Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-08-19
From the New York Post.
The Fertilization OF Antwerp.

The Fertilization OF Antwerp.
An instance Of the feeling " anessiness and IN
seeurity which prevails throughout Europe OF the
present time may be seen in the discussions which
have recently taken place in the Belgian Chamber
Of Representatives, with regard TO the proposed
addition to the Qualifications II Antwerp. With
the example Of their powerful neighbor, who has
Just celebrated the completion Of his costly works
ut chcrbourg. before theln; with the recollection
Of the recent interruption Of the good feeling be-
tween England and France; with the knowledge
of the large armies from France, or Germany, or
Russia ready at brief notice to invade or cross
their territory. and Of their own comparatively
defenceess position, and, alppve oil, with the APP
prehension. entertained also by other European
powers, that the death Of tho Emperor Napoleon
would be the signal for another social or political
uphcavaI in France, it Is not strange that The Bel
rIan government should determine 10 engihen
their chief fortress. Belgium, aptly called THE
Cockpit of Europe" holds a position in relation
10 tho great powers almost precisely similar h.
thar she occupied in the days Of Marlborough or
SAKE She is still the focus towards which con
tending armies are drawn, and in case OF another
general war the battles of Europe would probably
be fought on Belgian soil. The claim Of France
~ all territory west Of the Rhine never wholly
relinquishcd. il Likely to be revived under the
cond Nappcunic dynasty mt the first favorable 0lr
port nnity Her immense forces on land and sea-
chaiiug under the restraints which peace imposes,
eager for employment, and il a war with Eng
land cannot l,e provoked, what more natural than
for France to re ASSERT her ight to the province,
which she possessed in the palmy days Of the first
empire? As success intoxicated the first Empc-
ror to the degree that he lost his and threw
away the empire which his military genius had
gained, hls successor may initiate his example 50
far M to risk his present powerful position by at
tempting 10 enlarge the frontiers Of France. In
this event the elginna must embark in n national
in T. la uity fnr md
durable Notifications in her chief cities is too up
parent To be questioned. On the other hand, if
the death OF the Emperor should innuguraie
new form of government or dynasty, and. M is
very generally believed, believed prccipitate Eu
r"pcan war, Belgium must take one side or the
other in the contest. and her historical soil will
again be- traycrse1 by armies. and her iurtresses
aud old battle fields perhaps ho rebapized in
blood. The Importance Of preparing for these
contingencies is fully recognised by the Belgium
people. In the debate in the Chamber of Repre-
senintves. to which We referred. Gen. Berth, the
Minister Of War explained ihat the object Of the
project was TO cover Antwerp by an outside line of
forts beyond the faubourgs, consisting of an en-
,renched camp and Of series Of forts, built IA
TO he able to support each other. system to
enable tho place !" hold ont successfully against II
long siege lie rcfued the idea Of wish to be
nble to concentrate the whole army within the
walls of Antwerp. The idea of the government
was. that in case Of invasion, which was meyer
absolutely nnfore seen, the army should be able to
keep the fold as long IA it could hold its ground
successfully. and then fall back, in case Of need.
upon Antwerp, which would then become ihecen-
trn aud sole point Of the national defence " the
country.
NJ. Ioos, tho Bnrgomaser of Antwerp, drew n
disheartening picture Of the fate reserved for the
town if the defenders of tho retrenched amp anil
of the forts should le defeated The forts wouid
Inn unrrn tbna l,,, 81 tho.
the enemy, elated with success, would pinge the
town.
NJ Thiefry tI.eft) admitted the possibility Of n
sudden invasion. italy and Spain were there to
show that when France thought it suitable To in
Nnle country she lost no time about it. The
country should therefore be prepared for defence
The best means certainly was 10 have strong
hold upon which The army mi~ht fall back and If
such strength TINT it coul be successfully defend
Cd lie opposed the plha rffirtifyng Brussels
The capture Of the ,a;tal only entaled the loss of
the country in land, where tho inhabitants had
nni sufficient national spirit and energy to defend
Themselves in detail. Madrid, Lisbon, Moscow
had been occupied by French troops; but this did
not prevent the armies Of France from being com
PEELED to eyacuate Spain. Portugal and Russia
The national character of people was their best
defence. To prove the necessity OF The defence of
Antwerp he pointed to the system Of fertilization
ut Paris. where no expense spared to protect
the city by continuous line of defence.
General Renard the Royal Comm ssary prov
cd by quotations from history that a neutral
country like Switzerland, and still more $, Bel
GUM, is always destued to be invaded. in
turns, by the belligerent parties during a war
To be prepared for such an eventuartv,
and To provide the means of defending it's
neutrality and independence, it must he able
to offer to its eventual allies afrt6ed place which
it would be to their interest to defend against the
enemy. 1t was necessary that such II rallying
point should he situate to allow it to he easily
re-pro' isioned ndtokeep communicate ions open.
There was but one such place iu Belgium, and that
place was Antwerp the position Of every other
strong point in Belgium had been examined, and
the conclusion come Ia was. that Antwerp was the
real central point ofdeienee of the country.
War in Africa.
The Paris Pays of july ~ says At the present