Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-07-20
GERMANY AND FRANCE.

>.
That he has perfect confidence in a
victorious issue Of collision, is shown
by the avidity with which he has
seized upon the Leopold candidacy for
the Spanish throne, and sought to fast
en- the responsibility on Prussia. He
desires brush with that power for the
double object Of acquiring the strip of
territory lying between the Rhine and
the eastern border Of France, and of
popularizing the Napoleon dynasty for
the advantage Of his son, .s5s
France for centuries has been first
class military power. and never was
better prepared, or better able, to make
a fierce and terrific onslaught on any of
her neighbors that at this moment
Her arny is second to none in Europe
in number, equipment, discipline, and
willingness to fight any power, with or
without sufficient provocation, Her
naval armament is second only to that
of Great Britain, and but little in
ferior to it. She IS largely superior to
Prussia in her naval arm, though the
latter has become very formidable and
is being strengthened with remarkable
rapidity Notwithstanding the extreme
confidence Of the French nation in
their ability to defeat Prussia, the re-
suit Of contest may rudely shatter it.
Prussia is no longer the weakest Of the
first-class European powers, but ranks
at least third-that is, next after Rus
sia and France. Prussia proper num-
bers just about % 100000 souls. The
States of Sszony, Brunswick, Meek
lenburg, and Hesse- Darmstadt, which
are Prassian provances for all military
purposes, number fally 10000 max
ing the North German confederacy
~, 0OO,gJ0, But iu all international
questions involving the integrity of
German territory, the German States
south Of the Main are bound by Solemn
treaties, offensive aud defensive, to
Prussia. These States are Bavaria,
Wurtemburg, and Baden, with a popu-
lation something over 10, 100000. Ia
case OF a war with France, the stand
ing army of $4,000 men, which they
maintain, would be Immediately placed
at the service Of Prussia. The Ger
man power, therefore, which France
must encounter, if she makes war on
Prussia, embraces a population of 49,
OOO,0O0, while France NUMBERS 49,
100000 Blsmark can put in the field
as many soldiers as Napoleon. The
standing army of North Germany mum
bers 10000 men, to which add the
troops of South Germany, l45, 900,
and the total amounts 10000 regu-
lars constantly under arms and ready
to march to the Rhine at the tap of
the drum. Then there are in North
Germany 500, 900 well disciplined men,
who belong to the reserve, who can be
placed in the field, armed and equipp-
ed, in weeks notice, and $50 900 of
the same kind of men in South Ger
many. Behind this whole field force
of over million and quarter of we'll
drilled, splendidly armed troops, there
are, at least, two millions of men be-
longing to the Landwehr and Land
sturm, to garrison the fortresSes and
fill up the depleted ranks of the force
in the field. Every able-bodied man
in all Germany must, as soon as he has
completed his twentieth year, serve
three years in the regular army, four
years in the reserve, and, at the end Of
these seven years, he enters the Land
wehr, or militia, for nine years. Al
| SO years Of age he enters tie Land
stUrm, or veteran reserve, where he
remains enrolled until so years Of
age.
4 people of forty millions, under
the vigorous and abe leadership of the
Prussian Government, full Of military
pride, Of stubborn courage, ardent pat
riotism, aud armed to the teeth with
the very finest weapons known to the
military art, cannot be snufed out
even by France impetuosity, or driven
over the Rhine by the operations Of
one campaign. French blood will flow
more copiously than it has done since
Waterloo before the left bank Of thai
stream will be surrendered by the uni
ted Germans. There will be heavy
blows to take as well as to give; there
will be desperate battles lost as we'll a:
won, before the black eagle surrenders
bis ancient castles and towers and vine
yards on the Rhine. IF that stream i
the natural eastern boundary Of France
she can gain it only by such fghtins
as was witnessed under the Leadership
of the great Napoleon Chicago Itib
Une.
HARTEBEAsT- This is a newly dis