The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-08-17
At COLOGNE.

a Prussian Corps Three Leagues Oistaue
from Belgium-AlI for the Army-The
Fortress Of Mayence-An Intrcnched
Camp-Provisi0ning Rats on tho Rhinc,.
Fortified Trinuuie.
COLOGNE, August 2. 1870.
The movement Of troops Is continual In tho Rhine
provinces.
Aix-la-Chapelle Is nearly empty Of troops
Prussian corps d'armee Is at three leagues from
the Belgian frontier, OF about A. OOU mon.
Prusslan troops are flowing into Cologne and the
neighborno0d. Cologne ID In state OF siege. Prus-
sian engineers have opened trenches at two leagues
from Cologne, and an intcenched camp is eslab.
lished between Cologne and Treves supported by
the Fortress OF Cobienz. This position occupies the
triangle formed by Cologne, Coblentz and Treves.
The hne Park OF Cologne Is razed as well as tbs
magnificent chateau OF the banker Oppenhein.
Mayence is In O state OF Siege.
This fortress is occupied by 25 900 Bavarian Hes
Sian and Baden troops Trenches are opened In
front OF Mayence All the inhabitants are obliged
to provide provisions for six weeks. Those with
out resources are expelled and wander about
tne country Prussian troops are encamped ON
we wooded heights OF st. Jugbert, and overlook
the valley OF the Saar. They protect the importani
group OF Prussian coal mines, and ut the same lime
railways, one coming from Bingerbruck and tho
oher from Landau, and 80 connect Prussia to Baya-
camp. C0blentz Is a fortified town ana very impor-
tant as the Prussan army can fall back It casa
OF a check 1t has three fortresses, which defend
every sde-the Chartreuse which protects the plain
OF Mayence; the Petersburg, which guards the road
to Treyes and Cologne the Ehrenbrelstein. which
Overlooks the Rhine and the road to Nassau. Tho
ramparts are furnished with Immense pieces OF ar
tillery
Large RATS are descending the Rhine with provl.
si0ns and military munitions. Between Mayenca
and CODlentz formidable amount Of war material
is collected, and the concentration OF troops Is like.
wise immense: The general opinion is that there
will be o combined movement OF the PruSSian corps,
and that In consequence OF the new instruments Of
war there Will be q change OF tactics. Hencelorth
they Will use In open campaign the same tactics as
vance under cover Of Entertainments. Everywhere
they are digging in the Rhine provinces. The Prus-
siana have commenced BY ntreDchlng themselves
behind ditches rivers, fascines, &C.. and await be-
hind these imprOvlsed works From Coblcntz to
fashion. It is new system Of defence which re-
quires new mode OF attack. Prussian corps
ddf7ee Is stationed behind the curtain VI the Black
Forest.
Prussia Is concentrating her principal forces In tho
triangle formed by the Rhine, the Moselie ana the
Their left rests on the rhine, near Landau. Their
right stretches out to the Moselle, near Treves
Saarlous, recently fortified, serves as centre. III
case OF check the Prussians Will fall back On
Mayence and COblentz, which Will protect their
passage over the Rhine. From the positions oocu
military judges think this is the plan OF Campaign
adopted at headquarters. A formidable army Of
reserve is stationed near Frankfort. on-the Main.
company OF the Prussian army:-"The first soldier
who viii carry on French mitrailleuse will receive
1t is thought In Prussia they can soon raise their
army to 1000 900 men. The Prussan plan Is said to
be to throw an enormous army on France For this
purpose their troops all concentrated on single
point Of French frontier. German journal states
mat Genera! Won Moltke remarked the day after the
marched to the Rhine by the 2st he viii never cross
" between Mayence and Cologne"