The Evansville journal., 1870-07-21

tions during the coming war, the fol-
lowing description of the fortified
points will be read with interest:
FRENCH FoRTIFICATIoNs.
OF the French towns on the west
bank of the river, Strasburg is one of
the most noted. 1t has $1,000 inhab-
itants, chiefly of German descent.
The fortress has been lately strength
ened, and the numerous outworks
and forts, including the citadel. rem
der it place of great strength. A
bridge here crosses the Rhine, which
which is strongly fortified on the
French side. Though partially upon
the Rhine, the town lies chiefly upon
the river III. which is also bridged.
Farther up the Ill are Colmar and
Schlettstadt, both strongly fortified
and securing important communica-
tions.
Neu Breisaoh is on the Rbone canal,
mile west of the Rhine. It has
strong towers. and Fort Mortier,
nearer the river, is a strong fortifca-
ton.
Metz, on the river Moselle, is the
most important strategic point in the
eastern part of France, and has a
most powerful fortress, which is yet
uncompleted. The city contains co.
600 inhabitants, and garrison of 10.
600 men. A strong wall with bas-
tlons surrounds it, and the fortiica-
tions at large are constructed with a
due allowance for the force of modern
projectiIes. They stand on four com
manding sites. The river Seille meets
the Moselle at this point, and, in case
Of siege, the water of both streams
can be raised sufficiently to inundate
the low ground to the south and south
west of the town.
Montmedy. Verdun and Longwy,
on the Rhine, are strongly fortified
and near to Metz, on the Moselle, is
| Thionville, within a few miles of the
Prussian frontier. The river is
bridged at this point, and the fortifi-
cations are strong. The Moselle fur
nishes the most direct line of opera
tons between France and Prussia,
and a struggle will In every probabil-
lty take place for its several strong
holds.
The Weissenburg line is chain of
light works running from the left
bank of the Rhine, fifteen miles
along the Louter, in the neighbor.
hood of Basle The line was aband-
oned in 1867, but the works were not
razed.
/ The Voges Mountains run parallel
with the Rhine and form an addition
/ al barrier for the French frontier.
They average 4, 600 feet in height, and
are twenty five miles wide. All their
practical passes are fortified. The
most northern Of these is the fortress
at Bitsch. which, in 1898 and 1916
withstood two Prussian attempts.
The central passages of the Voges is
by way of Saverne. and is held by the
fort at Pfalzburg. supported by Stras-
burg at a short distance. Between
Saverne and Belfort there are but
practicable passes, that by way of st.
Die and that of Remiremont. These
are well guarded by the fortresses on
the .neighboring plains and by Bel
fort. The latter is in the center OF
the opening, between the Jura and
Vosges mountains. and being in the
direct line between Basle and Paris,
is an important junction for land com
munications. 1t has been much
Strengthened of late.
GERMAN FoRTIFICATIoNg.
OF the fortresses on the Rhine and
its vicinity, the most important are
Mayence, Rastadt, Ehrenbreitstein
and Cologne.
Mayence was formerly a city of the
German Confederation, tho old Zoll-
verein, and was garrisoned by Aus
trian and Prussian troops. Its pecu-
J liarly dangerous position. being on
the left baak of the Rhine, and great
ly coveted by the French, led to its
fortihcatlons being of the strongest
character. lt was originally garri-
soned by S.UOO men, but after the de-
clslve defeat of Austria in the late
contest, It was agreed by the treaty OF
Prague that its Notifications should
be dismantled and its garrison with
drawn.
This stipulation was insisted on BY
Austria, but the Prussian have never
carried out the conditions, and May
ence is at this moment one of the
strongest cities in the world. The
four lines OF works are greatly
strengthened by outworks and de
tached forts, and by Fort Weisenau,
which IS on the upper bank of the
Main. The city of Mayence is oppo-
site to the mouth of this river, which
here falls into the Rhine about twenty
miles west of Frankfort, to which It
is connected by railway. a bridge
some 1,6OO feet long connects it with
the fortified suburb of Castel. Ii has
now very large garrison. and is
commanded by Prince Waldemar. of
Schles9ig- Holstein.
Rastadt is on the right bank of the
Rhine, and is very strongly fortified
1t is in the territory of Baden Baden,
and formerly held a garrison for the
German Confederation, but since Sa-
dowa Its garrison has been Prussian.
1t is situated fourteen miles south of
karlsruhe, and some thirty from
otrasburg, and will undoubtedly be a
point OF capital Importance during
tne coming struggle. Its fortifca
1oIs are on the Vauban system, and
declared to be the perfection of en-
glneerlng, but experienced has nroved
that earthworks are stronoor thor
: stone walls. There are tbseo 49,
forts on the little river VIII % laIso
past hastadt, which have msn, -.
g tons, wet bitches, curtains. clan;
: lunettes, but the chief streng,b aIi,1
probably be in the fortified camn ~
which the Prussians are about ~ =
/, form there. Should it be necessaro ~
: to withdraw its garrison, it could easi.
! ly be replaced by Baden soldiers. the
Grand Duke having shown the moss
unmistakable sympathy for the Prus
sian cause.
Ehrenbreitstein is the fortress mar
e1celleace of Prussia. and is regarded
as the Gibraltar of the Rhine. It is
on the right bank of the Rhine opno-