The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-10
FRANCE AND PRUSSIA.

Of the Tive Powers-Thc Rhino PROVINCES
The Prussinn observation-disclosures opinion
ON the situation-Tho French and Prussian
Forces--The New Art OF War-Adcpfion OF
American Discoveries.
Our latest mail reports from Europe 60 to show
that war rumors and tendencies thicken In the Old
World more and more. What will come OF them
That Is the question. Minister Rouher announced
recently high circles ct Paris that the month OF
October win not pass without grave military d.
plomatc events Marshal Mel says that France Ia
prepared for war. Napoleon III. delivers ct Chaons
Of his usual oratorlca or rather oracular utter
ances to the effect that he cannot make speech on
the situation for fear the newspapers may comment
on 1t. About the same time, too, at Kie King Will
am expresses his belief In peace and In the Prus-
sian army. Suoh Is the budget Of speeches. Coming
10 facts it is undenable that both Powers, France
and Prussia, have created colossal armies
with the avowed object OF defending them
selves against each other; and judging from past
experiences 1t would seem more than likely that
those two armies viii DO pitted In fight sooner or
later, either this fall next spring. 1t win DO only
a question Of time. AS to o general disarmament
md diplomatic settlement OF affairs there appears
not the slightest prospect, for the Franco-Prussian
quarrel Is one which only admits OF adjustment by
arms-ul ct avnats. backdown on either side Is
out OF the question. The claims OF each are too high
and too clearly announced for that Last year the
casus oeui put forward by France was the Prussian
occupation OF Luxembourg; this year It IS their occu-
patton OF the countries situated on the left bank OF
tho Rhine. The real casus beM is Sadowa. From
the moment the result OF that memorable battle be-
came known the French have been unable to re-
strain their jcalousies at the sight OF Bsmarck's
work. The substitution OF q Power equal in popnla-
ton and territory TO those Of France in place OF the
second rate kingdom Of Frederick the Great has
caused them to regard second Jena Us by no means
IN undesirable eventually
THE RHINE PROVINCES.
Hence it is that this old question, or the occupa
ton by Prussia Of the provinces the left bank OF
the Rhine, Is just now agtated as never before.
True it has always been dream, traditional bit OF
policy for all the governments In France to cndeavsr
to secure 'the Rhine fronter;' even the Bourbons,
who allowed France to be curailed Of her fair pro-
portions, conceived the idea or course, then, 1t
behooves the Napoleons whose mission it is to allow
no such curtailment, not only to entertain the
project, but also to enectuate It, coGte que cotite.
Moreover France having already secured on the side
OF the Alps cher natural boundaries" as to pre-
vent an rruption upon French plains OF the Roman
legions under Victor Emanuel H., the same natural
boundaries, serving barrier to Prussian ambi-
ton, now regarded to be indispensable on the
side OF the Rhine The question thus brought for
clearly pretex; but there are not lacking those
the French side who argue It out admirably as Delng
purely the most legitimate aspiration, the most
natural desire Tor sef-deience, felt now as Ct all
in their own pockets the keys OF their doors and
gates, and who, for their own part, have made up
MAD 10 keep dying the ticket, No Intrusion
these premises" The little provinces about which
much ink has been wasted and so much blood is
threatened TO be shed would make hair dozen OF
our counties and are Inhabited by Germans Bis
marck claims and holds them a. his and. whether
they are satisfied or not under his yoke 1t Is well
ascertainei lact taat they do not wish to become
French In this year OF 1864 fact admitted even by
Trench opinion. The only assimilation they have
tory and, Indeed, the Frcrch assert that both
The Inhabitants and the territory orc perfectly
Insignificant in themselves, not worth NOV.
Ing about or lighting for; but, then, tncy are OF
immense importance in the hands OF the iron man
ruling a. Berlin Ana t ne da io according %
hold those provinces they remain standing menace
to Franceaye, are In possession OF her very gates As
by Count Iardenburg, Prussiaa Plenipotentiary TO
the Of venGa ma, IN IN, ISL has .n6 esen
dated December 20, 1914, proposed to erect
Kingdom, which nght proven; Prussia from being
brought into direct and supposed unhealthy con-
tact with France. IIardenburg was opposed TO such
revolutionary spirit and Ideas. Apparently he was
not or the Bismarck stock The Vienna Congress,
however thought 1T IN 1915 to rejointhc two powers
according TO the old map by abollshng the 'Coafed
GRAFTON oi the klne"thc title conferred on the pro-
vnces when Napoleon I. overran them with hts SOL
ciers and when they were Frenchiaed during q few
years.
Had not Prussia grown so large In the last couple
or years the question OF the Rhine frontier" would
not be urgent and the burghers on that beau.
tiful stream would have been lott quietly to quar-
their lager and TO peer ut their castles without fear
OF awakening to the roar OF Krupps monsters and
are situated to-day they Kept constantly the
OUT pite for dlrcfpi events and bloody spec
, ,Saeston me Of reI ths saasd s ct the
grievance alleged by Prance-constitute the
North German Confederation one vast army
the terf.t rial shape in itscf beng but a
potent weapon Of attack against the very
sensitive modern Gauls, directed against their
vital soints-say these Latter. The map shows that
Prussia holds In her grasp that famous German
corner which as wedge 80 often pierced the ranks
rane and Alsace this corner lies between the Rhine
and the Meuse; and here Is situated tie Prussian
qpeschera, iccnaro. Verona. the GuadrIlaTera Il,
Italy. Coblentz, sarreou!s. Traibach, from the
stronghold which Prussia has raised and equipped
according TO the latest style cannon and works. OF
the very last Inventions The celebrated manuiac-
tirer at Berlin Herr Krupp has been kept busy on
the job or furnishing cannon or the heaviest calbre
yet made From those fortresses Prussian armies
Gan pounce upon the French positions OF Metz and
1hionylllo like hawk upon Us prey; and this causes
continual menace ncccssitating at those points the
presence of counterIorces TO ward OIL The danger
Although quadaterals have no longer the same
fanking process now ia vogue by It's greater cast
less OF cxecut they st retain value as homes
refuge for beaten troops or serve "a entrenched
camps from which large bodies may emerge to make
q coup de main. IL ~ precisely these advantages
which the Prussan military folks claim for Coblentz,
Satreouis and Trarbach when the tug OF war comes
with their antagonists.
FRENCH OPINION on THE SITUATION.
GAS long as there Is y Bonaparte on the throne Of
France there can be no peace =, That was the cry
on the Continent during the First Empire and II IL be-
ginning To greet the ears or the second one, too.
The Crlrnca, Italy, Mexico, Prussia demonstrate
quite conclusvey that the empire is peace only after
war and during short periods. Indeed, "Ndpoleoa
sen eaten 0ae7e ~ might be sung like Ma brook,
though in different tone 30 familiar are we made
with the declarations Of war Launched from the
TuAeries. That the occupant OF the French throne
has confessed himself TO be ambitious Is no secret.
lie now as plainly exhibits his dcsire and Intention
Tor war or, IN other words he seeks means where
by ne may Oc enabled To execute the mission with
which he has announced himself to be charged by
Hcayen-viz., making France great, prosperous and