The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1864-04-30
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
The Danish Question.

King Christian y. of Denmark, in an address
TO his valiant little army after their retreat from
the Dannewerke, said to them Soldiers, L
stand alone in the world with my people,
words full Of feeling and simplicity, and convey
ing the bitter disappointment he felt At the decl-
sion of Great Britain to lend him no aid IN his
hour of need.
But the fugitive King, speaking from his CAS-
tie Of Sonderburg, within hearing of the boom
of German guns, and in sight of the beleagured
lines of Duppel, has struck the very key note OF
his situation IN this address to his troops lie Il
alone in the world with his people, q handful OF
men against the forces of the European CONT
nent.
As this Is one Of the leading topics of the day,
and many of cur readers may have little idea OF
the UNEQUAL contest into which Denmark has
been drawn, il may not be uninteresting 10 give
some information relative TO the power and POSI-
ton of the contending parties.
The population of Denmark, when severed
from that of the Duchies, is less than two mil
lions. In time of war the King of Denmark can
bring 4O, 900 men into the field. Austria and
Prussia, without counting the rest of Germany,
have an aggregate population of about 81 mil
lions, and their armies, on the war footing,
number very nearly a million. If we compare
the numerical strength OF Denmark with that of
Its present foes the proportion Is as / 10 %.
There is not so great 4 difference between the
armies in the field. But, If we count the Federal
contingents which, by occupying Holsteip, have
formed, in fact, an army OF reserve, and include
the reinforcements now on their way through
Silesia, we must estimate the strength of the
German armies in the Duchies rs little short of
100, 600 men. The force under the command of
De Meza Is supposed 20 have been under 80, 600,
so that it has been oyermatched in the ratio of
more than three to one. These are terrible odds.
80 far from feeling any surprise at the retreat of
the Danes, we are astonished that they should
have held Missunde during nearly a weeks bonn
bardment. There is no doubt that the strength
of the Dannewerke has been much oyerrated.
The colossal mound and trench of the ninth GEN.
fury, which stretches from the town of Schleswig
towards Freterickstadt on the Elder, NAV have
been improved BY dint of modern engineering
into a formidable fortress. But the great palpa-
bic weakness of these works was that they were
capable of being turned by q passage in force of
any part OF the broad but shallow river which
runs from Schleswig eastwards to the Baltic Sea.
As the Schlei Is more than 80 miles long, 1t is
next TO impossible TO defend it from end to end.
At one place, about the middle, where the banks
approach each other, the passage is defended by
the formidable fete dn POM of Missunde, which
Austrians and Prussians cannonaded in vain.
But while the Austrian army held the Danes in
check at this place, the Prussian army crossed
the river In boats TO kappeln, which is close to
the sea- When this was done the Dannewerke
became untenable, and was Immediately evacu-
ated. The news caused great distress throughout
Denmark, and a serious riot at Copenhagen.
But we cannot think that any blame fairly at
taches TO De Meza, who, after having been tenn
porarily superseded IN Difference to a popular
outcry, Is 10 be replaced in his command. There
cannot be a better reason for the retreat than
that alleged by the King himself in the address
which we have already quoted. He reminds US
that he has only one army. If his 80 900 de-
tenders were taken prisoners, as they might well
have been IT they had remained 70 do battle at
Schleswig, his cause and his crown would be at
the mercy of his enemies. The army has made
good Its retreat, not, however, without a thin
ming of its numbers or undisheartened- The
retreat appears TO have been conducted with
great skill. The Danish commander had twelve
hours notice Of the movement Of the Prussians
and he made the best use of his time. Many of
the heavy guns were left behind. but the men
and horses were led away without disorder, the
field batteries and baggage saved without much
loss. When the Prussians had crossed. De Meza
was well on his road. and Prince Frederick
Charles was never able TO come UP with him.
The Austrians were more successful. When they
entered Sehleswig they DID Lot find many Danish
soldiers there They had taken the central north
road which leads 20 Flensburg, q distance of only
% miles The cavalry of Won Gablenz came
CD with the Danish rear guard near that place,
but the two German regiments which were bold
enough TO advance 10 the attack were so severely
handed BY the enraged Mortimer that they found
IL prudent 10 desist, and followed them 10 Flens-
burg 81 . very respectful distance. The Austrian
army was 80 fatigued that IL spent the night In
this town. The Danish army continued It's re-
LE-e A-NN1LA 4O1k Xix zlOLG VI LA1L AlACL VI
the Baltic called the Gulf Of Flensburg. About
90 miles from Flsnsburg brought il 70 Duppel, q
fortified position on the bank Of the narrow strait
which separates the island Of Alsen from the
mainland Of Schleswig. 4 part Of the Danish
army Is IN the island Of Alsen a part Il left 10
man the entertainments of Duppel, which Is the
fsrs Gu POM or KEY Of the island. By latest
accounts q determined attack was being made
upon Duppel by the Austro-Prussian army. As
this position has never vet been heard OF IS q
fortress, and boasts of no element of strength
which can counterbalance the immense numerical
superiority Of the aSailants, except q range OF
low hills, il Is not 10 be expected that il will hold
out long When Duppel Is taken. and the mar
row strip of water, no wider than an average
river. Is crossed BY the Germans, the town and
port Of Sonderburg will be before them. Son.
derburg does not figure among the fortified ports
of Denmark, but the narrow neck of land on
. which il stands might be defended by q small
force against great odds, and the island Of Alsen
proper be thus retained for a while. Perhaps
the only object Of the defence OF Duppel Is TO
secure the unmolested retreat of the bulk OF the
Danish army, and TO permit of the transport of
the guns and stores that have been saved, which
may be carried IN ships to Copenhagen.
England, through Lord Russell, has proposed
an Armistice, and this Is ali she Is likely % do 10
aid the father of her future princes. But il IS
hardly TO be expected that the Germans, with all
they covet within their grasp, will quietly retire
from the field or give up 50 rich a prize unless
Denmark receives more material aid than words
from her friends. And England acts with pru-
dence, for were she TO send her armies TO aid
Denmark, might not new Al051mGS and FfO-iGGS
be fitted out 10 prey upon British Commerce?
No doubt this thought governs british Statesmen
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