The Van Buren press., 1866-07-14
From Tie london Times Juae lG.
The German War Question.

Inc IcImdu WdA NuSSttSi.
The war has now begun in earnest. Prussia
has not hesitated to treat the vote OF the frank
fort Diet n declaration OF fhostilitieS on the
part of the States which supported the AUS
| trian proposal. We learn by telegraph that
Yesterday the PriiS>ians entered SaNohy on
| the enc side, and Hanover on the other. Ian
over has but its own strength on which to re-
| ly, and we are not surprised to learn that its
troops were retreating to effect a junction
with the small Austrian force which has Lite
| ly retired from IIolStein. Ii is probable that
| Prussia will not have much difficulty in over
running the IlanOvcrian Kingdom. 1t lies far
away FROM the main strength OF the Austrian
alliance shut in by the Prussian monarchy.
and having tor its other neiglibors the little
States. which interest or fear caused to vote
on Thursday against the Austrian proposal.
Before the Confederation has time to muster
| its forces Hanover will probably be Ovcrrun
and occupied. and its resources placed at the
disposal Of the conqucrOrs. Count Bismarck
knows the value of prOmptitnde. Ills adver-
sarics. perhaps. thought LIE would allow them
to begin. The first blow was expected from
Vienna. and the States of the Austrian alli-
ancc appear to have assumed that Prussia
would wait until their vote at Frankfort was
followed by some military act. Prussia has,
however. lost not Il moment in seiZin% what
lies in her path. and has probably taken her
enemies unprepared. From this time the re-
sources of the Northern States of Germany
may be said TO be in her hands.
| 1t is the first move in this great contest that
was made by Prussia yesterday. The cross
ing of the Saxon frontier brings the largest
military levics that have ever taken the field
in Germany into necessary and immediate
collision. As soon as Field Marshall Bene-
dek learns by telegraph that the enemy had
begun operations, he must at once put his
great army i'm motion. l.epsic and the nor
thcrn part of the Saxon Kingdom, WILL no
doubt, be seized ut once by the PrIssians, but
| the Austrians having but IA few miles to ad-
vance. and the railway at their service. will
establish themselves at Dresden. Thus do we
see that ili-iated region once more the battle
ground Ofgreat powers. Bcncdek is probably
not sorry that the enemy have given him Il
| justification for entering SaXony. He will
now be bound to protect the capital ola weak
ally. and lin performing this duty he secures
The. best possible position for operating
against the enemy. From Prague to Berlin
the road lies through Dresden and across the
plains of Prussian SaXony. This road he Is
now free to take, and no nconvenient neu-
trality cOmpels him to carry on what may be
called provincial contest in Silcsia. Yet the
! prOmptitude Of the Prussian movements may
even here obtain for them some considerable
advantages. y large portion the Kingdom
may. in Il few days, be in their power, and
| they will. ut least have the choice of new po-
sitions and be able to carry on Il war in tOr-
eign territory. The Prllssan commanders
know the country as well as their opponents /;
indeed every German officer that has studied
his profession must be thoroughly acquainted
nf
Though the Prussian army Is ostensibly COM
manded by royal personagcs, there will not
be wanting men to use its strength to the best
a(lyont:vr 't