The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-05-24

republic.
| The War In Europe Upon tho American
System.
1t is evident that the impending war in Eu
rope will be short sharp and decisive. The
plans Of the Emperor Napoleon have been
carefully matured He has been no inatten.
tive student Of the Titanic campaigns of Gene
raj Grant, and when he makes war il will be
upon the American system. 1t is all very we'll
to talk and write of the great Caesar and the
first Napoleon; but the Napoleonic style OF
warfare is as obsolete as that of the Roman
Emperor. The recent rebellion has revOlu-
| tionized and reconstructed the art of war.
When, during the Italian campaign, the present
Napoleon moved his army to the scene of
action by railroad and employed an army
| telegraph to facilitate his movements he made
| great advances upon all previous commanders
and the world gave him credit for unexpected
military talent. But the railroads and the tele-
| graph, which were mere accessories to the
Italian war, were in our war practical necessi-
ties. Grant 30 utilized them as to render them
as indispensable rs swords and cannon in all
future battles. Our soldiers built and rebuilt
railroads as they advanced, and the lines of
telegraph kept pace with the lines of the troops.
Sitting at his headquarters, with his maps be-
fore him, General Grant could handle immense
armies thousands of miles apart as easily as
colonel could control his regiment In an
incredibly briet space of time vast masses
Of men were safely transported from one end
Of the country to the other, arriving at the
place where they were wanted in good order,
unfatigued by forced marches and ready for
immediate service. Besides this, the army rail-
roads connected the most advanced posts with
the depots of provisions and ammunition, and
the troops, unencumbered with the old-lash-
Toned trains of baggage wagons, could make
the necessary changes of base much more rap
idly and strike the enemy at exposed points
much more effectually.
| Austria, Prussia and Italy will be the parties
at the commencement of the coming war; but
whether or not France actually sends troops
into the field all Europe will understand that
Napoleon is the real commander-in-chief It
| is more than probable that at first France will
not interfere, but will reserve her strength
until series of decisive blows can be delivered
upon Austria. Italy, the youngest and most
adventurous of the combatants, may shed
the first blood in Venetia and thus force the
quarrel to an issue. Austria and Prussia, If
left to themselves might 90 on diplomatizing
and clustering and massng troops for another
year. The Germans are proverbially slow
and argue the matter in every possible light
before they begin to fight, although they fight
very determinedly and even desperately when
they once begin. But in young Italy we have
an altogether different combatant Ardent.
enthusiastic, impetuous, hating Austria bitterly,
and sincerely in earnest in the desire to secure
Venetia, Italy wastes no time in diploma tic
correspondence, but Immediately invests King
Victor Emanuel with war powers and
sends the gallant Garibald to the field. If
Napoleon does no, encourage this impetuosity
he at least does nothing to check il. The
crisis for which he has been waiting so long
and SO patiently has at length arrived. He
sees an opportunity 10 crafty the French
peoples love OF glory, TO rectify the frontiers
Of France, to trample upon the .detested
| treaties of 1915. to withdraw bis troops from
Mexico, TO win a martial fame and to estab-
lish that great Western empire Of which
all the great Emperors Of Europe have
dreamed And yet. by a singular coinci-
dence of circumstances, this opportunity is .
| perfectly safe one. will cost the French
treasury comparatively little and may NOT
even require the sacrifice OF a single
French soldier Events seem 10 bave
conspired in Napoleons favor, as they
conspired against his uncle England. who
might have been most dangerous enemy.
is bound to remain neutral, and cannot even
give Austria moral support. Russia has
projects which look TO the establishment Of an
Eastern empire, and which will be rather AZ
sisted than thwaried by the course Of France.
The United States. satisfied to have the French
leave Mexico, Is rather gratfcd than otherwise
that Napoleon has found good excuse for bis
withdrawal The leading Powers Of the world
will, therefore. stand quietly by while Napo-
Icon prosecutes his schemes and there IL no
danger Of any alliance against him outside Of
Germany. Never did . ruler have 80 clear
field before him.
From his headquarters at Pari. Napoleon
will direct the movements Of the armies of
Prussia, Italy and France, as General Grant
directed bis corps under Sherman, Thomas
and Sheridan. We may expect to zee a
war closely resembling our own in the extent
Of territory which II occupies in the harmoni-
ous operations Of different armies directed by
single mind; in ihe perfection Of the mate
rial employed; in the utilization OF railroads
and the telegraph; in the heavy losses upon
both sides, and in the stubborn character Of the
fighting. That Napoleon will do all that Grant
has done lie not TO lie anticipated. We doubt
whether Napoleon has the genius Of
General Grant The world ,roduce
two such generals at the ga ua Aeilhs-
in IL