The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-08-04

The smoke OF battle has at length sufficiently
cleared away from the German battle'helds to
enable us to comprehend the military opera
tOns that have elected so many changes in the
map of Europe. A review OF the situation
shows that the surprising success OF Prussia has
been obtaiRed by means of that boldness and
celebrity that always constitute the elements of
victory in warfare In this respect the Prussian
generals rival if they do not excel, the astonlsh-
ing rapidity OF the great Napoleon, who utterly
confounded the slow-moving commanders of his
time by the switness and force of his attacks.
But II toe Prusslans have improved on the
teachings of history, the Austrlans have appa-
rently lost none OF Their characteristic duness
and inactivity. They have suffered themsel yes
to be outgeDeralled and overwhelmed as COM
pletely under Marshal Benedek as they were
under Generals Mack and Wurnser. The supe-
riorIty OF the PrussIan needle-guns is only an
inc dent of the greater enterprise and sagaCity
OF the authorities OF Berlin.
The briel, decisive campaign in Bohemia de-
pen0ed on question OF time. Victory seemed
to belong to the side that would hTst take the
Initiative. 1t was race tor Berlin or Vienna
In war, as in chess, the aggressive side is gene
rally the stronger. This was more particularly
the case IN the German campaign. II the Aus
triaDs had anticipated the Prusslans a few days,
they might have changed the entire course OF
history. 1t was a grave mistake for Marshal
Benedek to permit the Prussians TO carry the
war INTO Bohemia. He should have assumed
the initiative, and pushed his forces into Sllesia
and threatened Berlin. 1t Is said that this was
actually the plan OF Marshal Benedek but that
his views we've OverTuled by the Vienna Cabinet.
There was so much diplomatic and other talk
about the guiltlneSS OF commencing bloodshed,
that the Emperor OF Austria nesitated to cut
away from ali the chances of peace by an
absolute in vasion OF Prussian territory.
He was waiting for the sanction OF the
German Diet and for some lucky chance of di-
plomatic interI ention that never occurred. While
he was heSltating the golden opportunity
was lost. The PIussians were permitted to
penetrate into Bohemia, and gained, almost
without blow, strategic victory that never
should have been yielded except as the result of
defeat Bohemia is an Austrian province OF
five millions OF Inhabitants, situate on the
so uthern borders OF Prussia between Saxonia,
lesia, and Moravla. IL is KIND of natural
basin, bounded on three sides by myuntans and
the open part fronting Vienna. The mountain
passes through which the Prussians deted from
Saxony and Sllesia were very detensible, and it
Is more reasonable to suppose that general or
Marshal Benedek's acknowledged skill should
have been prevented from occupying them by
diplomatic interference than that he should
have overlooked their Importance Be this as it
may, the Austrians, in place of marching
through theIr own passes to invade Siesia, and
drive the enemy out of SaXonv, allowed the
Prussiahs to penetrate through them at various
points, and to concentrate their forces for the
decisive battle OF Sadowa.
The Prussian campaign in Bohemia must
always rank as one OF the most brilliant opera
tons In the history of warfare. There are few
examples OF com binations so ably planned, and
so skiltully and successfully carried outi Per-
haps the nearest approach to it was General
Grants gIand campaign against the Contederacy,
with this difference, that the lieutenants OF the
American General operated in sections of the
country larger than all Germany. 1t is now
Understood that the credit OF organizing the
entire Prussian campaign is due to General Won
Moltke, the King of Prussia's Chief of staff.
The results rank him as the foremost strategist
in Europe So far there has not been a single
defect or error in their campaign. Every com
bination was successfully effected with preci-
sion that will appear amazing when we con-
slider the thousand accidents to which the best
laid military schemes are liable. Great praise
is also due to the Grown Prince and Prince
Frederick Charles, the commanders of the two
Prussian armies OF invasion, for the eminent
ability displayed by them in executing the plans
of the campaign. The King of Prussia is singu.
larry fortunate in being ably served, and in the
fact that the best generals and supporters of his
throne are OF his own blood. The Hohenzol-
lerns stand out as the ablest dynasty in Europe.
Certainly il has lost nothing in force and char
acter nee the days OF the great Frederick.
The Prussans invaded Bohemia from three
separate points IN SaXony and Sllesia, and with
as many armies. The LIST Army was com.
manded by Prince Frederick Charles, the
I'd Army by the Grown Prince and the
Sd Army by General Won Bittenfeid. These
armies entered Bohemia through passes sepa-
rated flom right 10 lett by a distance of from q
hundred and fifty TO two hundred miles. The lst
Army moved down on the 25th of June from
ReichenbeTg, q town on the frontiers OF SaXony
and Bohemia, about sixty miles southeast OF
Dresden, ana about an equal distance from
Sadowa the scene of the decisive battle of the
Sd OF July. The Grown Prince on the same day
pushed portion OF his army through the detiles
In the direction of Brannau, on the borders OF
Sllesla and Bohemia while General Bittenfeld,
with the Sd Army, or the Army of tue Elbe,
I'M ~ 1p1 ROhnmia "a Of 40 fY1rT Tbo,
down towards Bavaria. The Army OF Prince
Frederick Charles was thus in the centre. The
Amy OF the Elbe had comparatively little
fighting. The King OF Bavaria was relied upon
TO keep it IN check, and undoubtedly could have
done 30, but the Bavarians, as usual, played
fast and loosses, and did nothing to prevent the
junction of General Bitteneld with the Is
Army Corps. The Prussians were induced tt
divide their forces from the necessity of covering
Silesia ana SaXony from the danger OF Austrian
invasion. a-. I ..H
The Austrians disputed the advance of thu
first and second armies with great spirit. Blu
Marshal Benedek was under the necessity o
dividing his forces, and perhaps was not ready
to advance his whole army. At any rate thu
Prussians contrved to push forward their ad
vance. battle was fought every day for tel
days, the result in each cBse being against thu
Austrans. The brunt of the lighting was dom
by the Crown Prince of Prussia He defeated
the Austrlans at Nachod and Trautenau on tn
27th and afterwards at Skaltz The latte
contest was desperate affair. The Prussal
cavalry for the first time met and defeated tn
famous Austrian cavalry, the PIussian cayalrv
laundering right into the Austrian curassier
and bearing them down. At another battle
subsequently fought by the Crown Prince tn
Prussian cavalry achieved an equally decides
success. The fighting OF the second army az
pears to resemble the series OF contests tough
by General sherman in the Chattanooga rang
when General Johnston was successfully di
lodged from one position after another. tn
Crown Prince gained in these mountain battle