The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-07-07
The War in Europe-The Situation in
Germany.

The first movements have NOW been made
in the war between Austria and her Gcrma-
mic allies on the one side, and Prussia and
Italy on the other; and hostilitcs may be
said to have actually commenced.
When the Prussian forces entered IIol-
stein, compelling the Austrians to retreat
before them, they consolidated Prussian
power in the north. The Elbe Duchics
were firmly bound to Austria !; Hamburg,
Lubbock, and Bremen were isolated from
any support of the confederation and the
two Mccklcnburgs were left no alternative
but close alliance or an actual incorpo-
ration with Prussia.
In the west and south Prussia has acted
with equal vigor, and with as great appa-
rent success. As soon Us the Diet voted
the mobilization of the Federal army,
Prussia made known her determination to
consider all the States that voted>in favor
Of that proposition as her enemies unless
they would, without delay, declare strict
neutrality and refuse to arm. None of
the Powers acccded to this pcremptOry
demand, and on the 10th ultimo the Prus-
sian army entered Hanover, HeSse, and
Saxony. This was most important and
polite step Oh the part Of Prussia. Be-
tween the eastern section of Prussia and
Wcstphalia and the Rhcnsh provinces, her
western dependencies, lie the kingdom of
Hanover and Electoral and Ducal Hesse,
which stretch north and south from the North
sea TO near Franliiort-on-the-M Maine. The
adhesion of these Powers to the Diet broke
the continuity Of the Prussan line, isolated
her possessions on the Rhine, exposed her
10 attack from the armies Of the Confede-
ration on the lower Elbe, and threatened
10 cat her oil from Holstein, and thus null
lily all the benefits she had obtained from
its occupation. Prussia moved without
giving the Diet time for resistance, and as
a result of two days campaign, has sole
possession and control of Northern Ger
many from the Belgian to the Russian
frontier, presenting an unbrokcn line to
her adversaries as far south As her armies
lave advanced.
While, then, the occupation of Hanover
and the ucsscs was essentially defensive
in its character, the march on Dresden,
the other great Prussian advance, is prin-
cipally offensive. 1t is defensive SO far as
ii prevents the Austrians from holding
Dresden and Leipsic, and thence threaten
ing Magdeburg and Berlin on the one side,
aud Breslau and Posen on the other but it
WAS doubtless chiefly intended to give
base from which to operate against the
Austrian line from karlsbad to Pardubitz,
IN Bohemia. The Austrian environments
arc SAID to extend along the Bohemian and
Shcsian frontier, reaching up to Cracow, OH
the southern frontier Of Poland, the left
wing OF General BESEDEK's army resting
upon the Elbe. Should he be defeated in
that position, his left might be driven in
upon his centre and right, and the whole
shattered army be forced back into Mora
VIA and Austrian Silesia, breaking his com.
munication with Bavaria, and compelling
linn To leave an open road into the heart
: of Austria. A Prassian diversion in Silesia
OF Austrian Poland nigh. also be at.
tempted, to prevent reinforcements being
sent TO the relief Of BENEDEK's left, in Be-
hcnlia.
The advantages of the Austrian position
must not, however, be overlooked. From
Coblentz, on the Rhine, through Saxony
and Silcsia to Oderberg, the Prussian line
extends across the whole Of Germany.
The line would be an admirable one if it
could be maintained, but IT is Individually
TOO long for either offensive or defensive