The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-04-27
INTERESTING FROM EUROPE.
THE COMING WAR.


GERMANY PBRPEoTINe HER FIELD sTRATEGY--1M-
P0RTAECE OP JUXEMBoURG-How FRANCE MAY
BE INVADED.
Paris (Afrtl III Correspondence Of London Times
II is remarked as significant that some of the
German papers have already begun to discuss
military operations, as If war were actually on
the point of beir g declared between France and
Prussia.
What has attracted the most attention In
Paris is an article in the Gazette OF North Ger
many, Prussian ministerial paper. It Says
I'm war with France the German armies
Will nave to operate on two principal points
Alsace and Lorraine, Belgium and the lower
khlne, separated by the hilly country between
hOselle and the MeuSe. In case of an offensive
attack against the West or the upper and mid
die Rhine, IL would be necessary TO secure the
important line of operations, Mayence Kaiser
slautern, and Metz, which leads into the valley
OF the Malne. This line passes through net
ork OF numerous French fortresses of which
the most important is Metz, a place of the
hrst rank, and yet of slight Importance, if
our hands, and keeps it in check. The holder of
Luxembourg is master of the valley Of the Sarre,
which is only closed by Sarrelous; but this
valley cuts at right angles the line of operations
already mentioned of army entering from
the middle Rhine into Champagne. If, on the
other hand, Luxembourg is a French fortress
II is. especially in concert with Metz. a danger
lOl the lines of communication of that army.
and, moreover, IL would force IL to weaken
itself considerably by detachments for invest
ing. A Prussian Luxembourg would then be
for a necessity; French Luxembourg would
menace our lines of communicable on the
right Hank. The possession of Luxembourg by
the French would also be danger for the left
HANK OF a German army advancing from the
lower Rhine into Belgium.
-Four lines of railroad, of which the point of
tuncture is Luxembourg, give to that fortress a
special Importance by reason of the facilities
anorded by railroad in actual warfare. These
lines are:-l. Nancy, Metz, Luxembourg; 2.
Luxemb bourg, Namur, Brussels; 3. Luxembourg,
Spa, Llege; 4. Mayence, Sarrebruck, Sarrelouis,
Treves, Luxembourg. The first two run par
allel TO the French frontier, touch several fOrti-
hed places, and are in direct communication
with the central point, Paris, as well with
the south and north of the country. The strategy
OF the French army would be greatly favored
displacement at will, from the south to the
north, and Uice UerSa, would be easy. The
Luxembourg Liege line runs parallel to the
PruSslan frontier, on the Belgo-LuXem-
bourg line connects the valleys OF the
MOselle and the Meuse by the shortest way,
and cuts the Cologne.Liege Brussels line near
Vervters. To Luxembourg and the junction
point of these three lines must be attached in
a French point of view, great Importance.
ing The valleys of the Rhine, the Maize, the
Sarre, and the Moselle debouches on Luxem-
bourg, and on IL is the only line of communica-
tion by rail of the theatre of war in Lorraine
and Belgium. 1t is of capital Importance for
the Germans. The great Importance of this
place for us would be increased by the com ple-
tion of the projected line, Treves-Cologne and
be put in direct communication with the
strongest places on the banks of the Rhine, and
serve as an advanced posi-. Thus the question
relative to q fortress so well suited both for
alta ok and defense should be the object of seri-
ous examination.