New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-07-12

abandoned In 1861 by imperial decree though the works
wSch never had served any very Important purpose
fortress unless In guarding the nperiai jewels V
Friedrich /. =
The yosees mountains run parallel with the Rhine and
form second barrier the French frontier Like the
mountains Of the Black Forest the Rhine they are
and broadcast in their southern part the Vosges
attaining height Of four thousand feet and breadth OF
twenty-five miles All the practicable passes through
these mountains have been fortified according 10 ther
Importance The most northern road Is commanded py
the fortress at Bsch which in 1898 and 1915 wthstood
spirited attempts on the part of the Prusans TO
capture IT, 1t has deep ditch hewn IN the ROCK ano
has been qn e9
Pierre and Lichenberg small works In small passes
The great central passage is by way Of eaverne and Is
held by the fort at supported by
on the Rhine opposite. PFALzBURa is not very strong
at present but has been proposed to IT and
establish fortified camp there.
Between Layerne and Belfort only two practice
BILE passes-by way Of st. Die and by way OF Remire-
mont-and these seem to be sufficiently guarded by the
fortresses In the plain, and by BBLFoRf The latter
stands in the middle of the opening between the Jnrs
and yosges Mountains and important junction for
all kinds of land communications being In the direct
road between Basic and Paris 1t has been modernised
and strengthened, and probably quite equal to the
1 % ssVers ons
ana that beno1e III soPpor'oo Wy oo'oi"i 0''' Ao' e
the D0ubs .| ...a
To return to German SOIL We find the most important
stronghold OF the Eastern side Of tho Rhine valley at
RAsTADr the Murg This fortress hes in the plain,
about four miles back the Rhine and "a both modern
and extensive Three large forts-Ludwg, on the right
bank the Murg and Leopold and Friedrich, the left
with strong basons, wet dtches casemated redouDts,
erenelated walls luDees and towers, make az strong
combination expected where there Is no more
advantage Of ground fortified camp can easily De a,o
necessary for this post neither the valley on the
aIg nor TIE strss6urg line ne s II tbe sso
the lortre sufficiently TO prevent its use 'ne
airy ordla Is alone TO be reared - =,
The bridge over the Rhine at KK is slightly fortified
ON me German sde and is the only German defensive
work In the Rhine valley south OF kastadt'
Tns pIAoK FOREST is quite rs difficult Of passage as
The yosges Mountains the mountains Of the former Dc
ing somewhat higher, and passes more dincut ana cn
cuitous and more easily INSTRUCTED The valley OF the
K,nze and the H6en Valley the two most important
R 70 "a, the gPgs. srss
lines Of operations though should suppose either
he The Hack Forest had not readily driven out the
Austrian forces which were posted in each OF them.
srRAsBuRG has.neariy 1000 inhabtants who are OF
German descent but who speak ecth sermAn anu Sl
French with equal difficulty and defect. France has
strengthened the fortress considerably quite recently
and IL stn making improvements. The Fashioned en-
.a,Dt "a surrounded with moat filed With water The
works and detached forts, small and large finished
and unfinished together with the ane citadel on the
S that IL not considered inferior even 70
Net The town lies on the H. but almost toucnes .ne
Rhine and securely holds the French side OF the prse
| here. -
Further up the H. lie the large towns OF
ana CoLMAR the former beingi fortified by pasuone
work with ravens and wet dtches IL secures inc nn
rortant communication by rail ard otherwise ~ons
| the plain and over tho mountains lila
| NEu-BgEIsAcH lies the Rhone Canal soou. L.
,vast of the Rhine and is fortified with strong 'os'
,.s toebor with Fort Mortier lying near the r'ei'
requires garrison Of than 5000 men All =,
was also once fortified and considered Inc ny -
asrmanv" hut the Germany Of to-day Is another 'ef
| mapy and has u different keY