The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-08-04
the WAR IN EUROPE.
Tho Theatre Of the Great Conflict between
Prussia and France.

tween France and Prussia will come In the valley OF
the Mosele, and extend by flank movements, along
the Rhine from Strasburg to Cobientz, and probs-
bly, even down to Cologne. These Rhenish pro-
vincos are classic ground, historic ground, and
especially are they martial ground. Not to go so
far back az Caesar, who here encountered the
Cimbri and tho suevi, each square mile OF this ter
ritory has, from the advent OF Chariemagne TO the
downfall Of Napoleon, been fought over and over
again, I'll, borrowing the language of C-mpboll,
turf beneath the feet OF the traveller is SOL
dier's sepulchre.
This debatablo ground between Germany and
Trance, ID IN stained with the blood OF both ma
lions, abouuds with interesting memorials Of me
dirval times. The legend tells US that one day
Charlemagne, the giant Emperor, who stood seven
leet high, was riding In the forest between the
Rhine and the Meuse, when the laundering OF his
horse disclosed those boiling springs OF AK which
for ten centuries have been so famous through out
Europe. fair city rose on the spot, which Charlie
magne adorned with buildings OF extraordinary
spondor. AK became his iavorite abode, and here
he was buried In the hall OF Its palace fry-fve OF
his Successors were crowned Emperors OF Germany,
Further up the Rhine 10 these same disputed
provinces, lies Worms, city not less famous than
AK, where the monk OF Wit,enberg in the presence
Of the Emperor and notabes OF Germany, defended
tie ninctyhve theses he had nailed to the door OF
the old church, excaiming, "Herc I stand can.
not do otherH Use, so help me God" The religious
wars OF the sixteenth century, which sprang up on
TIE rrumulgation OF the doctrines OF Luther, ragged
with iuYy In the Palatinite. Charles ", who ruled
Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain for forty
years. was during nearly the entire period at war
with France: and the Rhine border, being the natu.
raj gateway into the dominions OF the combatauts,
repeatedly rlvsged with the sword. This con
test terminated when, ia 1883, the conscience
stricken Charles laid down the crown OF half Eu-
rope and America, threw aside his royal robes put
monks cow aud a nar shirt, and retired to the
monastery OF 81. Just.
But Protestant and Catholic Europe again rushed
to arms early in the next century; ard during the
famous Thirty Years War. when Gustayus Adolf
phus emerged from his Scandinavian Businesses and
made Sweden frstclass power, these provinces,
from Mannheim down far beyond AK and Cologne.
suffered severely. But incredible misery was in
1c,ed upon them In the later wars Of that century
wagc1 20 crafty the ambition OF Louis XIV. Lux.
cmburg stormcd. Lorraine and Aslcc
overrun, and the Palatnate scathei by TEN
pest OF hrc and blood votlire informs that the
Elector Paatine saw from his castle at Mannheim
two cities and twenty-five will ges in flames at once
and Ia his despair and rage sent a challenge to
Turenae, the French Marshal to meet him in single
| combat. Turenne decliued this novel summons {;
but the infuriated Eec,or not long afterwards had
the qualification Of seeing his enemy fall by stray
cannon ball willie he ives reconnoitring Tor spot
to rlant battery near sassbach.
| II was in these wars OF the seventeenth century
that tho celebrated lortcesses of Mentz Coblenz,
| Bonn, Cologne, and Luxumberg taxed the genius OF
the most eminent military engineers for their en-.
largement and improvement Amer vauoan ami his
contemporaries passed away their successors, from
| generation 10 generation have employed their skill
in perfecung these works TILL just they have be-
| come models aud even marvels in engineering mod
| ern Improvements in arms and new systems oil
warfare render them comparatively Of little value.
The treaty OF r, swick mad hardly given peace Il
Europe when the war Of the Spanish. Succession
known in our country as Queen Anne's War, broke
| out and FOR dozen years the Palatinate and the
Rhine border were again given up to desolation
Like tle present contest, this for the succession
Wa one Of the most causeless ever waged. To dc
terminc which one OF two royal noodles, whether a
grandson Of Louis XIV a sou Of the Empero
Leopold, should mount the throne OF Spain, Mari,
borough ed the Low Countries aud won
dukedom Pcterbor ough, the erratic Earl, invade
| Spain, while Admiral Rookie took Gibralter; Cor
mans slaughtered Frenclmen and other Germans Il
the Palatinate, AMI around the walls Of Mcn,z an.
| Mannheim Indians roasted Indians ON the shore
|
WON en- at lie sources Of the Hudson and the Mohawk
| The treaty Of Utrecht gave the jewellers in the-
provinces rest for thirty years, when they wcr
again drawn into the vortex OF war by the attemp
OF the Great Frederick to humble Maria Thercsalan
the House OF Austria, and enlarge his own domiu
ions-two objects which he prosecuted through car
mage such as tie world had rarely seen, til IL
peace Of 1863. During these the terri,ori,
where Pru, sin and Franco are now going TO contcn
for the mastery Of Europe suffered great ca.amitie
The latter portion ofthe contest known Rs the SIEVE
Years War, was participated in by all the gre
| power or Europe, and ragged all over tho worl
| On this side Of the Atlantic, Wolfe conquered Can
, | dn ami Washing ton tnen militia colonel, causr
o the surrender of Fort Du Quesne, which theme
| forward bore the name Of Pitt, the great War Alll
ister. whose eacrgy, like tnat of stanton in o.
great civil war raised th, drooping IA OF his cou
. | try. and by inspiring con mandcrs and subaltrr
or tho sea aud on the land with the tire Of his
courage and enthusiasm, finally shed over It the IL
: TIE Of complete victory.
n Bat II was ~. derrick WHO Won the ch7f glory
d the seven Years War, lilo bore mp agninst all z
n -onc In arms and proved himself To be the create
/ | of the Hohcnzollerns though they have been
rrctty touch race ever since t1ey emerged rom Il
a | olscurIty of tlr swomps and forests OF BranIe
c burg NJ TIC advent OF the Great Elcctor II arlY
centuries and half aro. The father OF Frcle,1
the Gre 4 believed IN tall soldiers and rix dolla
lie secured Europe to raise a regiment Of giAn
=" and lived like paupcr that he might save none
% Tn manners he was almost a savage. lie can
women in the streets Of Berlin aud pounded FIR,
IF crick with clubs and lis own fists as # he wcr'
~ sculllon. and tic King tie head Of the scullcry.
- Though Frederick suffered all Int death nj
K | bands Of lis royal sire, and came very near be
y | shot for running away from his turmentor IT