The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-17
THE WIZ NE US


Of Prussian advances unparalleled for ra-
pidity in the annals of war. There has been
nothing like them since the terrific move
ments in the early campaigns of the first
Napoleon; but by the aid of such powerful
modern agencies as railroads and telegraphs
even his achievements have been eclipsed,
and the tactics of the old French Republic
and Consulate have been turned with re-
doubled force against the new French empire.
The Prussans set out with the intention of
making the war "short, sharp, and decisive"
Many reasons impel them to adopt this
course. Their whole active population is
under arms, and they wish to reconvert their
swords into ploughshares at the earliest pos
sible moment, so that the exhaustion insepa-
rable from long struggle may be avoided.
They are immeasurably better prepared for
effective operations than their retreating an
tagonists, and they do not wish to give the
French time to rally, recruit, and recover.
They wish to utilize their present advantages
by securing permanent peace before the
passions of the entire nation they have in
vaded have been aroused, and before it be-
comes possible to organize counter-move-
ment formidable enough to threaten an inroad
upon German territory.
Up to this time the events of the campaign
have strongly indicated the success of this
ambitious programme. One French retreat
has followed another in quick succession and
while battle after battle has been won by the
Germans, there has not yet been single
substantial French victory. The conflicting
reports of the struggles Of the last few days all
point to the conclusion that Napoleons armies
are unable to prevent the continual advance
of the German troops, and that they consider
themselves fortunate when they succeed in
protecting their own retreat. Even this is
harassed, however, day after day, and the
French Minister of War can give to the
Corps Legislatif no better food for hope and
confidence than the assurance that the Prus-
SLAMS, who swarm around the hanks and the
rear of the flying Frenchmen, have suffered
several serious checks.
One great object of the Germans, ap-
psrently, is to capture and hold the railway
line extending westward from Nancy towards
Paris. Already a considerable portion of it
has fallen into their possession, and the Pre-
feet of the Meuse informs the Minister of the
Interior that he has cut the railways near
Barbecue to prevent them from being useful
to the enemy. This point is nearly halfway
between the frontier and Paris, and the fact
that it is endangered shows that the invaders
have already made good their advance over
nearly half the distance between the Rhine
and the French capital. If they are to pene-
trate still farther into ''the bowels of the
land" the use of this railway for the trans
portation of supplies and reinforcements will
become an object of prime Importance and
the Germans will gain great advantages by
securing it.
SO far the French have made no successful
stand at any point of importance. They have
held a few fortresses, but they have been
totally unable to cope with the invaders in
the open field. The great military and poll
tical problem of the day is when and where
are they to find firm foothold, on which
they will be willing to risk decisive battle?
Dispatches from Paris state that the new
War Minister has displayed extraordinary
energy in forwarding reinforcements and sup
plies to the French armies; and despite the
reports of revolutionary outbreaks and the
growing hostility to the Emperor the
leaders of all the fierce factions seem to
unite in the desire and determination to re-
assert tue uldrtldl power Ol FRANCE. Ii theSe
statements are not wholly delusive, the
French army will gain intrinsic power with
each retrograde movement, despite the disas-
trous loss of prestige, for as it is falling back
immense bodies of the new levies are ad-
vancing to meet and strengthen it. We are
told that the National Guards, the Garde
Mobile, and hosts of volunteers are
on their way to join Bazaine.
Although they did not reach the
front in time to defend the passes of the
Vosges Mountains, or to protect the line of
the Moselle, they may still make display of
French valor on the Meuse, on the plateau of
the Argonnes, or at Chalons The great fight
of the campaign will probably occur when the
main bodies of both armies concentrate at
some one of the strong strategic points be-
tween the Moselle and Paris
The conjecture is thrown out that Napo-
leon win select as a decisive battlefield some
place which, without putting his capital into
too imminent peril, will enable him to over
awe its turbulent population. His personal
eKigsncies require him to combat at once a
powerful foe in front and scarcely less dan
teIous enemies in his rear, and his dynasty