The New York herald., 1870-08-02
Tue Latest Ph.s. Of tn. War movs..ns.

Our European kilograms speak OF sharp
sklrmish between French and Prusslan troops
yesterday, a vigorous action Of the Prussians
and q repulse of the French. As yet we
wait for the first great tug Of war. If we
can regard tho blowing up Of the railroad
viaduct at Bltsche as success, then Prussia
has won the first victory. 1t Is difficult 10
regard the blowing up Of the viaduct on French
soil, the more especially as the effort had to be
repeated and repeated, In any other light than
as the first positive triumph in the war. In
this war, more than in any war which has
ever been waged, the railroad Is to play an
important part. We cannot conceive why
Napoleon was not more careful of this viaduct
Its comparatively undefended condition must
be regarded as blunder. Napoleon, 1t Is
possible, makes little Of this particular; but
whatever plan he may be following out 1t is
undeniable that this railroad now destroyed
might to an invading army have proved of
the utmost value.
II Is now, we think, clear that France means
to invade Prussia and that Prussia means, In
the first instance at least, to act on the
defensive. The destruction Of this railroad,
so far as Prussia is conc erued, Is on this
point proof conclusive. The first fight is to take
place on Prussian or German soil. A special
cable despatch, which we print this morning,
shows that the whole country between
Coblentz and Mayence is being converted into
q huge entrenched camp. 1t is evident that
from what Prussia has been able to learn of
the movements of the French army she has
come to the conclusion that her Rhenish pro-
vince is most likely first to be attacked. The
Pruasian forces await the attack OF the
French in triangle, formed by the
Rhine, the Moselle and the Saar. The left
wing rests upon the Rhine near Sardau The
right stretches out from the MoseIle, near
Treves. Won Moltke, the great Prussian stra-
tegist is reported to have said that il Napo-
leon had not marched upon the Rhine by the
2lst July, he would never reach Mayence.
Saarlouis, it is also said, has been recently
fortified, and it is calculated that 1t will mate
rally hinder the progress Of the French troops.
France Is so strong and Prussia is 30 we'll
prepared that expectation stands ON tiptoe,
looking out for the first general struggle. Un-
til then It will be premature to say whose
chances are best. 1t is safe to say that the
march of the French to Berlin will not be easy
The prospect Is not such az to encourage us
to say that another Jena is more likely than
another Leipsic or another Waterloo.
Tho general situation remains much as It
was. We have no further news regarding
Denmark. Russia is, If anything, more watch
full. Spain asks explanations from France.
Austria, Italy and France seem all to be plot
ting the ruin Of the Holy Father, while they
to come to an understanding regard
ing their common duty in this war. Great
Britain is reused from one end to the other.
Mr.. Gladstones speech at the Lord Mayors
banquet on Saturday shows that Great Britain,
much as she loves peace, ia neither unprc-
pared nor unwilling to fight, If the necessity
is laid upon her. The position of the British
government is already beset with many dan
gers. The sentiment of the government and
people, 80 far as it has been expressed, has
been against France. If France should come out
ofthis struggle victorious, France will not forget
this. 1t is curious fact that from the aoces-
sion of Louis Napoleon up until the Crimean
war the British people continuously trembled
for and defed French invasion. The aveng-
ing Of St. Helena was known to be Napo-
leonic idea. Since the Crimsan war the entente
c0rdidle has been but seldom and never more
than slightly interrupted. Another Bonapartc
triumphant in Berlin, might not Boulogne
recover something Of its ancient Importance,
and might not another threatened invasion be
the terror Of the British Islesp Certain it is
empires has been disturbed. If Napoleon
wins he may have something to say about
"perfidious Albion" If he does not win it is
not difficult to forecast the result It is our
conviction that Napoleon has no heart for this
fight lie goes into it because he cannot help
it. 1t is a necessity laid upon him. If he
had not yelled to this impulse given him by
the French people the French people would
have turned against him and his family. If
he wins the French people will bow to the
fates, will call him savior and will give him
splendid opportunity to retire in favor Of his
son. But If he does not win-if Prussian SOL
ders or the soldiers of any coalition should
again encamp in the gardens Of the Tuileries-
the howl against the Bonapartes will be loud
and long and merciless. We witness the
opening scenes Of great drama. Every
fresh scene, every fresh movement, Is a sur
prise. What is to be the end no one can tell.
While we write the first fight may have decided
the campaign. But we wait for news.
MART ALLEN who was recently sentenced
to the State Prison for five years, for panel
THE wing, has been released on five thousand
JolJ,r, ho;I fhrourh tho iuoanuitv of his cOun-