New-York tribune., 1870-08-20
W1R TOPICS.

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cussed the question of Prusslan invasion Oh
France. and the various lines Of approach TO
Paris thought it was not worth whhe 10 say
ANYTHING about the idea of Prussian advance
into France by way of the Vosges Mountains
and the MoseIle River. He said that an IN
vasion by this way was regarded as mill
" tarv impossibility" on account of the i'm
mense defenses, natural and artificial, that
confronted the invader. Yet this is the very
line by which the army of the Prussian Crown
Prince has advanced into France.
in no part of the newly acquired territories
of Prussia has there been the least sign OF the
disaffection which was predicted as the result
of a war with France. 1t appeared by one OF
the most elaborate letters from our correspond
ents in Germany, published the other day, that
even in Schleswig- HOlstein the Prussian policy
ia supported in the strongest way by the great
body of the population. Hitherto" SAID our
correspondent, "these provinces have been
"torn by parties NOW there is no feeling
"but that of perfect unity" This is certainly
remarkable indication.
The statement that the French official re-.
port of the engagement at Metz on Sunday
was signed by Marshal Banine, although pub
lished over the name of Napoleon, is signi-
ficant. The Emperor burst not accept the re-
sponsibility for his blunders on the Saar, and
breads to give to another the credit for
slight success on the MOselle. To shield him
self from popular wrath for the first defeats
he dismissed Lebeuf, and now it is announced
that Frossard is arrested. These are the
victims he offers up to appease the public
L: n,.fh ha rn
the loss of his own popularity more than he
fears the consequences of anothers prOml-
nence. He well knows that upon any gen.
eral of his army who defeats the Prussians
will be lavished all the enthusiasm and devo-
ton of the French soldiers and people which
he hoped to win by military triumphs. Hence
Bazaine's little credit is stolen by the Emperor.
A victory won by Bazaine has almost as many
terrors for Napoleon as triumph of the
Prussians.
The English and French papers of fort
night ago come to us filled with paragraphs
prophetic of what the French and German
armies are to accomplish. Detailed plans of
offensive campaigns and defensive operations
are printed by the column as if the writer's
were born Jominis and Hallecks The value
of their elaborate predictions and calculations
is considerably lessened by the fact that the
plans of the offensive campaigns are based on
the belief that the French are to advance to-
ward the Rhine, and that the Prussans are to
maintain the defensive. The very erratic
movements of the Crown Prince at Haguenau,
and the rapid backward advance of Napoleon
toward Paris, are absurd contingencies which
it could not be expected that the strategists
should foresee.
The most profound grief of the Emperor
over his defeats will be because of their effect
upon the prospects of Napoleon w., who, it
now appears, will probably turn out to be as
distinguished soldier and monarch as NapO-
leon III. was.
During the last fortnight, or since the
commencement of active hOstilities in France,
Napoleon has had occasion to deal severely
with number of his unfortunate officers.
Marshal MacMahon's disaster at Worth has
resulted in his downfall LebGufs misman
agement on the frontier has secured his re-
moval from the position of Major-General.
But who will punish Napoleon for his con-
tinuous display of imbecilityf
-" Disorder in Paris would be victory for
Prussia" were the words of the proclamation
which the French Council of Ministers ad-
dressed to the people of Paris a fortnight ago.
Ever since the warning was uttered there have
been threats of a great revolutionary outbreak
in the French capital.
Gen Sheridan, we are told, has arrived at
the Prussian headquarters in the field, and
" been received as a royal guest" which means
probably that be is to be treated with all
possible courtesy by the German Generals.
The American soldier undoubtedly finds him
self at home there, and the Prussian operations
must remind him forcibly of his campaign of
"Valley."
PAUPERISM AND CRIME