The New York herald., 1870-08-22
TIE PRUSSIAN ARMY.

King Williams Headquarters mt Mayence-
Must Depend ON the Troops in the Field
FOrtresses Not of Much Vuiue-Auxiety Of
People for News.
COLOGNE, August 8, 1870.
The Kings headquarters are now at Mayence
the Rhine stronghold, and warm work is expected
hourly between the two opposing soveregns The
anxiety and expectation among all classes here
hourly increase, but it is thought that Cologne
will see suffer much IN the struggle, sucn is the
confidence expressed IN the Prussian soldiers. The
headquarters the second line OF the army the
first being the front. in immediate contact with the
French advance.
The universal opinion seems to be that the for.
tresses will be OF little account the fighting be
done on the breastwork system OF our war. Indeed,
good authorities tell me here that II Prussia relies on
her strongholds she is already beaten; she must
gain In the open field or be beaten. 1t useless 10
report all the little skirmishes that far have been
narrated In o1lcial bulletins from the front. To-day
there was at Saarbruck between three French
las the bulletin narrates) divisions and twenty
guns and $50 Prussians, with two guns The latter,
we are told fell back after a three hours stand.
This bulletin posted up in the cafes and hotels
Immediately, and was read with a sad countenance
by the citizens The commencement to fall back
looks awry TO them; yet they put the best face on
the matter and say, "MOltke knows what he is
about.n
PUBLIC ANXIETY.
observed at the hotels that all classes OF people
collected eagerly around the news; cooks ran from
the Kitchen hostlers, chambermaids, boots, secre-
taries, walters, propretors, ladies' gentlemen and
outsiders joined In one pen neil mass to read the
tidlngs. This picture is to be seen now all over
Germany at Berlin the rush to hear and know was
especially feverlsh AS far as ascertained the people
are content with BlsInarck's and Motke's war prepa
ratons they say they are ready now Tor the serious
TONE OF THE ARMY.
The Prussian soldiers at the front have everything
they need, and abundance OF eatabies and drnkabes
and all kinds OF gifts to gid the soldiers life are
forwarded TO them.
The landwehr have been mixed and incorporated
with the regular troops in this campaign, and do not
singing hearty HAL, Father Rhine y dancing and
drlnking Soldiers Will make little festivity
upon tneir nrst entrance into campaign but the
realities. The landwehr are, perhaps, more senous
now, aud Will be more so when the great battle OF
the day comes of. The generals on the immediate
front are said to be more civil and liberal than the
authorities in the rear. Nous ce'v0ns. There seems
to be some necessity felt this side to keep up and
They claim that the French weapons are not supe-
ror not 50 good for they foul after the third round
In active nghtng and that explains the fact by
their soldiersvz., that the French soldiers spit IN
their gunlocks during the fight to clean ont their
seem to be q bolsteripg up, but l know competent
Prnssian officers who have both arms at work,
and they tell me that the Chassepot Is gaining the
prestige over the Dreyse.
NATIONAL UNIOS--wBAT A D1S5ENTER SAID.
hear from impartial persons who have lived here
and elsewhere IN Germany for over twenty years
that the FatheJand Is unmstakably united as it
never was before--not even In 1918. The people
around me, while cracking Jokes at the expense Of
NAPOLEON, his dynasty and the French generally
rather dull wit, thOugh-say they have to thank
brothers. One Of the persons mentioned, who is
thoroughly posted and an able thinker, had con.
versation with me Yesterday evening upon the
,n1lt NJ I'm htl tIAnu and rat,
Tons bore evidence OF being drawn from the life,
from the inner heart and mind or the people among
whom he has resided so long and about wh ON he
knows 30 much. I jot them down here hastily
'It " my prjyate opinion that The French are