The Sun.
London, England, 1867-08-27 00:00:00

THE AUSTRO-FRENCH ALLIANCE.

Naval and Military Intelligence.

'he preparations for the Abyssinian campaign
are now fairly begun. Yesterday the departments
in. Woolwich Arsenal received instructions from the
War Department to occupy themselves in the
arrangements for furnishing the expedition, which
is to be despatched from India with the slightest
possible delay. The members of the Ordnance Select
Committee continued their investigation of the pack-
saddles- and mountain transport, already referred to
in I he Sun, and urged the necessity of carrying out
the proposal of Capt. Fenn with all reasonable haste.
A number of mules and bat animals, it is stated, are
to be purchased at Malta and Gozo for the mountain
service. A large amount of stores of every con-
ceivable kind necessary for the campaign, to be de-
?patched in transit to Malta, will shortly be in
readine3s for iliptiient at Woolwich, including 7-
pounder rifled guns, with complete equipment and
stores, the efficiency and abundance of which the I
country has reason to be well satisfied with. Col.
Campbell, superintending the Royal gun factories
at Woolwich, has, moreover, been instructed to pre-
pare two additional batteries of steel guns as ad-
juncts to the brass batteries in course of prepara-
tion on the approved system alluded to. The new
batteries will fire the same species of projectiles—
namely, a 71b. shot. The weight of each gun will
not exceed 1501 b. Twelve carriages, also of steel,
for their equipment, are to be made in the Royal
Carriage Department at Woolwich, under the direc-
tion of Col. Clerk ; the weight of each carriage
without wheels to be less than lcwt., and they will
thus be available for transport in the most rugged
and difficult passes of the enemy's country. Capt.
Gordon, superintendent of the Military Stores, was
on Sunday in consultation with Sir John Faking-
ton and the various officials of the War Depart-
ment in Pall-mall, and was instructed to urge the
matter forward without delay. The manufacture
of the new batteries will occupy about six weeks,
and it is a matter of doubt if their a3sistance will
then be required. Col. Boxer, commanding the
department of the Royal Laboratory, has given
direction for the issue of case shot and a thorough

supply of stores for their use when ready. The
expedition will be under the chief command of
Major-Gen. Napier and Brigadier-Gen. Staveley.
A rumour was current yesterday at the Military
Train Camp at Woolwich that the 17th troop, Capt.
Corbett, 18th, Capt. Baby, the 19th, Capt. M'Neil,
and the 20th, Capt. Bruce, are to be held in readi-
ness for departure ; but as the whale of the troops
will be supplied from India it is probable that the
Military Train will be held in reserve only to com-
pose a relief for India. The officers under orders to
accompany the troops are as follows :—Major
Buller, in command ; Surg. M'Arthur, Lieut.
Warner, Lieut. Warren, Ensigns Andross, Stow,
and Newbury.
The whole of the officers and sappers and miners
of the Royal Engineers employed in the fieldwork
depot at head-quarters, Chatham, have been en-
gaged for several weeks past in the formation of
parallels, magazines, and stockades, and in the erec-
tion of batteries and other fieldworks preparatory to
some siege operations on an unusually extensive
scale, which are fixed to take place on Monday next,
on which occasion there will be a review of the en-
tire force of the garrison. In addition to the regular
troops it is intended that a large body of Volunteer
corps shall take part in the operations, which, from
the arrangements in progress, promise to be carried
out on a scale of great magnitude. For some
months past the whole extent of the lower lines at
Chatham has been in possession of the Royal Engi-
neers, who have covered every portion of the ground
at their disposal with trenches, batteries, saps, ma-
gazines, and other works which are carried down to
the Medway, several hundred men, under the super-
vision of a numerous body of officers, having been
daily employed in the fieldworks ever since the wea-
ther would permit. The siege operations will be per-
sonally directed by Sir John F. Burgoyne, G.C.8.,
Inspector-General of Royal Engineers.
The depot of th 122 d Regiment, now stationed
at Chatham, is shortly expected to proceed from
that garrison to Newcastle, the route for the dej'ar-
tun; of the regiment being daily expected at Chatham
from the Horse Guards.
The Channel squadron, comprising the ironclad
screw steamships Minotaur, flagship of Rear-Adini-
ral Frederick Warden, Capt. James Goodenough ;
Bellerophon, Capt. Edward Tatham ; Achilles, Capt.
Edward. Vansittart ; and Lord Clyde, Captain
Roderick Dew, C. 8., arrived in Portland harbour
on Saturday from the westward. The flJet are
under orders to remain at the Portland rendezvous
until the Lords of the Admiralty make their annual
official inspection of her Majesty's ship stationed in
Portland harbour, as well as the progress of the
works connected with the fortifications in course of
construction on the Verne heights, the breakwater,
&c. Their Lordships are expected to arrive at
Portland on Wednesday or Thursday next.
The ironclad screw corvette Pallas, Capt. M.
Connolly, joined the Channel squadron on Sunday
at Portland.
The unarmoured screw steamer Trafalgar, 72,
2,901 tons, 500-horse power (nominal), late the
flagship of the Coastguard at Queen's Ferry, is
ordered to be brought forward for the first division
of the Steam Reserve in the Medway, in readiness
for being recommissioned. It is stated at Chatham
that she is intended for service in one of the ports
of Ireland.

The screw steam frigate Liverpool, 35, was
placed, on Saturday, in No. 1 dock at Keyham.
The screw steam frigate Phcebe, 35, Capt. John
Bythesea, will probably leave Plymouth for Halifax
on Saturday next. _

Iler Majesty's double-screw gunboat Plover, under
a series of experimental trials, has again returned
to Woolwich, and was yesterday docked to shift her
two-bladed screw, to be replaced with a three-
bladed one, in readiness for another trial of speed.
The trial just completed was to test the increase of
speed caused by the fan having been reefed 2 feet
forward, and which gave an additional speed of
about one-tenth of her former trial. The increased
speed was registered at 10.792 full speed and 9.486
half power ; and with the port engine stopped the
speed was 8.264 knots per hour, which was very
favourable. The Plover was commanded by Corn.
Dillon, of the Steam Reserve at Woolwich, and
Mr. Steel and Mr. Crossland were in attendance
from the Admiralty and the Controller's Depart-
ments. She will be shortly commissioned, and is
pronounced especially suitable for China, the River
Plate, or any shallow water service. This will be
her first commission.

Lieut. and Adjt. John Straghan, Royal Marine
Liht Infantry, is appointed to be Second Captain
at` the Woolwich Division, vice Capt. Wilson, re-
tired full pay.

Lent. T. A. Le Breton is raised to increased pay,
vice Straghan.

The following appointment has been male in the
Royal Naval Reserve :—C. Douglas, to be sub-lieut.
The following appointments were made yester-
day at the Admiralty :—Staff Commander B. B.
Stuart, Staff Com!nander W. G. Aldrich, and Staff
Commander J. Symons, to the Fisgard ; Lieut. C.
B. Payne, to the Nelson ; Lieut. G. 'l'. Morrell, to
the Fisgard, additional, for temporary service as
Transport Officer at Deptford ; Lieut. Duke D.
Yonne, 147 eat. C. J. Wise, Lieut. Spencer M. Med-
ley, Lieut. W. F. 800 ;hey, Lieut. E. L. Green,
and Lieut. F. W. Lewis, to the Fisgard, additional,
for tempor try service in transports; Navigating
Lieu's. J. E. S.mlatnor.3 an.l J. F. Aylcn, to the
Fisgard ; Sab-L'cut. C. E. S..ewart tie Jascur ;
J. I). Gilpin, Paymaster, to the Indus; E. Jag°,
paymaster, to, the Nelson ; G. R. Johnson, assist.-
paymaster in charge, to the Oberon; and F. Ily nd-
man, assist:-paymaster, to the Victory.

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The Neue Fremden Blatt, a semi-official organ of
the Chancellor of the Empire, Baron Von Beust,
publishes the following remarkable leader :
We think that there is no need of a Russo-Prus-
sian alliance to incite an accord between France
and Austria. The cause of that accord is of a date

more recent; it dates from the treaty of Prague,
which, it is true, is a mere convention concluded
between Austria and Prussia, but the tenor of
which is of an importance eminently European.

The peace of Prague has created in the very
centre of Europe a power unknown there since the
great Emperors of Germany. It is true that, till
now, it has been contended that a great and
powerful State in the middle of Europe:was neeer,
sary to maintain peace on the Continent ; but, in
that case, it would be desirable that such a State
should be animated with pacific ideas. Such event
would have occurred had Germany succeeded in
recovering her ancient grandeur; for Germany is an
empire of civilization and progress—an empire of
peace. Instead of a united Germany, there rose a
great and powerful Prussia, which has thus be-
come a new danger for the peace of Europe. It
is a fact that the Hohenzollerns must be logically
_ _

aggressive, because a pause from Prussia would
amount to a backward step. After Frederick the
Great, that pause brought on Jena; the pause of the
Holy Alliance brought on Olmutz. Prussia must

be active ; in other words, she must aim at con-
quests and never cease to disquiet Europe. Un-
fortunately, close to her are numerous morsels,
such as to excite her appetite. Germany is at
the present time under the yoke of Prussia ; mili-
tarily speaking, Prussia is a great power. It is of

paramount necessity to circumscribe that power,
and the end must be reached by means of the
treaty of Prague. What Prussia took from the
Austrians at Koniggratz, and what France had
granted to her previously, has been in Germany

limited by the Maine. But what neither France nor
Austria did ever acquiesce in is that Prussia should

plant her foot in Southern Germany. Already she
has twice tried to do so. Firstly, by her treaties
of offensive and defensive alliances; secondly, by
the Zollverein convention. Austria could, with

reason, find in these a violation of the treaty of
Prague, because in both circumstances Prussia used
her preponderance, and compelled the southern
states to accept her proposals.
But enough of concessions. As soon as Prussia
puts forward for the third time exigencies that
would destroy the independence of the southern
states of Germany, Austria and France ought to
oppose Prussia. To-day they openly ask in Prussia
why France should interfere with the treaty of
Prague ? Such a question is sheer nonsense, and
it is also a denegation of the truth, both precon-
certed and bold.

Let us ignore that at Nikolsburg M. Benedetti
was always between Count Bismarck and Count
Mensdorff. But would it not be a shameful thing
to forget that France by her attitude greatly
helped Prussia to go on with the war of 1866?
Has not the Prussian Prime Minister been at
Biarritz—did he not offer Luxemburg to France
as the price of her benevolent neutrality ? Had
not France shown herself disposed to such an ar-
rangement—had she informed Italy that she was
opposed to her conquering Venetia through
Prussia—had France placed a corps of observa-
tion at Lille or at Besancon—would Prussia have
been able, even with her needle guns and her in-
tellectual strength, which we gladly admit, to send
a single man to the frontiers of Bohemia ?
The arriere pensee of a Prusso-Russian alliance
had not yet dawned at that time. Russia was not
ready, and the pacification of Poland—we mean
her crushing—was not in the advanced state that
it is now. And, also, the Prussian army did not
possess then that assurance and that confidence
in its own strength that it entertains now. Prussia
would have deemed herself happy if she had been
able to acquire the Elbe Duchies for a portion of
the county of Glatz, and for a large sum of money.
The Sovereigns of Hanover, of Hesse, and of Nas-
sau would sit still on their thrones. It is France
-which has accomplished the greatness of Prussia.
And the Emperor Napoleon should not be entitled
to interfere with what is going on in Germany !
Is it, perhaps, because he did not paraph any pact
with Count Bismarck at Biarritz? No. We can
reckon on the association of the principal Prus-
sian organs, if we recognize the right of France to
interfere in what is going on on her frontiers. We
are edified enough about that continual bavardage
of inanity from France to Germany. It was the
same in old times ; but we do not know yet to-
day if we must prefer Prussian hegemony to the
Emperor Napoleon's protection upon the Rhenish
Confederation. But one thing is certain—Austria
and France, the most interested neighbours, are
compelled to keep a careful watch, since not Ger-
many, but Prussia, has acquired so much power in
the centre of Europe. A wider development of
Prussia would give them the right to oppose that
country in common. This would not be an alli-
ance against Germany, but one against Prussia.
So far the Viennese journal. The Journal des
Dcbats of Saturday had a still more striking decla-
ration as to the intentions of Russia and Prussia.
Here are the salient points of the Debats
The news received at Vienna from Berlin is not
at all satisfactory, and in no way pacific. It is
believed that the Prussian Government is continu-
ing its war preparations, under the pretext that the
other Powers have set the example. The Prussians
say that it is necessary they should fortify them-
selves against certain dangers with which they say
they are menaced. It is the same tactics which
Prussia employed against Austria last year, with
what success is well known. The report has spread
in Vienna that the Prussians are placing cannons
on the ramparts of Cologne, and are also actively
at work on the fortifications of Mayence, which
they desire completed. Certain things, it is said,
have been pronounced by General Moltke, the
importance of which is probably exaggerated. The
general having been invited to give his opinion on
the new organization of the French army, such as
will result from the Bill presented to the Corps
Legislatif, and which will be discussed next winter,
replied, " The French army, no matter what is
done, will always be inferior in number to the
Prussian army, in consequence of our landwehr
institution. The battalions of infantry of the
landwehr can, whenever we like, supply us with
249,000 men to reinforce our permanent army."
Russia, also,, is not in good grace ; the under-
standing between the Cabinets of Vienna and St.
Petersburg is singularly cool. Not only does the
Cabinet of Vienna not forget the tolerance which
the Russian Government extended to the
Sclavonian meetings at Moscow, where Austria
was publicly attacked with great violence, but it
reproaches the Cabinet of St. Petersburg for its
incessant propaganda in the provinces of Turkey,
and even in Galicia. That propaganda is being
pushed with prodigious activity, and it is impos-
sible to deny its results. At the same time Russia
is reorganizing and completing her army. It is
stated at Vienna that Russia is at the present
moment concentrating considerable bodies of
troops on the frontiers of Austria. The Danubian
I principalities have refallen into the same state of
agitation and disorder as at the commencement
of last year, and this disorder is attributed to
Russian influence. It is expected that another
revolution will shortly take place, when Prince
Charles will be dismissed. "It is all these things,"
Imveeeatrinegtoolf hdt, ‘
e‘
twowhi Emperors.chgivegrt importance to the
The statesmen of
Austria have, therefore, made on this meeting their
htiheiohse is
conjectureson
p:oogdio.aunbti:eb,foundedject uorne s
a,
ly
basedam" con
state of things so true, on a situation so pressing,
that they acquire great probability. We h
said that it did not seem possible that the two
Emperors should separate without
uevspeakingson.of
We
affairs of Mexico and the Eastern q
may add that it neither seems possible that they
can dispense with exchanging their views on the
affairs of Germany, and we will endeavour to
explain the opinions entertained on this important
subject by those statesmen interested in this
question. We shall, at the same time, say how
these statesmen persuade themselves . that the
Emperor Napoleon ought to approv of their views,

and join i with them, in the interest of France.
Accord ing to our correspondents, the Austrian
states men, of whom they are, in a kind manner,
the interpreters, start from this point—that the
Treaty of Prague has not definitively settled all
the questions to which war gave rise, and that
in many respects the situation of Germany has
remained provisionary ; this is so true that that
situation has been greatly modified since the sign-
ing of the treaty, and especially by the arrange-
ments entered into by Prussia and the four Southern
states. But Prussia has not finished, and she fol-
lows without delay the execution of her designs.
She las already obtained such an influence over
Hesse-Darmstadt that one might almost say that
Mayence is in her power. She is not the less
powcriul in the Grand Duchy of Baden, for at any
moment she may be mistress of Rastadt. But
Prussia, since last year, has rather lost than gained
in the Kingdoms of Bavaria and Wurtemburg. In
those countries a strong repugnance is felt for the
military institutions of Prussia, and even for her
civil and political institutions—liberal in appear-
ance but very harsh and very absolute in reality.
The Prussians, moreover, have manners which
repel rather than attract. There is, therefore,
among the people of Bavaria and Wurtemburg a
great dislike for Prussia. Now, at the same time
as the populations of Bavaria and Wurtemburg
separate themselves from Prussia, they draw closer
to Austria, in such a manner that Austria has
gained what Prussia has lost, independent of the
affinities which exist between the populations of
those two kingdoms and Austria. The question
being thus stated, its theoretical solution is very
simple, according to the opinion of Austrian
statesmen. The Southern states should form an
association and unite with Austria as a confedera-
tion, distinct and separate from the North German
Confederation, with which, however, it could form
a close alliance. Thus Germany would be united
as thoroughly as she can be without giving um-
brage to her neighbours, and the rights of all would
be respected; Prussia with the North and Austria
with the South German Confederation would be
two great European Powers quite independent from
each other, quite free in their ;action, and between
which there would no longer be any pretext for
antagonism.