New-York tribune., 1870-08-05
THE THEATER OF WAR.

ITS TYPOGRAPHICAL FEATURES-THE PRUssIAN
LINE OF DEFENsE-POsITIoN OF THE FRENCH
TR00PS-PR0BABLE POINT OF ATTACK.
There are no large towns on the boundary
between France and Rhenish Bavaria but both sides
not far from the frontier places important in mil
iary point Of view, occupied now by the two armies
TREvEs.
The Prussan right wing reaches to Treves the Mo-
selle This is Of the oldest towns in Europe. When
julius Cesar led the legions of Rome into Gau he found
1t the chief town of the Trevirione Of the most power
fl Of the faxenhaired tribes Of Germany An inscrip
ton the wall OF the Rath h-Hause informs that it
built before Romulus laid the foundations Of Rome.
The Trevri became the allies OF Rome, and Augustus
used them well. He made Treves the capital Of Gaul
and established Senate and appointed magistrates to
manage the affairs Of the Empire north Of the Alps
Here the great Roman highway crossed the
Mosele magnificent stone bridge, erected % B. c.
which blown up by Louis XIV Its remains are still
to be seen. Prussan soldiers now occupy the basica
erected by the architects Of old Rome and through
their dressparade the campus where Caesar and Con-
stantne the Great reviewed their legions Teves has
railroad connection west with Luxembourg and with the
Rhine by the line which southeast up the valley OF
the saar to saarbruck and which then turns right
angle the northeast. The supplies for the Prussian
troops Treves and in the valley Of the Saar must come
either by this one line Of rail by steamboats, up tho
Mosee Treves being Luxembourg which is neutral
territory the Prussians cannot receive anything from
the west and tho 100000 soldiers encamped on the hills
around this old town must obtain all their supplies from
the Rhine.
a THE VALLEY OF THE sAAR.
The saar rises in the Vosges the range OF mountains
that lie west of strasburg, and drains their western
slope. 1t is beautiful stream, winding through a
wde verdant valley. The OF the river toward
the north joining the Mosele Treyes 1t has given
name to several towns Travelling south from Treyes
we find Saarsburg, then SaarhoZbach, then SaarlOus
saarbruek and Saarbulengen all In Prussia; crossing
the stream, have sarreguemines, sarreable, sarr
unian and Sarrehaney, in France. In this enumera-
ton order has been southwark from Teves saare
louis and saarbruck in Prussia, and sarreguemines in
France OF great Importance but the others are Of
little account. |
II is SC miles from Treves to saarbruck, and the i'm
porant towns the route saarburg, Merzig, and
aarlouis The asnamed place Is about 40 miles south
of Treyes 1t is q fortified town, surrounded by wide
meadows and two-thrds encirced by the river, when
at that point is sluggish stream. The fortihcatons
were constructed by Vaubon, and consist OF rampafs
basons une ties fosses, and dches canal connects
the bitches with the river and the garrison by opening
the suices, may I'LL them with water on short notice
Prussan engneers have strengthened the works ana
adanted them TO the requirements OF modern military
scenoe The town is located the western bank ana
IL il fully mile the meadows to the nils tnat
bound the valley the west The character oi the SOL
ia such that the place cannot be taken by regular siege
operations.
The railroad runs along the eastern bank OF the srea
all the way from Treyes to Saarbruek. Ihe raifoao
station at Saarlouis Is connected with the town py nhe
stone bridge The river is too deep TO be forded Dy an
advancing army 1t is about wide as the hsppahah
mock AT Fredericksburg The Prussan line OF deiehses
along the eastern bank and II tho French army would
get Mt the Prussians anywhere between Ireves ana
saarbruck they must bridge the stream either ny pom
toons or by solid structures. The distance from
saarous TO the boundary Is about four miles, is the
same from Merzig to the boundary but as we approach
saar,,rnck ffteen miles further up the valley the DIS
tauce river and the frontier not more Than
a mile and half.
sAARBRucK.
This Ia a railway junction, aud perhaps the most im-
portapt point on the entire line between Luxembourg
and the Rhine. It's Importance viii be seen only ny
reyIew OF the situation The railroad running south west
from saarbruck France leads TO the town Of Metz,
and there connects with the lines running TO Paris The
prussian line Treves follows up the valley OF the
saar 10 this point Its general course has been little
east OF SOUTH bat here makes sharp curve round
high hiI leaves the Saar. turns northeast follows up
small brook through ravinc, coal mine and the
little hamlets Of Dutwines and Suftsbach, goes mp
ascending grade, with wooded hils on either hand.