The Sun.
London, England, 1866-06-22 00:00:00

THE PRUSSIAN ARMY.

(From the Times' Military Correspondent)
GORLITZ, June 18.
This little town, where the Prince Frederick
Charles, who commands the Prussian army in the
is situated
rises with afield, plea-
santlyh
on
ns fixetheds
ihdi se
ofh e
na d
hill-q u
which
rht
cr sh
tole-
rably sharp ascent from the western bank of the river
Neisse. The old church tower and the Kaiserstrutz,
or ancient gateway of the capital of Upper Lusatia,
are to-day looking down upon much the same scene
as they must have witnessed during the campaign
which was fought in Central Germany 53 years ago.
Since daybreak this morning an apparently inter-
minable team of military transport has been winding
up the narrow street which leads from the bridge
over the Neisse, and passing between the arcades
which here form the front ground floors of the old
town houses, has gained the top of the hill only to
push forward quickly into Saxon Lusatia. Provi-
sion columns, ammunition trains, and hospital equi-
pages have this morning passed through the town.
These, with their smart military drivers and well-
accoutred horses, formed a strong contrast to the
rough country waggons which toiled after them as a
complement to the transport which a large army in
the field always requires. The head-quarters and the
head-quarter staff are still here ; nor does any
preparation appear to be made for their speedy
departure.

This war appears likely to rival the battle of the
Kings. On the Prussian side the King himself
commands in chief, his eldest son is the leader of
the army in Silesia, and Prince Frederic Charles is
here. The Crown Prince of Saxony is with the
army. The Austrian Kaiser is said to be in Bohemia,
and in Hanover the Crown Prince is with the troops.
With no certainty has it even yet been ascertained
where the first real blow will be struck between Aus-
tria and Prussia. The destruction of the Hanoverian
troops and the utter obliteration of the army of
Electoral Hesse are considered only as minor in-
cidents, which will form the prelude to the mighty
drama that is to be played out in the centre of the
Continent. It is in Silesia, Saxony, or on the west-
ward prolongation of this frontier line that we must
look for the real struggle between the two Great
Powers.

By the last accounts which have come in from the
front the Prussians have firmly established them-
selves at Bautzen, Lobau, Hernhut, and Zittau in
this direction, and on a line reaching from Leipsic
to Konigsbruch on the north. Columns are also
advancing on Dresden on both banks of the Elbe,
and it is -said are expected to occupy the capital of
Saxony this evening. It was reported a short time
ago, in the earlier part of the day, that 8,000 Aus-
trian troops entered Saxony this morning to sup-
port the Saxon. There appears to be no founda-
tion for the rumour, and the number is too small to
be of any avail against the large Prussian army
which has already entered Saxon territory.
The railway from Gorlitz by Lobau to Bautzen
and Zittau is repaired so far as to be available for
military purposes. Private transport is entirely
suspended beyond this place.
The outposts are spread over such a wide range
of country that incidents may occur at some of the
outlying pickets which do not get reported at head-
quarters for several hours. Up to the present
time no skirmish of any kind has been authenti-
cated. The Saxon army appears to have fallen back
without firing a shot; the best course they could
have adopted, for to provoke au action with inferior
numbers would only cause needless bloodshed. In
the meantime this little town is the scene of cease
less activity ; mounted orderlies constantly bring in
news from the advanced posts, but the soldiers and
junior officers are young to war and are inclined to
give more importance than is necessary to all that
comes under their notice, so that all the information
which arrives at head-quarters cannot be thoroughly
depended upon. In a short time they will all set-
tle down to their work, and we shall have less ex-
citement in the army and more thoroughly authen-
tic information sent in to head-quarters.
The Prussians now occupy in strength an arc of
about 100 miles in Saxony this arc stretches from
Leipsic to Zittau, and on it they may be said to
have firmly established themselves. From this, as
a base of operations, their columns are advancing
on Dresden, and before these lines are written they
may be already in the capital. This is the evening
of the third day since the Prussians entered Saxony,
and yet we have no news of an Austrian advance to
the aid of the allies of the Kaiser. Has the sudden
movement of the Prussian troops taken General
Benedek by surprise, or is he meditating a tremen-
dous blow on some other point? The theatre of
war is not confined to the plains of Saxony ; we
may have to look for the seal struggle in the moun-
tain passes of Moravia or Bohemia.