New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-08-17
WAR TOPICS.

NAPOLEON began the war "a means or Cd
tanning the Rhine Provinces; he Is now
struggling with all his might to keep the
Prussians out of Paris.
One of the high military strategists of this
city holds that Napoleon ia permitting the
| Germans to win certain advantages on the
frontier in order that he may draw the Prus-
| sian army into the heart of France, where he
will fall upon it and destroy it. 1t was for
| this purpose ne permitted them to pass into
France and win their first fight. For this 1t
was that he allowed them to defeat MacMahon
and drive Thin from Worth in confusion; and
for this he permitted them to pass the line of
the Vosges For this it was he allowed them
to become victorious at Metz. For this he has
permitted them to seize a large number of i'm
| portant cities and military stronghOlds in the
north eastern parts of France. For this he has
allowed them to take prisoner many thousands
| of his men, and capture hundreds of his can
non. All this would be excellent reasoning if
only it had pair of legs to walk with or a
little brains to save it from idiOcy.
1t certainly looks bad for the imperialist
authorities when the Paris correspondent of
The London 1elegraph-the principal BOnapar-
fist organ in England-gOes so far in the way
of telling the truth as to say that the French
chambers are unworthy of respect and the
members were elected by fraud and coercion"
There is no doubt of the entire accuracy Of
these statements, and The London Telegraph
did well to publish them; but why did it re-
frain from taking this ground until now, when
the imperial system is tOttering'
The German generals have surprised" the
French army in nearly every aggressive move
ment they have made since the opening of the
war. 1t is a most unhappy confession OF the
Emperor that his army was taken unawares in
the action of Sunday last. 1t looks bad for
French generalship.
When the Emperor declared war against
Prussia, he cOncocted an imperial proclamation
of which he ordered several million copies to
be printed in Paris, for distribution in the
States of South Germany, and among the
people of Hanover, who were supposed to be
so greatly disaffected toward Prussia that they
would hail the advent of the French army.
The French troops were to scatter this pro-
clamatiOn broadcast among the inhabitants OF
the regions through which they were to march
VIGOROUSLY, and it was supposed that it would
have tremendous effect. 1t il grievOus TO
| think that so many millions of copies of this
NapOleonic proclamation have been reduced to
waste paper.
1t was announced at one time that Gen.
Won Motke would direct the campaigns of the
Prussian army by telegraph from Berlin, in
the way that our great American master of
the art of war, "Old Brains Halleck, at
tempted for while to direct the operations of
the Union armies by telegraph from Washing
ton We laughed at the report when it reached
us through the Cable. 1t is now known that
Won MOltke is at the headquarters of the Prus-
sian army, accompanying the King.
Fit seems that London Times writer con-
| siders s. French victory necessary to predis-
pose the Emperor for peace There might
be another way of predisposing him for peace,
to wit: a crushing defeat.
After the downfall of the First Napoleon,
he earnestly desired to be allowed to come to
this country, where he might spend the rest
of his days peacefully and virtuously. Will
the present Emperor Also after his flight from
Paris, seek to find a refuge in Americaf VIII
ne return to this city, which he visited when
young mani Will he, with Eugene and
Louis take up his residence in Saratoga,
In the house which was partially fitted up for
the Empress, when she desired to visit America
two years ago. or on the Imperial property on
Third Avenue7
The declaration of martial law in the
French seaports OF CherbOurg, Brest. L0rent,
ana Rochefort, may have little significance,
and Is designed to conceal nothing more than
the departure OF war vessels or disturbances
among the people. But more Importance is to
be attached to the announcement that Algiers
has also been placed in state of siege. A
considerable French army has lately been
withdrawn from Algeria, and it is not improb
able that the disaffected natives there have
made an effort to regain their independence.
1t Ia significant fact that the French
Minister VI War IN tho CORDS Legislatif