
military power completely within their grasp after
one day's fighting ? They had made every prepara-

tion. An immense army in the finest condition had

been brought to the front The strategy,
or plan of the campaign, appears to have been good;
the tactics, or manoeuvres in battle, are of the highest
order. But the German leaders had reason to
believe that a most formidable foe was in front. An
army of great reputation had been recently re-
organised and increased in numbers. When that
army last fought it was triumphant. Its generals
had all more or less distinguished themselves
in actual combat. Above all, the French
Government had chosen its own time; and ➢I.
ROIIHER cynically told the Senate that war was de-
clared because France had been preparing for four
years, and was at length ready. Surely it was but
ordinary caution on the part of the Germans to
expect serious business under these circumstances.
A defensive policy was the most promising,
because the three armies would in that case be
supported by fortresses, and the French would be
compelled to make their way through a difficult and
hostile country. Indeed the change from the de-
fensive to the offensive was not without danger. We
have. before said that great peril must have
attended the advance of the CROWN PRINCE, had
the EMPEROR handled his troops in such a manner
as to have a competent force disposable at any
required point, The observation applies with
greater force now that we learn how
far back lay the armies of Prince
FREDERICK CHARLES and STEINMETZ. Had
NAPOLEON 111. struck at the CROWN PRINCE as his

uncle or MOREAU would have struck, the cam-
paign might have begun in favour of France,
and the crowds who now call for the downfall of their
sovereign might have joined in his apotheosis. It is
now too late,

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

ful, but the particular document in question is with-
out parallel in the annals of intrigue. If the
infamous treaty was ever seriously discussed, neither
of the contracting Powers would be entitled to much
sympathy in its present troubles. It is quite impos-
sible to offer any excuse or justification for it.
The Trilntne says there are some points in this case
which deserve particular attention. The treaty
would have secured enormous advantages for France
and none at all for Prussia. Napoleon would have
added to his dominions one entire kingdom, the half
of another, and certain valuable provinces of a third.
The publication of the treaty must be regarded as a
dreadful blow and humiliation for France. It will
teach all Europe to look upon her as a common
enemy, and shew that Germany can afford to snub
her. Prussia has resolved to pursue her own course,
and if Napoleon be defeated what will become of
him ?

among the shareholders, and a large proportion of
them have forfeited all rights from being =able to
pay the calls.

THE PUBLIC HEALTH.

The end of July and. the beginning of August are
always in England a time in which deaths from
English cholera and diarrhoea are numerous. During
the week ending July 9th the deaths in England from
this cause were 364, whereas in the week ending on
Saturday last no less than 1,005 had been reported.
The Registrar General states that the rate of mor-
tality from choleraic attacks is largely increased by
the disease not being taken in time. In its
first stages an effort to make the complaint amenable
to medical treatment will almost certainly result in
the patient's cure, especially if the person attacked
has passed the age of childhood. The town in
which the epedemic has been most fatal in the past
week is Sheffield. Sunderland is the tuwn in which it
has appeared least. The general rate of mortality has
been highest in Liverpool, where the deaths were 40
an every one thousand of the population. It is a
curious fact that since the troops left Paris the
ravages of small-pox have been far less severe. The
reported deaths from this disease last week were
only 151, as compared with a weekly average of
213 during the preceding 12 weeks. The healthiest,
city in the United Kingdom, to judge from the re-
turns, is Dublin, where 18 deaths in each one thousand
persons took place last week. This fact may pro-
bably prove an additional inducement for tourists to
visit Ireland at this season.