The Sun.
London, England, 1866-05-19 00:00:00

The Military Roads through Hanover.

HANOVER, May 16.—50 much has recently been
said about the military roads through this kingdom,
to the use of which Prussia is under circumstances
entitled, that a short account of the actual relations
between the two countries upon this point may not
be out of place. The Vienna Congress Act of June
9, 1815, says in article 31— " His Majesty the King
of Prussia and his Majesty the King of England and
Hanover agree that three military roads shall lead
through their respective territories, to wit-1. A
road from Halberstadt to Minden through the Hil-
desheim district ; 2. A road from the Altmark
through Gifhorn and Neustadt to Minden ; and 3.
A road from Osnabruck to Bentheim through Ibben-
buren and Rheine—the first two for the benefit of
Prussia, the third for the benefit of Hanover. Both
Governments will appoint a commission without de-
lay, which shall draw up the necessary regulations
for the aforesaid roads." A treaty for the execution
of this last arrangement was concluded between
Hanover and Prussia in 1816, which was renewed,
with a few alterations, in 1838, and has since then
apparently still subsisted. Prussia announced her
right to use in time of peace one of the roads con-
ceded by Hanover (from the Altmark to Minden,
through Gifhorn and Celle), retaining that right
solely in case of war and the changes in the route of
troops rendered necessary thereby. In its stead
Prussia was guaranteed the use of a third road from
Heligenstadt to Minden through Norten, Einbeck,
Alfield, and Coppenbrugge, but it was at the same
time agreed that this road should be used but rarely,
and only for the march of small bodies of troops,
consisting at most of one or two battalions or squad-
rons. In consequence of the almost general trans-
port of troops by railway, the military roads are
generally used only by cavalry and artillery, but
they will again be more frequented by infantry when
transport by rail falls off for want of means of con-
veyance or other reasons. Of recent years Hanover
has seldom used the military roads through the
Prussian territory for cavalry marches, and Prussia
has availed herself of the road through Hildesheim
occasionally for small detachments of infantry, mostly
only for remounts. Prussia has never received the
right of occupying the road through Hanover. The
treaties speak only of the marching through of troops,
and it is especially stipulated that, if the Prussian
troops in traversing the road from Wolfenbuttel to
Eschershaufen or Oldendorf require a day's rest,
this rest is to be taken at Hildesheim. The troops
marching through are bound to go to any quarters
properly belonging to the district of the halting
ltinsta-
tion that may be pointed out to them b
autho-
rities, except in the case of their escorting
artillery,Quarters
ammunition, or other important convoys
always
be
situated close to the military road must
assigned to such convoys
and thuetihroerisccoerstsu.
upon pay_
m s
quartered upon the inhabitants will receive provi-
sions in kind by order of the a
t according to the regulated scale, by the officer
in command. Prussia is to pay compensation for
and
provisioning the troops, as well as
draught horses and the services of
for the quartering
use
of
labourers. But as this compensation does not afford
full adequate recompense, the persons upon whom
troops are billeted receive further remuneration ac-
cording to scale from the Treasury. The expenses
of this latter kind usually amounted in the first
years after 1815, owing to the numerous movements
of troops and the high price of provisions, to be-
tween 12,000 and 14,000 thalers. Subsequently
they became lower, and may now generally be es-
timated at about 2,500 thalera annually.—Reuter's
express,