The New York herald., 1870-08-09
THE FRENCH ON THE RHINE.
With MacAIah0n's C0rps-First Operations Of
the French-The hallway Bridge Blown Up
by the Prussinns-War to the Bitter End
Force and Designs Of the French.

COMMANDED By MARSHALL MCMAHON, AND
CALLED THE Army OF THE RHINE,
July 20, 1870
Yesterday, about four P. NJ, having arrived from
Paris couple Of hours previously, went down to
the Rhine to look at the outposts OF the two
armies that are now preparing for the impending
struggle The river is about two miles from Stras-
bourg and is crossed by most beautiful railway
bridge, Of which such Of your readers as have trav
elled In Europe must have distinct recollection.
One end Of the bridge Is on French soi the other
on German territory. 1t Is about two hundred and
fifty feet long, and built Of iron. OF most elegant
device. The centre part, which is one hundred and
thirty feet long, Is fixture, tuilt upon
very strcng stone pillars; but at each end
there is movable portion Of about
sixty feet long, which can be turned back, as 1t
were, and wheeled up parallel to each shore, thus
rendering the bridge utterly useless tor time and
completely hindering IT being used as q means OF
crossing the river but without destroyin. In any way
the bridge itself should 1t be afterward wanted.
Now the very history or, rather, the very account,
OF this bridge Is history Of mistrust that has
listed for years, since 1914 between France and
Germany When 1t was first constructed some
twenty-.wo years ago, the Grand Duke OF Baden,
whose territory on the west end 1t is upon stipu.
lated that should be built that at any time.
the event OF complications between France and Ger
many either government should have the power
OF rendering 1t useless as @ means Of pas
sage, but without destroying altogether
work which cost so much money, thus proving
that even so long ago 1858 the fOreshadowing of
the war now about to break out was something
more substantial than mere dream. When war
was finally declared the other day, Prussia at once
took military occupation OF the territory OF Baden
and either side the pontoon portion OF the BRIDGE
OF which spoke above, was wheeled back to the
shore, that between the latter and the permanent
part OF the bridge there was space OF sixty eet on
each shore.
TOPOGRAPHY.
Last evening, on my arrival from Paris, went
down to look at the bridge and more curious sight
1t was impossible to imagine. Upon the French side
there was the outpost Of an outpOst-threo men and
corporal, with single sentry visible. About
hundred yards to the rear was captains party,
and hundred yards again behind that was bat
TALON Of infantry; Nothing could be calmer or
On the Prussian side single sentry, with his
piked helmet shining In the sun, was alone to bs
seen, although here and there might be distin-
gulshed peasants ana others working in the fields,
and few soldiers In undress lOunging about the
custom house. 1t waS In fact two giants looking on
at each other in repose, and preparing for what
must prove the death (aS to European pOwer Of the
one or the other: From either SIDE as a. We S looked
shore to the other, BY German or French boatmen
who were not allowed themselves to land. On the
|
such as you see on the banks Of the seine, for
ladies, the other for gentlemen. or both sexes sey
was there to take their afternoon BATH for next to
sea bathing, bathing In the Rhine ls considered the
most invlgorating regime that one can submit 10 In
the summer
had just turned to leave the spot wondering In
my own mind what would be seen here week
hence when felt the ground shake under me, and
knew instinctively that somewhere or other
mine had been sprung threw my mSsea sh on my aSe @
shock was over 10 few seconds and when raised
my head 1t was to behold pointed shaped column
air. pushing before It, as 1t were, what seemed some
light morsels of small sticks. Then arose the cry.
the word to the rear they are going to attack"
In less time than take to write the words the sup
ports and the reserve came down the road at what
French soldiers call the pas 0vn,ndsttQue, or what
we call the "double quick timei'' and in ten min.
utes, or less, brigade Of infantry-rlsen as 1t
seemed to me from the bowels OF the earth--was on
the spot. But the alarm was false one-fase, at
least, 80 far as the attack was concerned.
Prussians mad simply committed the utterly useless
bridge on their side thus rendering y useless for
struggle shall have ended. Tue light. small sticks
that we had seen tossed like playthngs high into
tremendous trs M noise upon the Prasaan side Of the
river, woundlng as we could see Win our g'asses
at least couple OF the nn.p1 lockers aTan on.
This morning the prussians finished what, In their
| stupid wickedneSs, they commenced yesterday.
| They destroyed more effectualy than before their
| end OF the bridge, and have now withdrawn from
the opposite side TO srasbourg or rather from mme
outpost at noon to-day going or on the railway
They are evidently trying to draw the French on,
sSer as nase bs 500:Sy y :d ali oUnsoupo S n
cannot, for the present, be anything else.
| TBl ARMY or THE RHINE.
BY the date OF this letter you will see that am
with the headquarters Of the First corps d'armee,
commanded by General MacMahon, who arrived
dashng soldier In the French army. He ls Of Irish
origin, mis- grandfather having len Ireland On ac-
count Of the persecution Q tAe CathQSs early In the
| last century. a.,y~ ---rH ". ~s~
He ts sixty years Of age. He ID entirely self
made man, and has risen TO his present position
XiQers Italy the Crimea, and, indeed wherever the
Fr8noh dag has Reep during tle Ast lQru xeayA OK